France in February 2026: the most important developments in politics
In France in February 2026, the political agenda was led by President Emmanuel Macron's foreign policy. On 13 February he told the Munich Security Conference that Europe must stop being timid and become a geopolitical power, and he and Chancellor Friedrich Merz discussed a new European security framework. Macron called for a European dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying channels had been restored at a technical level, though on 12 February he said talks with Putin were not imminent. On 17 February Macron made a state visit to India, where he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a special global strategic partnership and worked on additional Rafale fighter jet sales.
Domestic politics centered on Marine Le Pen. On 3 February prosecutors asked for a five-year ban from public office in her appeal trial over the alleged misuse of European Parliament funds, and the court set its decision for 7 July. On 26 February she said she would not run for president in 2027 if she had to wear an electronic ankle bracelet. The government adopted its 2026 budget after surviving no-confidence votes, survived two more over an energy law, and carried out a reshuffle after Rachida Dati resigned to run for mayor of Paris.
The Epstein files reached France. Prosecutors opened an investigation into former culture minister Jack Lang and his daughter, and Lang resigned as head of the Arab World Institute on 7 February. Police raided the institute on 16 February, and prosecutors set up a special team to examine the files.
After the death of activist Quentin Deranque in Lyon, nine suspects were held in custody, and Macron told Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to stop interfering in other countries' affairs over her remarks on the killing. France barred US Ambassador Charles Kushner from direct access to the government after he failed to attend a summons from the Foreign Ministry; a diplomatic source later said he had pledged not to interfere.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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