OPINION: The French far-right's 'empty vessel' Bardella is set to win big in Europe
Strong support for Jordan Bardella in France due to accumulated anger towards Macron, his ability to appeal to a wide audience by being both relatable and different from the political elite [ more ]
Profile: The battle of France's young political hopefuls
France's newly appointed Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, 34, is the youngest ever - and first openly gay - head of the French cabinet.
Jordan Bardella, 28, leader of the far-right Rassemblement National, is positioning himself for the role of prime minister in the future if Marine Le Pen wins the presidency in 2027. [ more ]
A paradigm shift': will Jordan Bardella finally normalise Le Pen's far right?
Jordan Bardella, the young politician of France's far-right party, is using his charm and TikTok following to soften the party's image and gain unprecedented support in polls. [ more ]
New French PM seeks to send strong message on law and order
The new French prime minister, Gabriel Attal, visited a police station on his first day in office and promised to deliver security to the French people.
Attal aims to counter the rise of Marine Le Pen's far-right party by appealing to voters who have turned to the far right or abstained from elections. [ more ]
The Debate - Succession? Macron picks Gabriel Attal as youngest French prime minister
France's youngest-ever president, Emmanuel Macron, has named Gabriel Attal, the country's youngest-ever prime minister.
Attal has held various political roles and is seen as charismatic, but the prime minister position in France does not carry as much power as in other European countries. [ more ]
Le Pen's far right served as mouthpiece for the Kremlin, says French parliamentary report
RUSSIAN INFLUENCE Dogged by accusations of proximity to the Kremlin, Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party had hoped to clear its name by setting up a parliamentary inquiry to investigate foreign interference in French politics.But a draft report on the committee's findings, which was leaked to the press this week, shows the move backfired spectacularly, finding instead that Le Pen's policy stances sometimes echo the official language of Putin's regime.
The Guardian view on ruling by decree in France: deepening the trust deficit | Editorial
A few months before sweeping to power in the 2017 presidential election, Emmanuel Macron published a memoir-cum-personal manifesto, Revolution.In it, he made the case for rebellion against allegedly outmoded institutions and ideas that were holding back France.Six years on, it is the popular revolts against Mr Macron's own policies which have taken centre-stage.
PARIS - France awakened to an ecstatic Marine Le Pen on Monday after her party's far-right candidates for parliament sent shockwaves through the political establishment and helped deny President Emmanuel Macron's centrist alliance an absolute majority.
Here's what to expect in Monday's no-confidence vote in France.
By pushing through its plan to overhaul pensions and raise the national retirement age by two years to 64, the French government has exposed itself to no-confidence motions that could bring down President Emmanuel Macron's cabinet an outcome not seen in half a century of French politics.While predictions suggest that a no-confidence motion is unlikely to pass, recent statements from legislators who are seen as critical swing voters indicate that the outcome could be closer than expected.
Elisabeth Borne becomes France's first female prime minister in 30 years
Élisabeth Borne, the French minister for labour, has been appointed prime minister - the first woman to hold the post in more than 30 years and only the second female prime minister in modern French history.
OPINION: A European disaster for Macron could lead to messy autumn elections in France
The paradox of Macronism is evident as his young revolutionary image attracted older voters, but they are now deserting him, impacting his support and potentially future election outcomes. [ more ]
French PM criticised over crackdown on teenage violence
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal facing criticism for proposed crackdown on teenage violence, suggesting treating offenders under 18 as adults and implementing strict measures in schools. [ more ]
Students globally protest Israeli assault on Gaza, seizing universities. Sciences Po sees historic police intervention during student occupation. [ more ]
France to enshrine abortion rights in country's constitution
Enshrining right to abortion in French constitution is a global first with strong public support.
France aims to protect the right to terminate a pregnancy in its basic law, following the US Supreme Court's decision to restrict abortion rights. [ more ]
French interior minister Darmanin cannot be prosecuted for rape accusations, top court says
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin cannot be prosecuted for accusations of rape made by a woman for years, France's highest court ruled on Wednesday.
The Cour de Cassation ruled that a lower court was right to reject the complaint due to a lack of evidence. [ more ]
The French government and mainstream media have expelled the left-wing La France Insoumise (LFI) while embracing the far-right Rassemblement National (RN).
The RN has been rehabilitated due to its alliance with the Israeli government and is no longer considered beyond the pale. [ more ]
Karim Benzema sues French minister for defamation over Muslim Brotherhood claims
Karim Benzema has filed a defamation suit against the French interior minister Gerald Darmanin for accusing him of having links with the Muslim Brotherhood
The legal challenge argues that Benzema has no connection with the organization [ more ]
Nicolas Sarkozy to wear electronic tag after losing corruption sentence appeal
A French appeals court has upheld a prison sentence against the former president Nicolas Sarkozy for corruption and influence-peddling maintaining he should serve one-year's detention at home with an electronic bracelet.Sarkozy was originally convicted in 2021 of trying to bribe a magistrate in exchange for information about a legal case in which he was implicated.
