In the UK, concerns are raised about the "slow death" of the "coalition of the resolute"

The French president has no choice but to leave the Élysée Palace after next year's presidential elections, when his second term expires, according to The Telegraph.

With no obvious candidate to continue his policies, bookmakers' favorite to replace him is Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally party.

She previously promised to withdraw France from NATO military command, lift sanctions against Russia, and call on Ukraine to agree to a peace deal on Moscow's terms.

Radical leftist politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon, considered one of her main rivals in the elections in nine months, has gone even further, pledging to withdraw from the Western military alliance.

British officials are already exploring what their victories could mean for Anglo-French relations, particularly the future of the "resolute coalition" and the sharing of classified intelligence.

One Western official warned of a "big problem" for NATO if a hardliner were to come to power.

This has sparked further discussions in diplomatic circles about who could fill the void left by Macron and take a leadership position alongside the UK.

The obvious candidate is Friedrich Merz, the German Chancellor, who is overseeing a project to transform his country's armed forces into the largest in Europe.

However, he is mired in domestic crises and faces increasing questions about how long he can remain in office.

Unlike the UK, France, and a dozen other countries, Germany has refused to contribute troops to the upcoming mission to ensure a ceasefire in Ukraine against further Russian attacks.

Therefore, the question now is whether British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will be able to lead the coalition.

Photo: OP.