The Local France

France: Final farewell for Chirac in family's home village

Sun, 06 Oct 2019 12:02:54 +0200

Former French President Jacques Chirac's family bade him a final farewell Saturday at an intimate ceremony in the southwestern village where he grew up.

Six months on: Macron unpopular but in control

Mon, 13 Nov 2017 12:33:19 +0100

In his first six months in power, French President Emmanuel Macron has chalked up one reform after another in a whirlwind that has nevertheless seen his poll numbers plummet.

France's Fillon vows fight 'to the end' over wife job scandal

Sun, 29 Jan 2017 09:25:52 +0100

French presidential hopeful Francois Fillon has vowed to fight to the end in the face of allegations his wife was paid for fictitious jobs, saying there are "forces at work to silence me".

Rightwinger Fillon reaches for French presidential nod

Sun, 27 Nov 2016 20:52:52 +0100

Francois Fillon, an unabashed rightwinger promising radical economic reforms, is hoping for another clear win over his rival Alain Juppe in Sunday's run-off round of a primary expected to produce France's next president.

Maverick Montebourg enters French presidential race

Mon, 22 Aug 2016 11:20:30 +0200

Former French economy minister Arnaud Montebourg on Sunday joined the race to become French president in next May's election, effectively signalling the start of the campaign season.

Hollande to Macron: Respect the rules or leave

Thu, 14 Jul 2016 16:56:39 +0200

French President Francois Hollande threatened Thursday to sack Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron, who has hinted at a bid for the presidency, unless he respects the "solidarity" of the government.

France gets new power to sack the president

Wed, 19 Nov 2014 17:10:00 +0100

François Hollande would be forgiven for not sleeping well in his bed tonight after French MPs were, for the first time, handed the power to sack the president in the case of "a breach of duties".

French MPs poised to get powers to sack president

Wed, 22 Oct 2014 18:34:00 +0200

As if President François Hollande didn’t have enough to worry about, French lawmakers backed a measure this week that would allow them to legally sack the president in case of a “serious breach of duties”.

Sarkozy's seven ideas for how to save France

Thu, 02 Oct 2014 12:46:00 +0200

Nicolas Sarkozy’s return to French politics continued apace this week when he presented his plan for how "hope" can be restored to France. We've narrowed his personal rescue package down to seven key proposals.

No new criminal probe against Sarkozy

Tue, 29 Jul 2014 14:00:00 +0200

Media reports on Tuesday claimed yet another criminal investigation had been launched against ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy, surrounding funding for 2007 presidential campaign, but the newspaper that first published the story has since admitted it's not true.

Which French politician is the worst driver?

Thu, 03 Jul 2014 17:47:00 +0200

France’s elite politicians may be among the country's worst drivers. A French magazine followed the five top ministers for months and recorded an array of driving violations, from speeding to ignoring red lights and general bad road etiquette. But guess who’s the worst?

Sarkozy's dream of 2017 comeback not dead yet

Thu, 03 Jul 2014 16:22:00 +0200

The corruption charges against Nicolas Sarkozy might sound like a fatal blow to his presumed 2017 presidential ambitions, but questions about the case and a tangle of circumstances in France mean the man known as the "bling-bling" president is still a political threat.

Has François Hollande sneaked off to Brazil?

Wed, 18 Jun 2014 16:46:00 +0200

Has France’s beleaguered President François Hollande slinked off to Brazil to watch the World Cup? That’s what the French press were asking on Wednesday after a photo of a man in the crowd, who looked strangely similar to the president, went viral on social media.

Sarkozy holds 'private' talks with Cameron

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 19:19:00 +0200

A "private" meeting between former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and current UK Prime Minister David Cameron has caused French observers to ask whether the scandal-hit politician is considering a comeback in the 2017 presidential race.

Sarkozy: I may have a 'duty' to return

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0100

France's ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy has fueled mounting suspicions that a dramatic comeback could be on the cards, saying in an interview that he may have no choice but to run for President in 2017, for the sake of France.

Hollande's Sarkozy joke riles French opposition

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 10:08:00 +0100

French President François Hollande has riled the opposition after making a joke at the expense of his predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy.

'Only a court can stop a Sarkozy comeback'

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:19:00 +0100

Speculation has flourished in recent weeks that former President Nicolas Sarkozy will run for presidency in 2017. The Local asks political author Neila Latrous whether a Sarko return is really on the cards.

Sarkozy v Hollande - Will there be a 2017 sequel?

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 12:14:00 +0100

He's been on the global lecture circuit and was reported to be heading to London last month to start an investment fund, but rumours are gathering strength that Nicolas Sarkozy's future will depend on another shot at the French presidency.

Bill Clinton ponders French presidency run

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 14:12:00 +0200

Former US president Bill Clinton says he could in theory run for president in Ireland or France – but admitted his bad French would make him "toast" in an election there.

Hollande’s bodyguards forget guns on Rio trip

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 15:57:37 +0200

French President François Hollande’s absent-minded bodyguards left their charge with less protection than usual on his recent trip to a climate conference in Brazil after leaving their guns in France.