Abstract. The article deals with the current problems of socio-political and economic development of France and its foreign policy course. A serious challenge for the country’s economy is the slowdown of business activity with the growth of public debt, which has put into question the accumulation of financial resources to solve long-term structural problems. Attempts to cut programs aimed at maintaining a high level of well-being of citizens led to powerful social explosions and deepened the alienation of the people from the elites. The absence of an absolute majority of the pro-presidential forces in the National Assembly complicated the interaction between the government and the parliament and led to a split in the presidential team. The political struggle around the adoption of a number of high-profile bills is analyzed in detail. Particular attention is paid to the problems of growing political radicalism coupled with an increase in the degree of aggression and violence in society. The complex challenges faced by the country on the foreign policy circuit are shown. The most unsuccessful for Paris in 2023 was the African direction, where in several countries at once the new authorities announced a change of course and demanded the withdrawal of French military contingents.