Journalists Babis Papadimitriou and Dimitris Maniatis return to On the Ropes for a discussion of France’s deepening political turmoil. They examine recent developments in the country, including the violent demonstrations that have erupted in French cities. The episode focuses on the governance crisis surrounding the French leadership. The two journalists also consider the political dead end in which they believe Emmanuel Macron now finds himself. They look for deeper causes behind the anger visible on the streets, rather than treating the unrest only as a reaction to recent events. The conversation asks what the disorder means for Macron’s political future. They frame the street violence as a serious test of the government’s ability to regain public confidence.