French prosecutors seek new trial for Sarkozy over Libya financing claims
Issued on: 11/05/2023 - 18:46 Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, pictured in a Paris court in December last year, has faced a string of legal woes since leaving office in 2012.Francois Mori, AP French prosecutors on Thursday demanded that former president Nicolas Sarkozy, who has been embroiled in legal troubles since leaving office, face a new trial over alleged Libyan financing of his 2007 election campaign.
Four reasons Macron's new government has caused uproar in France
The new French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal aims to bring together members of the right-wing Republicans to form a majority in parliament.
Two key ministries - education and health - will be merged under the leadership of Amelie Oudea-Castera, causing disagreement among teaching unions. [ more ]
OPINION: Macron's gamble is an opportunity and a curse for new French PM Attal
Macron has taken a double gamble by appointing a young prime minister, Gabriel Attal, who may either fail and sink Macron's second term or succeed and make Macron look outdated.
Attal is a talented politician who has been more successful than Macron in creating a narrative of rapid action and success. [ more ]
French PM Borne resigns as Macron seeks to revamp a troubled government
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has resigned as President Emmanuel Macron looks to bring new momentum to his second term.
The change in prime minister comes after a year of political crises and ahead of European Parliament elections, where eurosceptics are expected to make gains. [ more ]
French parliament set for vote on controversial immigration bill
The French lower house of parliament is debating a bill to tighten immigration rules, which has garnered criticism from both the far-right and hard-left.
The bill, originally proposed by Macron's government, now leans towards stricter enforcement measures after passing through the right-controlled Senate. [ more ]
Independence advocate Moetai Brotherson was elected president of France's Pacific territory of French Polynesia on Friday.Published: 13 May 2023 09:11 CEST French Polynesia's Member of Parliament Moetai Brotherson (L) is congratulated by a member of his party after Brotherson was elected president of France's Pacific territory of French Polynesia in Papeete on May 12, 2023.
Why are so many people in France angry about pension overhaul?
Protests intensify against President Emmanual Macron's plans to raise the retirement age.Changing France's state pension system to one that is more affordable for the government was a central plank of President Emmanual Macron's re-election campaign.However, the reform, which includes raising the retirement age from 62 to 64, has become the central issue in French politics and highly unpopular among the public.
Macron addresses a France in turmoil after retirement age raised
Dock workers face riot police as they stand in front of a burning barricade next the port of Marseille in southern France on March 22. (Daniel Cole/AP)French President Emmanuel Macron is addressing the nation Wednesday after his move to force through legislation to raise the retirement age ignited angry protests and strikes around the country.
OPINION: Macron, the government and France itself all lose from the pensions debacle
Emmanuel Macron likes to take risks.To insist on a hated but necessary pension reform at a time of crisis abroad and dissension at home was, from the beginning, a calculated risk.On Thursday afternoon afternoon the President found himself confronted, like one of the priggish heroes of classic French tragedy, with a choice between two great risks.
OPINION: Macron will risk anger on streets rather than abandon pension reform quietly
The massed ranks of opponents of pension reform were not so massed or so dense on the third day of nationwide protest yesterday.Only 757,000 people turned out, compared to 1,270,000 last Tuesday.Rail, Metro, school and energy strikes were also less powerful attracting, for instance only one in four rail workers, compared to one in two on the first day of action on 19 January.
OPINION: Emily and the Olympics reveal some uncomfortable truths about Paris
The day would be historic, we were told.France would be blocked or closed down and its economy brought to its knees.Demonstrations against pension reform would be the biggest for decades.Tuesday's day of action the sixth since the protests began in January was impressive enough.The official figure for the number of demonstrators nationwide 1.28 million WAS the biggest for decades but it was only a little higher than the turnout achieved on January 31st (1.27 million).
Bid to force UK-France ferry companies to pay French minimum wage
The day would be historic, we were told.France would be blocked or closed down and its economy brought to its knees.Demonstrations against pension reform would be the biggest for decades.Tuesday's day of action the sixth since the protests began in January was impressive enough.The official figure for the number of demonstrators nationwide 1.28 million WAS the biggest for decades but it was only a little higher than the turnout achieved on January 31st (1.27 million).
ANALYSIS: Macron's unrequited love affair with Africa
The day would be historic, we were told.France would be blocked or closed down and its economy brought to its knees.Demonstrations against pension reform would be the biggest for decades.Tuesday's day of action the sixth since the protests began in January was impressive enough.The official figure for the number of demonstrators nationwide 1.28 million WAS the biggest for decades but it was only a little higher than the turnout achieved on January 31st (1.27 million).
