France is now in the throes of a spiraling political crisis. The National Assembly lacks a clear governing majority and Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) seems ever closer to finally winning power.

Tanned after a short summer break in southern France, Emmanuel Macron has returned to Paris to face a political crisis largely of his own making.

France’s prime minister has quit after losing a confidence vote that toppled his government, plunging the country into a new political crisis.