and leftwing lawmakers. That leaves France, the European Union’s sole nuclear power, rudderless just as Russia is on the offensive in its war against Ukraine and Europe is struggling to make its voice heard amid Sino-American rivalry. “France’s political instability is a problem, especially for its influence in Europe,” said Georgina Wright, an analyst at the Institut Montaigne think-tank, adding that European partners were worried about France’s contributions in terms of equipment to Ukraine. “It’s up to government to sign off defense spending.” Macron’s allies want to believe their leader will defy sceptics and find a way to rebuild the country’s standing over the 30 months he has left in office, like he did for Notre-Dame. “It showed we are capable of rebuilding,” Prisca Thevenot, Macron’s former government spokeswoman, told Reuters. “We really have no other choice,” she said. ($1 = 0.9448 euros)