https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Europe in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed An uneasy calm has returned to the shattered streets of French cities since the weekend - writes John Lichfield - but the explosion of violence seen on Saturday is not over. https://www.thelocal.com/20261022/opinion-frances-far-left-rioters-will-usher-in-a-far-right-government Thu, 22 Oct 2026 12:02:48 +0200 opinion-frances-far-left-rioters-will-usher-in-a-far-right-government France's presidential candidates have been caught in the middle of a row between French cancer charities and winemakers over whether alcohol should be labelled 'dangerous'. https://www.thelocal.com/20261016/french-politicians-urged-to-label-alcohol-dangerous Fri, 16 Oct 2026 13:16:37 +0200 french-politicians-urged-to-label-alcohol-dangerous In her proposed budget, far right leader Marine Le Pen has included one measure that could affect every foreign citizen working in France - the introduction of an extra tax of €1,000 per worker, per year for every company that employs non-EU nationals. https://www.thelocal.com/20261008/le-pen-proposes-new-tax-on-companies-in-france-that-employ-foreign-workers Thu, 08 Oct 2026 13:10:37 +0200 le-pen-proposes-new-tax-on-companies-in-france-that-employ-foreign-workers From residency permits to citizenship and access to healthcare and jobs, what would a 'President Marine Le Pen' mean for the daily lives of foreigners in France? With the far-right party ahead in the polls we take a look at its policies on key issues. https://www.thelocal.com/20260911/what-would-a-le-pen-presidency-mean-for-foreigners-in-france Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:46:00 +0200 what-would-a-le-pen-presidency-mean-for-foreigners-in-france As fuel prices in France rise well above the levels that sparked the Gilet Jaunes movements, John Lichfield believes it's unlikely the yellow vests will return in force, but it all boosts the chances of a populist victory in next year's presidential election. Can the French government do anything? https://www.thelocal.com/20260930/opinion-macron-must-tackle-french-fuel-prices-or-risk-populist-oil-fire-in-2027 Wed, 30 Sep 2026 11:08:40 +0200 opinion-macron-must-tackle-french-fuel-prices-or-risk-populist-oil-fire-in-2027 France's Marine Le Pen has reiterated her support for the idea of 'French preference' - a policy that would exclude legal long-term foreign residents of France from certain types of housing, benefits and jobs. But could this ever actually happen? https://www.thelocal.com/20260917/analysis-are-le-pens-french-preference-plans-feasible-or-legal Thu, 17 Sep 2026 13:22:24 +0200 analysis-are-le-pens-french-preference-plans-feasible-or-legal The party is still leading the polls for next year's French election, but as John Lichfield reports there are increasing tensions within the far right Rassemblement National party, particularly between Marine Le Pen and her deputy Jordan Bardella. https://www.thelocal.com/20260909/opinion-in-the-french-far-right-the-rift-widens-between-le-pen-and-bardella Wed, 09 Sep 2026 11:34:26 +0200 opinion-in-the-french-far-right-the-rift-widens-between-le-pen-and-bardella As the 2027 French presidential election campaign gets underway in earnest, polls show Marine Le Pen with a commanding lead - John Lichfield looks at whether a far right victory is really a foregone conclusion. https://www.thelocal.com/20260902/opinion-le-pen-looks-unbeatable-but-her-own-arrogance-and-laziness-may-be-her-undoing Wed, 02 Sep 2026 11:16:27 +0200 opinion-le-pen-looks-unbeatable-but-her-own-arrogance-and-laziness-may-be-her-undoing The stakes for France's 2027 election could hardly be higher. For the first time since World War II, a far-right party has a serious chance of taking power in France, the European Union's second-largest economy and its only nuclear power. https://www.thelocal.com/20260902/as-le-pen-eyes-power-frances-divided-moderates-struggle-to-unite Wed, 02 Sep 2026 17:46:34 +0200 as-le-pen-eyes-power-frances-divided-moderates-struggle-to-unite French prosecutors have opened a probe into a suspected Russian disinformation campaign targeting centrist candidates in next year's presidential elections, the office of the Paris prosecutor said on Tuesday. https://www.thelocal.com/20260818/france-probes-russian-disinfo-campaign-against-centrist-candidates Tue, 18 Aug 2026 18:06:19 +0200 france-probes-russian-disinfo-campaign-against-centrist-candidates As Marine Le Pen prepares herself for her great election gamble, French