Unknown future after summer paralysis

When Emmanuel Macron welcomes world leaders to the reopening of Notre Dame cathedral this weekend after fire damaged it five years ago, he might have hoped it would serve as a metaphor for people from all backgrounds coming together in Paris to prevent a hallowed edifice from collapse.

-  Angelique Chrisafis

Instead, it is likely that the French government itself will have fallen, with voters' trust of politicians and the political process in charred ruins.

The president is entering a period of uncertainty and parliamentary chaos, which critics say is of his own making. The repercussions are being felt from his gamble of calling a snap parliamentary election in June.

It was never going to be easy when the rightwing former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier was appointed by Macron as prime minister in September, following a summer of political paralysis after an inconclusive election.

But it has taken only three months for Barnier to face being ousted in a no-confidence vote.