Browsing: France

“Barnier’s cabinet is likely to reassure the business world. … First in terms of method: the prime minister is consulting experts widely and has undertaken to continue doing so in preparation for his government policy statement. This marks the beginning of a culture of compromise that is quite foreign to France. And secondly in the choice of personnel: there are few or no big names in this team, but the ministers are experts in their fields and will be careful not to break with the dynamic created over the past seven years. … With the cast, the method and the direction now set, the 2025 budget will be the acid test.”

“Barnier and Macron want to accommodate French voters on the right and prevent them from voting for far-right parties in even greater numbers in future elections. But paradoxically, the support of Marine Le Pen’s far-right Rassemblement National must also be secured. The RN is the second-most important opposition party in parliament after the left-wing camp, and will play a crucial role in determining how long the new government remains in office. This shows, in turn, how powerful Le Pen’s party has become in France – even if it is still being kept out of the centre of power.”

“If you zoom out of France and look at the whole of Europe, you see that by appointing Michel Barnier as prime minister the once moderate Emmanuel Macron has brought his country into line with many of its neighbours. On the same weekend, the AfD only narrowly lost to the SPD in the Brandenburg elections. … In Belgium, a poll published on Saturday showed a Flanders that is further to the right in its voting preferences than ever before – Vlaams Belang is on form. … Above all, these events mark the end of a week in which the new EU Commission has been dominated by the right.”

France on the verge of naming new government France is on the verge of unveiling a new government, with the final decision awaiting approval from…

Michel Barnier becomes new French PM Veteran French conservative Michel Barnier has been named France’s new Prime Minister, almost two months after the country’s snap…

Plans to keep Olympic rings on Eiffel Tower sparks row Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has sparked controversy with her plan to keep the Olympic rings…

How the press has reacted to Starmer’s Brexit reset The British prime minister is in Europe meeting with leaders in Germany and France in an…

Telegram boss banned from leaving France in criminal probe Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, has been placed under formal investigation in France…

France’s Macron won’t name leftist prime minister, prolonging political crisis French President Emmanuel Macron ruled out naming a prime minister from the leftist New Popular…

Macron rules out leftist PM as ongoing government crisis continues French President Emmanuel Macron has refused to accept a government led by the left-wing New…

Kylian Mbappé to take legal action against PSG over unpaid salary It’s fair to say, Kylian Mbappé’s time at PSG wasn’t an easy one. If…

French film legend Alain Delon dies aged 88 Alain Delon, the French film legend who became an international icon, has died at the age of…

With the Paris Olympics in full swing, France is even more popular among British tourists than usual. If you’re heading across the Channel this summer,…

The triathlon at the Paris 2024 Olympics could be transformed into a duathlon if the water quality in the River Seine does not improve, confirmed…

Man arrested over suspected French railway vandalism A 28-year-old man was arrested in northwest France on Sunday after being found acting suspiciously near a railway…

Breaking – French train network hit by massive attack ahead of Paris Olympics opening ceremony Source: BBC Eurostar trains cancelled and delayed after ‘co-ordinated’ attack,…

French high-speed rail vandalised before Olympic ceremony Hours before the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, French rail company SNCF reported “malicious acts” targeting its high-speed network,…

Squadrons of soldiers drafted from all over France; an AI surveillance system that would make China’s president Xi Jinping jealous; both banks of the River Seine…

Russian arrested over alleged plot to ‘destabilise’ Paris Olympics A Russian man has been arrested in France on suspicion of plotting acts of “destabilisation” during…

Macron says he won’t name government until after Olympics French President Emmanuel Macron announced he won’t appoint a new government until after the Paris Olympics,…

France recalls contaminated Olympic-branded water bottles France has recalled a line of Olympic-branded water bottles for children just a week before the Games’ opening ceremony…

France’s former first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy charged in election funding scandal  France’s former first lady, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, has been charged in an election funding scandal…

France’s Socialist Party leader launches bid to become PM  Olivier Faure, leader of France’s Socialist Party, has announced his candidacy for prime minister following the…