Government Under Pressure Over Handling of Heatwave: Harsh Criticism from Almost All Political Camps

The historic heatwave is pushing not only France's hospitals, schools, and emergency services to their limits – it is increasingly developing into a political crisis. Prime Minister François Bayrou's government is facing sharp accusations from nearly all political camps. Opposition parties, mayors, and environmental groups accuse the executive of responding too late and hesitantly to the extraordinary weather situation. The criticism is particularly strong from the left. Representatives of La…