The Monocle Minute

Michel Barnier will almost certainly lose a no-confidence vote today, making his term as France’s prime minister the shortest since the Second World War. His government’s troubles are emblematic of the country’s political and financial turmoil as a divided legislature struggles to tackle runaway public spending and economic growth sputters. Yet, in spite of it all, “brand France” continues to project an image of achievement.

While a survey released by Ipsos shows that the French overwhelmingly feel that their country is in decline, it’s not necessarily a sentiment shared by the rest of the world. The first images of the restored Notre-Dame cathedral, released this week, have showcased the country’s craftsmanship, ingenuity and hard work to people across the globe. When, in 2019, Emmanuel Macron vowed to have Notre-Dame rebuilt in five years following a devastating fire, few believed that it was possible. However, with the financial backing of business titans such as Bernard Arnault and François-Henri Pinault, c’est fait. This weekend, Macron will welcome dozens of heads of state, as well as US president-elect Donald Trump, to the cathedral’s official reopening ceremony.

This is the second time in six months that the world’s eyes have been on France and neither occasion had anything to do with political failure. After the success of the Paris Olympics, the president is overseeing another soft-power victory for his country, despite his popularity now being the lowest it has ever been. There is uncertainty hanging over much of his and France’s political and economic future. How can the Gordian knot of a divided Assemblée Nationale be undone? Can the French economy take any more political drama? Who will be the next prime minister? And who will be the next president?

Through it all, however, one thing is certain: the world will continue to look to France as an example of how to do things well in so many areas. Though the French are known for decrying their leaders, the nation’s image somehow manages to remain sacred.

Simon Bouvier is Monocle’s Paris bureau chief. For more opinion, analysis and insight, subscribe to Monocle today.

Where next? That is the core question at the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) in Cannes, which continues today. Some 85,000 meetings are taking place at the Palais des Festivals et Congrès this week, as travel agents size up the latest offerings from major hospitality brands. Despite significant headwinds due to conflicts across the world, there is cautious optimism among big hoteliers. “We never leave a country we are in,” Sébastien Bazin, CEO of French hotel group Accor, told Tyler Brûlé, Monocle’s editorial director and chairman, in Monocle Radio’s pop-up studio at ILTM. “Amid geopolitical challenges, your growth might slow down but you adapt – and that’s how hospitality powers through.”

The need to keep moving has been a common refrain at the fair, from Four Seasons readying to set sail with its luxury-yacht venture in 2026 to Capella Hotel Group, which has properties across Southeast Asia, gearing up to open an outpost in Taipei in early 2025. For Cristiano Rinaldi, the Singapore-based hotel group’s president, a few other key destinations stand out. “We see a shift towards markets such as Malaysia and Indonesia,” he says. “But over the next 12 months, you will see canny travellers heading to Thailand.” One ticket to Bangkok, please.

Tune in to this morning’s edition of ‘The Globalist’ to hear the full interview with Bazin.

Riyadh Metro, Saudi Arabia’s long-awaited €21.4bn metro system, opened three lines on Saturday, with a further three scheduled to open within a month. The new public-transport system is part of a wider plan to modernise the car-centric city and connect 85 stations. Once completed, the tracks will span 176km and be able to carry more than 3.6 million passengers a day. The metro’s opening comes as a relief to the city’s residents and visitors alike, who often face severe traffic congestion.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is leading the charge to diversify the country’s oil-dependent economy and plans to host the World Expo in 2030 and the Fifa World Cup in 2034. “While the Dubai Metro has a small passenger count and Doha’s line was effectively mothballed, Riyadh’s traffic, coupled with an increase in the number of women entering the workforce, might mean that this system will succeed where others have not,” says William Law, editor at the Arab Digest website. Among Saudi Arabia’s many moonshots, a transit system that allows people to move in safety and comfort is a refreshingly down-to-earth achievement.

Japan will boost its military-aid spending to ¥5bn (€32m) a year from next April – more than double the current figure. Authorities in Tokyo have also confirmed that the Philippines, Indonesia, Mongolia and Djibouti will be the next beneficiaries of a Japanese programme to provide non-lethal military aid, such as radar and communications technology, to key geopolitical areas. The motivation? China.

“Beijing’s military budget and power have grown at a pace unprecedented in human history,” says Tomohiko Taniguchi, a former special advisor to the cabinet of Shinzo Abe. “Very little can be achieved by Japan alone.” The Philippines and Indonesia need help to build up their maritime capabilities, while Djibouti hosts Japan’s only overseas base. The significantly increased military-aid budget shows that Japan is willing and able to expand its geopolitical presence – even if that is only by boosting its neighbours.

This year’s Soane Medal winner, Hanif Kara, joins us at Midori House. Plus: a studio visit to the Dutch artistic practice, Rive Roshan. Listen to the podcast.