Monday
The great misery of emergencies. The scene could have been observed in Gaza or Ukraine. It does indeed take place in France, in a peaceful provincial town. In Langres, sub-prefecture of Haute-Marne, the emergency department has long no longer had the capacity to properly accommodate patients. Failing to be able to push the walls, it overflows into an adjoining room, the “Smur Garage”, unoccupied for good reason: the vehicles in said Smur are broken down most of the time! Parked like common old cars, the sick wait here for hours, placed on a stretcher, between the dirty walls of this room where the ventilation system rumbles out of breath. For months, staff have been denouncing this situation in vain and warning into the void. Helpless, the boss of the department preferred to throw in the towel. Even the emergency website eventually gave up the ghost. Langres, or the symbol of the great health crisis in France.
Mardi
Win-little. By inviting himself on the set of TF1 to announce the revaluation of pensions, Laurent Wauquiez certainly achieved a good move. For having given the impression (not entirely false) of having twisted the Prime Minister’s arm, the leader of the deputies of the Republican Right remembers the good memories of the French at a time when potential rivals, notably Bruno Retailleau, are starting to take the light. However, the operation carried out by Laurent Wauquiez is perhaps not as conclusive as that. By acting in the manner of a second Prime Minister, he united the Macronists, headwinds against this hussar announcement, further weakening Michel Barnier’s lopsided majority. The deputy for Haute-Loire also risks disappointing those first concerned, whose pensions will be increased by around ten euros on average. A win-win measure which, paradoxically, will ultimately penalize the wealthiest retirees and cost the State a whopping 800 million.
Wednesday
Bardella’s chance. On one side Jordan Bardella, all smiles, doing signing sessions in rock star mode. On the other hand, Marine Le Pen, face closed, accepting the relentless demands of a trial which could thwart her presidential ambitions. If the court were to confirm this sentence of five years of ineligibility with provisional execution, Jordan Bardella would become the party’s natural candidate for 2027. Far from blocking the path of the RN, this scenario could on the contrary increase its chances of gaining power. Young and popular, Jordan Bardella does not carry the burden of the Le Pen surname. At the head of a first party in France shaped by his hand, he will be able to take advantage of a conviction presented as a political decision. And emerge victorious from a trial likely to close the doors of the Élysée to his boss.
THURSDAY
Monaco and the magic potion. As the Formula 1 calendar moves further away from Europe each year, the six-year extension of the contract with Monaco is both fantastic news and a major achievement. With its global ambitions, its billions and its armies of lawyers, Liberty Media, the promoter of the discipline, nevertheless initially looked down on this Asterix village of F1. A small country, a city circuit, a unique automobile club in the world headed by a president, Me Michel Boeri, fierce guardian of the temple since… 1972, an attentive and involved sovereign: through these atypical ingredients, Monaco has been able to concoct a magic potion which gives him incomparable strength and allows him to stay in the race today.
Friday
The revenge of the city centers. What if, 61 years after the opening of the first hypermarket in France, we were witnessing the beginning of the end of a model which saw businesses desert city centers? After the fall of Casino, forced to sell its 425 hypermarkets and supermarkets, Auchan reduced its size. Too large, its stores are victims of competition from specialized stores and online sales. As for mid-range ready-to-wear chains, the fall is even more brutal. Camaïeu, Minelli, San Marina and André have gone out of business. A surge which also affects decoration brands such as Casa or Gifi, on the verge of bankruptcy. At the same time, we are witnessing the arrival or return of stores (Action, Normal, etc.) in the heart of cities. A trend that is still marginal, but which could well ultimately signify the revenge of city centers.
SATURDAY
If Gus only knew! According to experts, Gus is a climate refugee. Discovered by a surfer on an Australian beach, this young penguin traveled 3,400 km to find food. If he only knew, Gus! If he knew that it was because of the man that he would not see his mother or his ice floe again. Perky but hungry, he will have to stay in Australia, unable to readjust to his natural environment where he risks bringing back human germs that are dangerous for his fellow human beings. If only he knew, Gus, that the new American President doesn’t care about climate change. If he knew that while the French are carefully sorting their waste, 420 “carbon bombs”, mega-deposits of fossil resources, are compromising the chances of containing climate change in the four corners of the world. If only he knew, our endemic bird of Antarctica, that 1,800 oil and gas lobbyists were invited to Cop29 in Baku, finally discrediting a parody of a climate summit. It’s better that Gus doesn’t know.
