Overnight focus stayed on Germany's regionals, read as a historic defeat for Friedrich Merz's CDU with the AfD first in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Die Linke ahead in Berlin. Coverage shifted to consequences, with Merz vowing to stay for Germany's democratic future while editorials warned of a European crisis and drew lessons for 2027.
At home the fuel crisis dominated. With prices still rising and one station in five short of fuel, Matignon held two meetings. The government ruled out a general tax cut and set new aid for workers for Tuesday at 17h, while Macron asked Ursula von der Leyen for EU regulatory easing.
Macron flew to New York for an evening meeting with Donald Trump billed as a frank debate, as the Socialist primary sharpened around Ségolène Royal calling Raphaël Glucksmann a stagiaire and Le Monde detailed Jean-Luc Mélenchon's state project.