academic Emile Chabal explores the similarities with populists Nigel Farage and Donald Trump - and whether these tactics will work in France. https://www.thelocal.com/20260806/let-the-people-judge-me-how-marine-le-pen-and-nigel-farage-learned-a-potent-populist-tactic-from-donald-trump Thu, 06 Aug 2026 12:56:11 +0200 let-the-people-judge-me-how-marine-le-pen-and-nigel-farage-learned-a-potent-populist-tactic-from-donald-trump Marine Le Pen has appealed against her second conviction for fraud but the appeal is itself deceitful, writes John Lichfield. The high priestess of “anti-system” French politics is trying to game the system. https://www.thelocal.com/20260722/opinion-why-le-pen-may-lose-if-she-wins-but-could-win-if-she-loses Wed, 22 Jul 2026 12:51:01 +0200 opinion-why-le-pen-may-lose-if-she-wins-but-could-win-if-she-loses The field for France's presidential election in 2027 currently resembles the starting line-up at the Paris or London marathon, writes John Lichfield. https://www.thelocal.com/20260624/opinion-crowded-field-in-frances-2027-election-wont-necessarily-hand-victory-to-the-far-right Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:04:11 +0200 opinion-crowded-field-in-frances-2027-election-wont-necessarily-hand-victory-to-the-far-right Jordan Bardella has stumbled upon reality - writes John Lichfield. A dangerous thing for a populist politician. https://www.thelocal.com/20260610/opinion-the-french-pension-crisis-could-be-a-landmine-for-jordan-bardella Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:24:38 +0200 opinion-the-french-pension-crisis-could-be-a-landmine-for-jordan-bardella The launch of an investigation into the awarding of contracts by a French mayor wouldn't normally merit headline news - but this mayor is one of the favourites for France's crucial 2027 presidential election. https://www.thelocal.com/20260520/explained-could-an-embezzlement-probe-cost-french-centrist-philippe-the-election Wed, 20 May 2026 16:14:10 +0200 explained-could-an-embezzlement-probe-cost-french-centrist-philippe-the-election In the final part of his mini series on the forthcoming French presidential elections, John Lichfield looks at the chances of the Far Right. Despite their runaway lead in polling for Round One, they could yet lose in the second round of the election in 2027. https://www.thelocal.com/20260513/opinion-the-french-far-right-have-a-runaway-poll-lead-but-may-yet-lose-the-2027-election Wed, 13 May 2026 12:06:28 +0200 opinion-the-french-far-right-have-a-runaway-poll-lead-but-may-yet-lose-the-2027-election In the latest in his series of profiles on candidates for the 2027 French presidential election, John Lichfield looks at whether the Centre can unite and, united, can beat the far right. https://www.thelocal.com/20260506/opinion-remains-of-macrons-centrists-still-have-the-best-chance-of-beating-the-far-right Wed, 06 May 2026 11:43:56 +0200 opinion-remains-of-macrons-centrists-still-have-the-best-chance-of-beating-the-far-right French history is littered with spectacular comebacks, from the Emperor Napoleon to Charles de Gaulle to Edith Piaf, writes John Lichfield. Could François Hollande, the cuddliest of politicians but tougher than he seems, return to the Elysée Palace nine years after his presidency fizzled into insignificance? https://www.thelocal.com/20260429/opinion-a-second-french-presidency-for-francois-hollande-really Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:15:22 +0200 opinion-a-second-french-presidency-for-francois-hollande-really France's Les Républicains party - the conservative successors to Charles De Gaulle, Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy - has picked its candidate for the 2027 presidential election. The choice speaks volumes, writes John Lichfield. https://www.thelocal.com/20260422/opinion-frances-traditional-conservatives-will-not-stop-the-far-right-in-2027 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:56:23 +0200 opinion-frances-traditional-conservatives-will-not-stop-the-far-right-in-2027 The Hungarian people have decisively rejected authoritarian leader Viktor Orban and France's Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella seem worried - so is this the beginning of an anti-populist wave in Europe? If only politics was so simple, writes John Lichfield. https://www.thelocal.com/20260415/opinion-orbans-demise-is-a-blow-for-french-far-right-but-not-a-fatal-one Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:12:19 +0200 opinion-orbans-demise-is-a-blow-for-french-far-right-but-not-a-fatal-one