The Monocle Daily – October 10, 2025

Can Macron’s PM Ensure France Avoids a Snap Election?

Episode Overview

The main theme of this episode is the political turmoil in France as President Emmanuel Macron seeks to appoint a new prime minister amid threats of a snap election and instability in the National Assembly. The Monocle Daily's panel, led by Andrew Muller, examines the potential candidates, Macron's political strategies, and implications for France's future governance. The episode also features segments on the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, a behind-the-scenes look at Monocle’s new design guide, an interview with comedian Paul Cabannes, and the weekly satirical recap of global political happenings.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The French Prime Minister Conundrum

(00:50 - 10:55)

Guests:

• Andrew Muller (host, B)

• Simon Bouvier (Paris bureau chief, C)

• No New PM Yet: Macron promised to name a new prime minister within 48 hours; as of recording, the appointment was still pending.

  • “Are we in fact any the wiser?” – Andrew Muller [01:20]
  • Simon: “Not yet. I haven't gotten a phone call. BFM is reporting that he will name the new prime minister before 8 o'clock local time, which is in the next hour... But no, we are none the wiser for now.” [01:34]

• Candidates:

  • Jean Louis Bourlot (ex-minister, maverick profile)
  • Returning PM Sebastien Rocornou, who just resigned after 27 days

• Optics and Functionality:

  • Reviving a resigned PM looks desperate and is unpopular even within Macron’s party.
    • Simon: “The optics are not great is the mother of all understatements, Andrew. In fact, they're so poor that… it has started a wave of protestations at the very idea that that might happen.” [02:59]
  • Main rationales: Outgoing PM has prepped the urgent budget; has rapport with some parties.

• National Assembly Deadlock:

  • Whoever is appointed is likely to face the same opposition, with National Rally (Marine Le Pen's party) keen for early elections, knowing they stand to gain.
    • “Whoever President Macron appointed, she [Le Pen] would do everything in her power to bring them down as well.” – Andrew Muller [04:27]

• Macron’s Political Calculus:

  • Is he playing 4D chess by possibly letting the far right govern and lose popularity?
    • Simon cautions that Macron’s strategic genius may be overstated: “Objectively very brilliant president also has serious blind spots… I think that the second option is far more likely.” [07:23]

• Traditional Right Might Ally with Far Right:

  • “If you can't beat them, join them” scenario is on the table – parts of the conventional right are open to coalition with National Rally if they gain strength in a snap election. [08:53]

• Possible Compromise Not Taken:

  • Macron could appoint a candidate from the left or make policy compromises to gain Assembly support. His obstinacy is noted as “a bit concerning.” [09:19]

Notable Quotes:

• “The optics are not great is the mother of all understatements, Andrew.” – Simon Bouvier [02:59]
• “French always say they choose their president based on who they dislike the most.” – Simon Bouvier [05:09]
• “I do think that the kind of presidential ambitions of all of these different national political leaders are not making this task easy.” – Simon Bouvier [09:19]

Nobel Peace Prize 2025: Maria Corina Machado

(10:55 - 18:40)

Guests:

• Andrew Muller (B)

• Bruno Kaufmann (global democracy correspondent, D)

• Awarded to Maria Corina Machado: Venezuelan opposition leader recognized for her peaceful, decades-long fight for democracy. Her exact whereabouts are unknown due to regime retaliation risk.

  • “She is one of those persons in the world which since 20 years have fought for democratic rights in her own country, Venezuela. And she has done that in a very… peaceful, patient way.” – Bruno Kaufmann [12:24]

• Surprise Choice? Not widely tipped but seen as logical due to global democratic backsliding.

• Impact of the Prize:

  • Prize hoped to lend her legitimacy and protection.
    • “The Nobel Peace Prize Committee wants to support people who maybe need this kind of support.” – Bruno Kaufmann [14:55]

• Indirect Critique of Trump: Prize citation about authoritarianism and rule of law is interpreted as an indirect rebuke to Trump's record, though the U.S. isn’t named directly.

  • “Is it possible to read the citation in any other way than as a bit of a pop at President Trump...?” – Andrew Muller [15:52]
  • “It's a signal also to other countries, including the United States, that these criteria maybe not be the strongest ones on President Trump's list.” – Bruno Kaufmann [16:21]

• American Response:

  • U.S. Congressman vows to introduce resolution for Trump to get a Nobel.
  • “Is there any indication at all that continually demanding that you be given one is the to actually get it, though I don't suppose anybody else has really tried?” – Andrew Muller [17:16]

Monocle Design Directory Preview

(18:40 - 28:07)

Guests:

• Andrew Muller (A/B)

• Grace Charlton (associate editor, design, A)

• Nick Manese (design editor, E)

• What is the Design Directory?

