France’s Banks Face Firestorm Over National Rally Campaign Cash Block

France’s political crisis is moving beyond budgets and polls. With Macron weakened, Marine Le Pen potentially blocked from running, and National Rally leading the field, the question is whether France’s establishment is trying to lock in power before voters get their say. Michael Heaver looks at Macron’s troubled final stretch, including a budget pushed through without a vote and reports that one of his top aides could move into a key central bank role. He also examines National Rally’s position ahead of the next presidential race, with Jordan Bardella setting out policies on housing, benefits and national priority. But despite the party’s strength in the polls, French banks are reportedly refusing to provide the campaign loans normally used to fund presidential bids, prompting claims of political discrimination.