This Wednesday, March 25, Emmanuel Macron must present the National Order of Merit to his Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. This distinction is part of a tradition according to which each head of government receives this decoration after six months in office. Sébastien Lecornu, appointed on September 9, 2025 to replace François Bayrou, thus reached this milestone. The ceremony will take place at the Élysée in a deliberately very sober format. At the request of the Prime Minister, it will take place discreetly, without any outside guests. Only Emmanuel Macron and Sébastien Lecornu will be present.
The National Order of Merit is the second national distinction after the Legion of Honor. Its objective is to reward distinguished merits, whether acquired in the context of civil or military public functions, or in the exercise of a private activity.
2 – Conservative Movement Conference in the United States
The conservative CPAC conference opens this Wednesday, March 25, 2026 near Dallas, Texas, for four days. This major meeting of the American right will bring together many political figures, with Donald Trump headlining. His speech, expected on Saturday, should set the tone a few months before the midterm elections in November, decisive for control of Congress.
Electoral issues will be at the heart of the discussions, in a context of concerns for the Republicans, between recent setbacks and economic fears. But the international dimension should also occupy an important place, notably the war against Iran. The presence of the Iranian opponent Reza Pahlavi illustrates this orientation and the debates around a more interventionist line.
Several political leaders and primary candidates will be present, such as Senator Ted Cruz or Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. All seek to establish themselves in a movement structured around Donald Trump. CPAC is a central showcase for the American right to refine its strategy before the electoral deadlines.
3 – The EU chooses a city to host the headquarters of the future European Customs Authority
The European Union must decide this Wednesday March 25, 2026 on the choice of the city which will host the future European Customs Authority. The decision will be taken at an interinstitutional meeting between the Council and the European Parliament, after a joint selection process. Upstream, each institution must establish a list of two candidate cities among nine in the running: Liège, Zagreb, Lille, Rome, The Hague, Warsaw, Porto, Bucharest and Malaga. If a city appears on both lists, it will be directly selected. Otherwise, several rounds of voting will be organized on the same day to decide between the candidates.
This new authority will have the mission of coordinating customs actions within the EU and strengthening cooperation between States, in a context of increased trade, fragmentation of systems and development of online commerce. Among the candidate cities, Lille actively defends its position, highlighting its expertise, its strategic location and a ready-to-use real estate project. The stakes are high: the agency must play a central role in European customs reform and could represent significant economic benefits for the chosen city.
4 – Visit of Giorgia Meloni to Algeria
The President of the Italian Council Giorgia Meloni is expected this Wednesday March 25, 2026 in Algiers for a working visit, in a context marked by strong tensions on the energy market. This trip is part of the strengthening of relations between Italy and Algeria.
Gas will be at the heart of the discussions. Faced with disruptions linked to the conflict involving Iran and supply difficulties, Italy is seeking to secure its imports. It is turning again to Algeria, which has already become a key supplier in recent years, representing around a third of its consumption.
Beyond energy, this visit also aims to deepen economic partnerships. The two countries must discuss an intensification of Italian investments in Algeria, in particular to support the diversification of its economy, still very dependent on hydrocarbons. Finally, this meeting must consolidate the strategic links between Rome and Algiers in an unstable international context, where energy and industrial cooperation appears to be an essential lever for the two countries.
5 – The good news of the day
Céline Dion is preparing to make her comeback on stage in France in the fall of 2026, with concerts expected at Paris La Défense Arena. Since Monday, a poster campaign in Paris, featuring emblematic titles, suggests an imminent announcement. This return is particularly awaited after the definitive cancellation of his “Courage World Tour”, initially planned for 2020, due to the pandemic and then his health problems.
At 57, the singer is expected to perform for several weeks in Europe’s largest venue. His return seemed to be taking shape since his remarkable performance at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024 and his rare public appearances. Suffering from stiff person syndrome, she continues to live with the illness while considering returning to the stage. Despite recent uncertainties, the new clues and its communication on social networks confirm that this return is now concrete and imminent.
