The Local France

French elections: from a teacher to a shepherd, underdogs struggle for the voter's ear

Sat, 15 Apr 2017 11:04:23 +0200

One wants to ban Pokeman Go, another lays claim to knowing France the best of all 11 candidates for president after crisscrossing the country on foot for nine months.

France's Fillon faces queries over cash for bespoke suits

Sun, 12 Mar 2017 14:58:13 +0100

Conservative French presidential hopeful Francois Fillon, already dogged by a fake jobs scandal, faced new scrutiny on Sunday over a mystery benefactor reportedly paying for his bespoke suits.

Hollande steps up eurobonds push

Thu, 24 May 2012 10:20:00 +0200

President Francois Hollande stepped up his push Thursday for the launch of eurobonds after a summit of EU leaders in Brussels exposed divisions on the issue.

New government hands itself 30% pay cut

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:32:00 +0200

French leader Francois Hollande's new Socialist government got down to work on Thursday with the first order of business a symbolic 30 percent pay cut for the president and ministers.

Rich French head for the exits

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:48:00 +0200

On the day Socialist president Francois Hollande takes power, there are signs that wealthy French citizens are thinking about moving abroad to escape tough new tax rules.

Hollande to take over French presidency

Tue, 15 May 2012 09:58:00 +0200

Socialist Francois Hollande will be sworn in as France's president on Tuesday before naming a prime minister and dashing to Germany to battle with Berlin over how to tackle Europe's debt crisis.

Sarkozy cabinet meets for last time

Thu, 10 May 2012 11:56:00 +0200

Outgoing French leader Nicolas Sarkozy's cabinet met for a last session on Thursday as president-elect François Hollande began talks with EU leaders on his plans to refocus European policy on growth.

Hollande and Sarkozy set handover date

Mon, 07 May 2012 14:11:00 +0200

Outgoing French leader Nicolas Sarkozy will hand power to president-elect Francois Hollande on May 15, following talks between the two camps, the presidency announced on Monday.

French bonds down after Hollande win

Mon, 07 May 2012 11:09:00 +0200

The interest rate on France's benchmark 10-year bonds opened down slightly on Monday then stabilised after Socialist candidate Francois Hollande won the French presidential election.

Foreign press: Hollande win is 'turning point'

Mon, 07 May 2012 11:01:00 +0200

The European and international press has described the victory of Socialist Francois Hollande in the French presidential election as a turning point for Europe, but warned of major challenges ahead.

Sarkozy ejected by jubilant Hollande

Mon, 07 May 2012 10:56:00 +0200

Francois Hollande was elected France's first Socialist president in nearly two decades on Sunday, dealing a humiliating defeat to incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy and shaking up European politics.

Confident Hollande heads for final straight

Fri, 04 May 2012 18:41:00 +0200

Socialist Francois Hollande was on track to defeat right-wing incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy as France saw the final day of campaigning Friday before its presidential election run-off.

Hollande and Sarkozy in final scrap for votes

Fri, 04 May 2012 12:07:00 +0200

Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande took the gloves off for the last major rallies of their ferocious battle for the French presidency, three days before their final run-off.

Sarkozy calls Hollande 'liar' in bitter TV debate

Thu, 03 May 2012 12:45:00 +0200

Nicolas Sarkozy made a last-ditch effort to revive his struggling re-election bid Wednesday, branding Socialist frontrunner Francois Hollande a "liar" in the campaign's only live television
debate.

The unrivalled power of the French president

Thu, 03 May 2012 11:48:00 +0200

The French president enjoys powers unequalled in the democratic world, a situation strengthened by a decade-old reform that reduced the chances of "cohabitation" with a government of a different political hue.

Presidential candidate returns to car factory job

Wed, 02 May 2012 17:53:00 +0200

A French Trotskyite returned to his job in a Ford car factory Wednesday after failing to get himself elected as the country's president.

French TV station drops Strauss-Khan's wife

Wed, 02 May 2012 17:49:00 +0200

France's BFM-TV said Wednesday it had dropped Dominique Strauss-Kahn's journalist wife from taking part in election night coverage because the disgraced Socialist was once more in the media spotlight.

Sarkozy prepares for make-or-break TV debate

Wed, 02 May 2012 17:38:00 +0200

Nicolas Sarkozy will make a last-ditch bid on Wednesday to turn the tide against Socialist Francois Hollande when they go head to head in the French presidential election's one and only television debate.

Hollande: Germany alone can't decide on euro pact

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:05:00 +0200

The Socialist frontrunner in France's presidential race said Thursday it would be possible to renegotiate a eurozone fiscal pact to include growth measures despite Germany's misgivings.

Economist: Hollande is a dangerous man

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:42:00 +0200

Francois Hollande's election to the French presidency will be bad for his country and Europe, Britain's influential The Economist weekly said, calling the front-running Socialist a "dangerous" man.