Thirty percent of flights cancelled due to French air traffic controllers' strike
The day would be historic, we were told.France would be blocked or closed down and its economy brought to its knees.Demonstrations against pension reform would be the biggest for decades.Tuesday's day of action the sixth since the protests began in January was impressive enough.The official figure for the number of demonstrators nationwide 1.28 million WAS the biggest for decades but it was only a little higher than the turnout achieved on January 31st (1.27 million).
France and Germany to host Charles III on first state visits as king
The day would be historic, we were told.France would be blocked or closed down and its economy brought to its knees.Demonstrations against pension reform would be the biggest for decades.Tuesday's day of action the sixth since the protests began in January was impressive enough.The official figure for the number of demonstrators nationwide 1.28 million WAS the biggest for decades but it was only a little higher than the turnout achieved on January 31st (1.27 million).
France's Macron takes Africa push to Brazzaville ahead of Kinshasa
The day would be historic, we were told.France would be blocked or closed down and its economy brought to its knees.Demonstrations against pension reform would be the biggest for decades.Tuesday's day of action the sixth since the protests began in January was impressive enough.The official figure for the number of demonstrators nationwide 1.28 million WAS the biggest for decades but it was only a little higher than the turnout achieved on January 31st (1.27 million).
Roadblocks and fuel blockades: What to expect from strikes if you're driving in France
The day would be historic, we were told.France would be blocked or closed down and its economy brought to its knees.Demonstrations against pension reform would be the biggest for decades.Tuesday's day of action the sixth since the protests began in January was impressive enough.The official figure for the number of demonstrators nationwide 1.28 million WAS the biggest for decades but it was only a little higher than the turnout achieved on January 31st (1.27 million).
France faces standstill' in protests against pensions overhaul
The day would be historic, we were told.France would be blocked or closed down and its economy brought to its knees.Demonstrations against pension reform would be the biggest for decades.Tuesday's day of action the sixth since the protests began in January was impressive enough.The official figure for the number of demonstrators nationwide 1.28 million WAS the biggest for decades but it was only a little higher than the turnout achieved on January 31st (1.27 million).
France's parliament votes on law to protect childrens' images online
The day would be historic, we were told.France would be blocked or closed down and its economy brought to its knees.Demonstrations against pension reform would be the biggest for decades.Tuesday's day of action the sixth since the protests began in January was impressive enough.The official figure for the number of demonstrators nationwide 1.28 million WAS the biggest for decades but it was only a little higher than the turnout achieved on January 31st (1.27 million).
The day would be historic, we were told.France would be blocked or closed down and its economy brought to its knees.Demonstrations against pension reform would be the biggest for decades.Tuesday's day of action the sixth since the protests began in January was impressive enough.The official figure for the number of demonstrators nationwide 1.28 million WAS the biggest for decades but it was only a little higher than the turnout achieved on January 31st (1.27 million).
French pension strikes: What to expect throughout March
The day would be historic, we were told.France would be blocked or closed down and its economy brought to its knees.Demonstrations against pension reform would be the biggest for decades.Tuesday's day of action the sixth since the protests began in January was impressive enough.The official figure for the number of demonstrators nationwide 1.28 million WAS the biggest for decades but it was only a little higher than the turnout achieved on January 31st (1.27 million).
Electricity cut off to hometown of French labour minister during pension strikes
The day would be historic, we were told.France would be blocked or closed down and its economy brought to its knees.Demonstrations against pension reform would be the biggest for decades.Tuesday's day of action the sixth since the protests began in January was impressive enough.The official figure for the number of demonstrators nationwide 1.28 million WAS the biggest for decades but it was only a little higher than the turnout achieved on January 31st (1.27 million).
French town feminises name for 2023 to highlight gender inequality
A person reaches over a sign in the city of Pantin, in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, on July 30, 2022.Julien de Rosa, AFP A French mayor has announced that his town's name will take on the feminine form for a year to raise awareness about gender equality.Bertrand Kern, the socialist mayor of Pantin outside Paris, announced the move in a New Year's video message on Twitter earlier this week.
PODCAST: What's in store for France in 2023 from travel rules to political flare-ups
Our Talking France podcast is back with a festive special in which we look at what exactly makes a French Christmas - as well as the latest from parliament, meeting France's richest man, finding out why France has 12 time zones and why people are talking about a 'bromance' between France's president and its best footballer.
Blair and former PMs should not act as political 'figureheads', says Ed Balls
Ed Balls has said former prime ministers such as Tony Blair and David Cameron should not attempt to return as "figureheads for the next phase of politics".