The man who would be king

The Man Who Would Be King

The French Revolution, though bloody and traumatic, has long stood as a warning to aspiring kings and dictators everywhere. Similarly, France’s rebellion in 1789 serves as a historical lesson.

Greetings from a Nation in Crisis

France has always faced crises, a state that—alongside its renowned cuisine, beautiful people, and world-famous museums like the Mona Lisa—made living there for a decade enjoyable and keeps drawing me back.

The Current Crisis

This crisis, typical in its complex French nature, defies simple explanation. Fundamentally, the government is spending excessively, and the aging political parties cannot agree on a tax plan to avoid fiscal trouble.

The major political parties involved are President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist Renaissance, the center-right Les Républicains, and a significant leftist coalition.
These parties avoid negotiation and deal-making, seeing such actions as beneath their dignity.
Their primary focus is preserving their parliamentary power and preventing the neofascist National Rally party from gaining influence.

International Focus

This week, the French, like many worldwide, have been more interested in a power struggle just north of France.

“Britain’s King Charles III just stripped his brother, the former Prince Andrew, of all royal titles and perquisites, including his 50-room residence near Windsor Castle.”

This unexpected royal decision has captured global attention.

Author’s Summary

France’s ongoing political turmoil reflects deep-seated divisions, while international royal dynamics reveal the fragile nature of modern power.

The Berkshire Eagle — 2025-11-10