A turbulent day across Europe saw France swear in its fifth prime minister in two years under a cloud of street protests, Poland edge closer to confrontation with Russia after drone incursions, and Britain’s largest carmaker grapple with the fallout of a damaging cyber-attack.
Markets, meanwhile, traded with restraint despite upbeat US signals.
France: Lecornu steps in as protests sweep the country
President Emmanuel Macron moved swiftly on Tuesday to name Sébastien Lecornu as France’s new prime minister, just a day after parliament ousted François Bayrou in a confidence vote.
Lecornu, a close ally of Macron and former defence minister, inherits a government beset by turmoil as the president’s second term continues to be defined by instability.
The transition was overshadowed by the so-called “Block Everything” protests, which saw demonstrators obstruct highways, set fire to barricades, and clash with police in cities across the country.
Authorities deployed more than 80,000 security personnel nationwide, with riot police using teargas in Paris to disperse crowds. Nearly 200 people were detained in the capital.
What began online as a right-wing protest movement against rising living costs and spending cuts has since broadened, drawing in left-wing groups and amplifying discontent against Macron’s administration.
Lecornu, now the fifth person to hold the premiership in two years, faces the dual challenge of tackling the government’s fiscal agenda while containing growing unrest.
Poland: Tusk warns of danger after drone incursions
In Warsaw, Prime Minister Donald Tusk delivered one of the starkest warnings yet about the security risks facing Poland.
He told parliament that the country was “the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two,” after 19 Russian drones violated Polish airspace overnight.
Polish forces shot down at least three drones, with a fourth likely destroyed, Tusk said, adding that the incursions represented a dangerous escalation.
He confirmed that Poland had triggered NATO’s Article 4 consultations, which require allies to meet whenever a member’s security is under threat.
While Tusk emphasised that he did not believe Poland was on the brink of war, he said “a line has been crossed.”
UK: Jaguar Land Rover hit by cyber-attack fallout
Back in Britain, Jaguar Land Rover confirmed that the cyber-attack, which forced factory shutdowns last week, had also compromised company data.
The Tata Group-owned automaker said it was still assessing the scale of the breach but warned that customer or supplier information may have been exposed.
JLR notified the Information Commissioner’s Office and pledged to contact anyone affected.
Production at its Midlands and Merseyside plants remains suspended until at least Monday, with international facilities also on pause.
The disruption has raised fears that the hack could leave factories offline for weeks, inflating costs at a time when the company is already under pressure to deliver its electrification strategy.
Markets: Europe subdued as Wall Street rallies
European equities traded slightly lower on Wednesday, with the Stoxx 600 slipping 0.05% and Germany’s DAX down 0.39%.
France’s CAC 40 edged 0.15% higher despite the political turmoil.
Stock moves were overshadowed by US momentum, where a softer-than-expected inflation print fuelled bets on a Federal Reserve rate cut, pushing the S&P 500 to a record high.
Among standout movers in Europe, Novo Nordisk gained 3.7% after announcing 9,000 job cuts, while Zara-owner Inditex rose 6.5% on the back of resilient earnings.
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