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On October 25, 2025, a conference with international participation by the Faculty of History of Lomonosov Moscow State University "Political Leadership in the Countries of Western Europe in the Modern and Contemporary Period: Problems and Research Methods" was held at Lomonosov Moscow State University.

Arina Preobrazhenskaya, Senior Researcher of the Center for Comparative Socio-Economic and Political Studies of IMEMO, Cand. of Science (Politics), participated in the conference and delivered a plenary report "Transformation of Political Leadership Phenomenon in the Context of the Welfare State Crisis (on the example on the Presidency of Emmanuel Macron in 2017– 2025)".

In her presentation, the speaker analyzed the economic causes and socio-political consequences of the welfare state crisis in France, noted the transformations in the political practices of French party leaders that followed in response to this crisis. The report pays particular attention on the digitalization of contemporary political space, the emergence of new forms of interaction between political leaders and society, and new ways for politicians to influence voters.