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 Attention in France is largely focused on student and other protests - but John Lichfield argues that the Budget debates beginning in parliament represent a much clearer and more present danger for the country. https://www.thelocal.fr/20261014/opinion-france-is-hurtling-towards-a-precipice-of-debt Wed, 14 Oct 2026 09:21:21 +0200 opinion-france-is-hurtling-towards-a-precipice-of-debt Many of France's far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen's policies are contrary to French law and the constitution, so does that mean they will never happen? We spoke to legal scholar and specialist in human rights and civil liberties Dr Rim-Sarah Alouane to find out more. https://www.thelocal.fr/20261008/theyre-coming-for-the-rule-of-law-why-frances-constitution-may-not-protect-minorities-from-a-le-pen-government Thu, 08 Oct 2026 18:23:54 +0200 theyre-coming-for-the-rule-of-law-why-frances-constitution-may-not-protect-minorities-from-a-le-pen-government How did a protest at a single French high school over a lack of teaching staff escalate so fast into nationwide, sometimes violent, protests? John Lichfield argues that the lycée protests are just a symptom of a country in deep trouble. https://www.thelocal.fr/20261005/opinion-french-student-protests-are-a-sign-of-a-country-in-crisis Mon, 05 Oct 2026 19:00:33 +0200 opinion-french-student-protests-are-a-sign-of-a-country-in-crisis If you're following via foreign media you'd be forgiven for thinking France is (once again) going up in smoke, but The Local's Emma Pearson says that the largely peaceful French student protests are to be admired rather than feared. https://www.thelocal.fr/20261007/opinion-relax-mum-france-isnt-in-flames-its-just-a-bin-on-fire Wed, 07 Oct 2026 13:14:03 +0200 opinion-relax-mum-france-isnt-in-flames-its-just-a-bin-on-fire 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.fr/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 As the French government prepares its latest budget, another political crisis seems inevitable - but John Lichfield argues that France is now in deep trouble over its spiralling debt. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260916/opinion-france-is-in-deep-trouble-over-its-debt Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:08:37 +0200 opinion-france-is-in-deep-trouble-over-its-debt 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.fr/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.fr/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 For language learners, it's a common experience to have your grammar or pronunciation corrected while speaking to a French person. It is a - mostly - well-meaning habit, but as Emma Pearson explains, it can also take some getting used to. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260820/opinion-being-corrected-by-the-french-can-be-hard-to-take-but-it-really-is-helpful Thu, 20 Aug 2026 13:54:09 +0200 opinion-being-corrected-by-the-french-can-be-hard-to-take-but-it-really-is-helpful Looking out from my garden in the Norman hills, I can see a corner of a Europe-wide catastrophe unfold - writes John Lichfield. My village resembles the Oklahoma dust bowl circa 1936. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260819/opinion-drought-will-plunge-france-into-a-food-prices-crisis Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:10:06 +0200 opinion-drought-will-plunge-france-into-a-food-prices-crisis Every year, parents of school-age children in France are sent a lengthy and complicated list of stationery that they must purchase before schools restart in September - Helen Massy-Beresford offers parental tips on navigating the technicalities while also saving money. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260805/unpacked-the-dreaded-french-school-stationery-lists Wed, 05 Aug 2026 17:18:12 +0200 unpacked-the-dreaded-french-school-stationery-lists Russian disinformation campaigns are already targeting some of the candidates in next year's French presidential election, but as John Lichfield writes - many in France are more worried about the influence of Elon Musk. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260812/opinion-musk-is-a-greater-threat-than-putin-to-frances-2027-election Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:30:16 +0200 opinion-musk-is-a-greater-threat-than-putin-to-frances-2027-election From conspiracy theories to attempts to blame Green politicians, the blame game for the French wildfires has begun - writes John Lichfield - and is likely to continue until next year's elections. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260805/opinion-as-french-wildfires-still-burn-the-blame-the-greens-deflection-has-begun Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:27:34 +0200 opinion-as-french-wildfires-still-burn-the-blame-the-greens-deflection-has-begun Trying to get anything done in France in August can be frustrating as the country shifts into holiday modes and shops and offices close up - but Emma Pearson argues that this tradition reveals important values and should be defended - even against France's own politicians. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260807/opinion-frances-august-shutdown-is-a-tradition-that-needs-to-be-defended Fri, 07 Aug 2026 17:27:14 +0200 opinion-frances-august-shutdown-is-a-tradition-that-needs-to-be-defended 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.fr/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 Will this summer's repeated fatal heatwaves and enormous wildfires cause French politicians to get serious about tackling climate change? Don't bet on it, says John Lichfield. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260729/opinion-french-politicians-are-failing-their-trial-by-wildfire Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:26:19 +0200 opinion-french-politicians-are-failing-their-trial-by-wildfire Talented French footballers - many drawn from the multi-racial suburbs - have become a net export for the country. France itself could learn a great deal from the success of its grassroots sports operation, writes John Lichfield. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260714/opinion-france-should-learn-from-the-success-of-its-wonderful-multi-racial-football-team Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:08:32 +0200 opinion-france-should-learn-from-the-success-of-its-wonderful-multi-racial-football-team Marine Le Pen may have been convicted for a second time for organising a conspiracy to steal millions of euros from the EU, but the scandal has likely boosted the far right's chances of victory in next year's French presidential election, writes John Lichfield. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260708/opinion-le-pen-has-not-defeated-the-system-but-she-may-yet-win-french-presidency Wed, 08 Jul 2026 12:12:57 +0200 opinion-le-pen-has-not-defeated-the-system-but-she-may-yet-win-french-presidency Marine Le Pen does not believe in global warming - writes John Lichfield. She believes in air-conditioning. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260629/opinion-frances-air-conditioning-debate-threatens-to-drown-out-climate-action Mon, 29 Jun 2026 11:18:58 +0200 opinion-frances-air-conditioning-debate-threatens-to-drown-out-climate-action 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.fr/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