French Member of the European Parliament Marion Maréchal and her husband, Vincenzo Sofo, a member of the Italian political party Fratelli d'Italia, were involved in a serious car accident on August 16 while driving in Calabria, southern Italy. Their vehicle was struck by another car that swerved to avoid an animal on the road. Both Maréchal and Sofo were hospitalized for observation but sustained only minor bruises and were otherwise unharmed. Sofo shared an image on social media following the incident. The couple described the experience as a close encounter with death. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed confidence in François Bayrou's ability to serve as Prime Minister until 2027, dismissing speculation about a potential government dissolution.