The Local France

France and Germany 'concerned' at Trump refugee ban

Sat, 28 Jan 2017 14:00:36 +0100

France and Germany are "concerned" over a number of decisions by US President Donald Trump, particularly his move to restrict refugee arrivals, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Saturday.

France warns Trump not to recognise Jerusalem as capital

Sun, 15 Jan 2017 22:06:17 +0100

France warned on Sunday of "serious consequences" if Donald Trump moves to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital as representatives from 70 countries met in Paris to try to revive stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts.

French foreign minister snubs EU Trump talks

Sun, 13 Nov 2016 10:34:19 +0100

The French foreign minister is to miss an emergency meeting of his EU counterparts to discuss a response to Donald Trump's stunning US election win.

French Aleppo plan faces Russia rival in UN

Sat, 08 Oct 2016 09:20:03 +0200

The UN Security Council will vote on two rival resolutions on Syria on Saturday, one drafted by France calling for an end to air raids on Aleppo and a second by Russia that makes no mention of a halt to the bombings.

No time to lose in Libya says French FM

Sat, 13 Feb 2016 20:09:35 +0100

There is "no time to lose" to put in place a unity government in Libya, where the Islamic State group is rapidly expanding its presence, the new French foreign minister said on Saturday.

Taxi wars: PM bows to French cabbies' demands

Thu, 13 Feb 2014 16:25:00 +0100

In an effort to end ongoing taxi cab wildcat strikes, French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault announced on Thursday a suspension of new permits for private hire cabs, which are the root of cabbies' outrage.

France will not 'copy' UK economic model: PM

Fri, 20 Dec 2013 10:20:00 +0100

British economic policies have created mass poverty and inequality and France will not be copying them. That was the view of none other than France's Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault. Read what else he had to say about the UK.

France set to reform its 'unreadable' tax system

Tue, 19 Nov 2013 17:57:00 +0100

With much recent talk of France being at risk of a "social explosion" over the country's high taxes, its under pressure Prime Minister made a promise on Tuesday to overhaul the fiscal system, admitting that it was almost "unreadable" and "very complex".

France set to unveil Marseille master plan

Fri, 08 Nov 2013 10:29:00 +0100

France is set on Friday to unveil a multi-billion euro master plan to improve life in the southern city of Marseille, after months of spiraling crime and pleas for help from local officials. Here's what the government is expected to announce.

France 'on course' to break public deficit limit

Fri, 28 Jun 2013 10:17:00 +0200

There was more bad news for France on the economic front this week, when the country's own budget watchdog warned that public sector deficit is set to break a limit set by the EU last month. The watchdog said economic growth was now imperative.

France to cut spending for first time since 1958

Tue, 25 Jun 2013 16:31:00 +0200

The continuing impact of the financial crisis in France became clear on Tuesday when the Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault confirmed that government spending would be cut next year for the first time since 1958.

French PM demands €5 billion spending cuts

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 13:13:00 +0100

French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault on Friday asked ministries to slash spending by €5 billion next year to help balance the budget amid low growth, spiralling unemployment and mass layoffs.

Government steps in as father's protest continues

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 09:14:00 +0100

France's Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault has asked ministers to meet fathers' rights groups in Paris this week as a man remained perched atop a crane in Nantes for a fourth day on Monday in protest at being denied access to his son.

French PM: I want Obama to win

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 19:48:00 +0200

French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault has broken with diplomatic protocol by openly expressing his hope that Barack Obama wins the upcoming US presidential election.

Right-wing MPs walk out over Ayrault jibe

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 12:04:00 +0200

UMP members of parliament walked out of a question and answer session at the Assemblée Nationale on Tuesday after the socialist prime minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, accused them of wanting France to fail.

Ayrault announces plan to combat racism

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 12:40:00 +0200

French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault has announced a “plan of action” to use education to fight racism and antisemitism in the country.

Hollande down 11 points in opinion polls

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 12:01:00 +0200

President François Hollande has lost 11 points in popularity with the French public in the last month, according to a new poll by Ipsos for weekly magazine Le Point.

New French government wins confidence vote

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 12:48:00 +0200

France's new left-wing government under Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault on Tuesday won a vote of confidence in the National Assembly.

France 'not trying to shun Merkel': PM

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 11:43:00 +0200

French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Friday that France and Germany should work "hand-in-hand for a solution to pull Europe out of crisis," and called for stronger contacts with Berlin.