https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed 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.fr/20260520/explained-could-an-embezzlement-probe-cost-french-centrist-philippe-the-election Wed, 20 May 2026 14:14:10 +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.fr/20260513/opinion-the-french-far-right-have-a-runaway-poll-lead-but-may-yet-lose-the-2027-election Wed, 13 May 2026 10:06:28 +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.fr/20260506/opinion-remains-of-macrons-centrists-still-have-the-best-chance-of-beating-the-far-right Wed, 06 May 2026 09:43:56 +0200 opinion-remains-of-macrons-centrists-still-have-the-best-chance-of-beating-the-far-right With local elections out of the way, attention has turned to next year's presidential race - in April and May 2027, French people will go to the polls and pick their next president. Here's how the race is shaping up so far. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250411/analysis-who-will-win-frances-next-presidential-election Fri, 11 Apr 2025 17:16:52 +0200 analysis-who-will-win-frances-next-presidential-election Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of France's hard-left La France Insoumise party, on Sunday evening confirmed he would make another run for the presidency in 2027, his fourth bid for the top job. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260504/frances-hard-left-leader-melenchon-confirms-presidential-run Mon, 04 May 2026 08:41:20 +0200 frances-hard-left-leader-melenchon-confirms-presidential-run 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.fr/20260429/opinion-a-second-french-presidency-for-francois-hollande-really Wed, 29 Apr 2026 09:15:22 +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.fr/20260422/opinion-frances-traditional-conservatives-will-not-stop-the-far-right-in-2027 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:56:23 +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.fr/20260415/opinion-orbans-demise-is-a-blow-for-french-far-right-but-not-a-fatal-one Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:12:19 +0200 opinion-orbans-demise-is-a-blow-for-french-far-right-but-not-a-fatal-one France is being redrawn before our eyes - writes John Lichfield - the old political maps of Left-Right-Centre no longer make sense. Politicians are trying to re-invent them. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260408/opinion-le-pen-pushes-to-cast-aside-far-right-label-as-france-redraws-political-map Wed, 08 Apr 2026 09:40:11 +0200 opinion-le-pen-pushes-to-cast-aside-far-right-label-as-france-redraws-political-map As attention in France shifts to the 2027 presidential elections, John Lichfield looks at how the candidates will be be narrowed down and whether France is indeed 'sleepwalking into a Far-Right presidency'. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260401/opinion-primaries-cannot-save-france-from-a-trumpian-future Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:18:39 +0200 opinion-primaries-cannot-save-france-from-a-trumpian-future The Talking France podcast is back with a look at how the war in Iran is affecting daily life in France, the likely runners in the 2027 presidential election, why the French love Celine Dion so much and the different ways to say 'hello'. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260401/podcast-oil-crisis-fuels-french-anger-and-is-france-sleepwalking-into-a-far-right-presidency Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:54:56 +0200 podcast-oil-crisis-fuels-french-anger-and-is-france-sleepwalking-into-a-far-right-presidency The Local France's editor Emma Pearson explains why foreigners in France face an anxious year ahead as the presidential election looms large and the threat from the xenophobic far right grows ever stronger. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260325/opinion-for-foreigners-in-france-each-election-brings-a-creeping-sense-of-dread Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:06:38 +0100 opinion-for-foreigners-in-france-each-election-brings-a-creeping-sense-of-dread