  • “It’s basically Monocle magazine if it was just design.” – Grace Charlton [19:59]
  • Big images, longer stories, glossy paper, “a real labor of love.” [20:08]

• Feature Stories:

  • Spomeniks (monuments of former Yugoslavia): An architectural journey packed with history and emotional presence.
    • “It's hard to convey through a picture or even through words the experience of sort of standing underneath these.” – Grace Charlton [22:36]
    • “A lot of it is quite horrible history… but this is really what the power of design can be in architecture.” – Grace Charlton [23:05]
  • Multiple covers to reflect global scope (São Paulo, Tokyo, Paris, Mexico City), each highlighting local creative communities.

• Directory Utility:

  • Guide to about 60 cities, listing top designers, studios, galleries.
  • “We wanted to… show the geographic spread and reach of our magazine coverage here.” – Nick Manese [24:44]
  • "It’s a real celebration of what a little microcosm can do." – Grace Charlton [25:59]

Comedian Paul Cabannes: On Cross-Cultural Humor (France-Brazil)

(28:07 - 36:18)

Guests:

• Andrew Muller

• Fernando Augusto Pacheco (senior correspondent, F)

• Paul Cabannes (comedian, G)

• Story: Frenchman becomes a comedy star in Brazil by lovingly lampooning Brazilian social customs.

  • “He observes the oddities of Brazilian daily life and… he’s not Brazilian, so he can.” – Fernando Augusto Pacheco [29:43]
  • Classic example: The ritual of people offering food they don’t expect you to accept.
    • “A Brazilian person who has a piece of food… will offer it to you politely, with the expectation that you refuse…” – Paul Cabannes [31:10]

• Social Comparisons: French directness vs Brazilian reluctance to say “no.”

  • “In France, nobody has ever said ooh la la in 50 years. But I say it. It's good for my career, you know?” – Paul Cabannes [35:45]
  • “Brazilian people don’t say no. They just add vowels… People want to be polite. They don’t want to displease you.” – Paul Cabannes [34:21]

• Food Crime: Brazilians stuffing croissants with ham and pickles – “This is criminal. I would pardon many things, but this is not pardonable.” – Paul Cabannes [35:23]

What We Learned This Week: Satire & Political Follies

(36:18 - 43:06)

Host: Andrew Muller

• Tory Typos: Conservative Party misspells “Britain” on conference chocolate bars – “Britian.”
  • “One refinement to a focus group: Britian. Actually, maybe it could be Great Brian?” [37:53]
• Argentina: President Javier Milei launches his book with a bizarre rock concert; timing is unfortunate as Argentina seeks a $20B bailout, raising eyebrows about his “miracle” economic plan.
• Trump Nostalgia: Trump’s old book wrongly claims he foresaw Bin Laden’s threat; “It's not like he's ever read it.” – Andrew Muller
• US Political Ironies: Pardons for January 6 rioters highlighted; Stephen Miller’s over-the-top rhetoric called out for historic amnesia.
  • “When has the United States ever tolerated riotous assemblies around government buildings?” [41:11]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On France’s PM Drama:
  • “The optics are not great is the mother of all understatements, Andrew.” – Simon Bouvier [02:59]
• On Nobel Prize Impacts:
  • “They hope [the prize] will be a tipping point for the regime in Venezuela, which is maybe a little bit too much to expect.” – Bruno Kaufmann [14:55]
• On Cross-Cultural Humor:
  • “In France, nobody has ever said ooh la la in 50 years. But I say it. It's good for my career, you know?” – Paul Cabannes [35:45]
• On Party Conference Snafus:
  • “Britian. Actually, maybe it could be what about Great Brian?” – Focus group participant [37:53]

Useful Timestamps

• France’s looming PM crisis: 00:50 – 10:55
• Nobel Peace Prize analysis: 10:55 – 18:40
• Monocle Design Directory preview: 18:40 – 28:07
• Comedian Paul Cabannes on cultural humor: 28:07 – 36:18
• 'What We Learned' satirical wrap: 36:18 – 43:06

Summary by The Monocle Daily, October 10, 2025 – expertly condensed for clarity and context.