Critical step: French parliament speaker re-elected in surprise move

French lawmakers re-elected Yael Braun-Pivet, a member of President Macron's centrist bloc, as speaker of the lower house, marking a breakthrough in the deadlock following snap elections. The National Assembly, divided among three similarly-sized blocs, saw Braun-Pivet secure 220 votes in the third round, beating left-wing candidate Andre Chassaigne and far-right representative Sebastien Chenu.