The Middle East is often described as a region where democracy is scarce, but one could question the validity of this statement by using Lebanon as an example. Indeed, its universal suffrage, regular elections, and freedom of speech all point towards a strong democratic system. Yet, it has consistently produced political paralysis leading to economic collapse and persistent government dysfunction. An obvious question then arises: how can a system explicitly created to guarantee the stability of

On the night of June 9th 2024, the president of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron announced the dissolution of the National Assembly. Only hours after his party’s defeat in the European elections, Macron made a public appearance to announce this momentous decision. The gamble came as a shock to the populace, sending the country into a spiral of political uncertainty. Indeed, it left many wondering why the holder of the largest bloc in parliament would make such a bold move. Inevitably, this ra

The 2007 presidential elections marked a turning point for France. Nicolas Sarkozy, the candidate who promised to modernize the Republic and restore France’s global authority, was elected as the new French president. To many, he appeared as a reformist, determined to turn the page on France’s stagnant political epoch. However, behind the scenes of his campaign, a more discreet and opaque story was being written.