The Local France

France's Socialists seek a saviour (but does anyone want the job?)

Mon, 08 Jan 2018 16:27:33 +0100

Once one of France's most powerful political parties, these days the Socialists are seeking a leader to rescue them from a future of obscurity. But it doesn't look like there are many takers for the job.

French Socialists suffer disastrous election results as heavyweights are wiped out

Mon, 12 Jun 2017 11:07:09 +0200

For France's Socialists, the pain keeps getting worse. After five years in power under ex-president Francois Hollande, the party now faces a battle to survive after a historic drubbing in parliamentary elections, which saw several heavyweights including Benoit Hamon eliminated.

French Socialist's remedy for France: Work 32 hours a week and tax robots

Thu, 26 Jan 2017 11:12:23 +0100

Tax robots, a 32-hour work week and €750 a month for all adults, can these radical leftist ideas work for France?

French Socialists vote for presidential candidate

Sun, 22 Jan 2017 16:40:34 +0100

France's Socialists voted on Sunday in the first round of a presidential primary with candidates including former prime minister Manuel Valls seeking traction in an election expected to see the country tilt to the right.

French Socialists battle for relevance in Socialist primary

Sun, 22 Jan 2017 09:22:05 +0100

France's Socialists hold the first round of voting in their presidential primary Sunday, with candidates including former prime minister Manuel Valls fighting for relevance as the country veers to the right.

Uphill battle awaits frontrunner Valls on leftwing deadline day

Thu, 15 Dec 2016 15:17:56 +0100

Former French premier Manuel Valls headed contenders seeking the leftwing candidacy for next year's presidential election as the deadline loomed on Thursday, but the winning candidate will face an uphill battle.

PM tells rebels 'we won't stop reforming France'

Fri, 20 Feb 2015 09:16:00 +0100

France's Socialist government survived a vote of no-confidence tied to its controversial economic reform package on Thursday. In a message to Socialist Party rebels Manuel Valls vowed: "We won't stop reforming" France.

Irate rebels won't topple French government

Thu, 19 Feb 2015 16:18:00 +0100

France's government was braced on Thursday for a parliamentary vote of confidence over its economic reforms that could in theory bring it down. But one of the dozens of Socialist party rebels who prompted the crisis tells The Local why they won't bring down the government.

French Socialist party rift breaks into war of words

Wed, 22 Oct 2014 13:17:00 +0200

Splits plaguing France's ruling party came to the fore on Wednesday as ousted ministers and allies of embattled President Francois Hollande engaged in a very public war of words.

France's 'Tony Blair' divides Socialist Party

Mon, 01 Sep 2014 11:17:00 +0200

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls urged Socialist Party rebels to unite behind the government this weekend, as opposition among dissenters on the left against the leader they are increasingly referring to as a French "Tony Blair", continues to grow.

Embattled Hollande vows 'new chapter' for France

Tue, 01 Apr 2014 14:40:00 +0200

Beleagured President François Hollande told the nation he had heard their "clear message" as he vowed to open a "new chapter" for France after the elections calamity. But can his new "combative" Prime Minister and government finally turn things around for Hollande and for France?

Learn from poll failure, Hollande tells Socialists

Wed, 26 Mar 2014 17:51:00 +0100

French President François Hollande told his ministers on Wednesday they needed to "learn a lesson" from the Socialists' poor showing in local elections, the government spokeswoman said.

French Socialists told to stop blaming Merkel

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:13:00 +0200

Opponents of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel stuck up for the country's leader on Tuesday as a cross-border row with members of France's Socialist party rumbled on. Members of France's ruling group were told to stop 'German-bashing'.

French Socialists ramp up Roma evictions

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:54:00 +0100

France evicted almost 12,000 ethnic Roma from makeshift camps across the country in 2012, with two thirds of that total coming in the second half of the year, after the Socialist Party came to power.

Socialists pummelled in French byelections

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 13:52:07 +0100

Right-wing candidates have come out ahead of the ruling Socialists in three by-elections as President François Hollande struggles with France's stalling economy.

Education Minister 'for legalization' of cannabis

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 14:14:00 +0200

French Education Minister, Vincent Peillon, revealed on French radio this weekend he was leaning towards supporting the legalization of cannabis, and would welcome open debate on the issue in parliament.

MP rating site is 'wicked': Socialist minister

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 12:24:00 +0200

A French minister has criticised a website rating MPs’ performance across the country, calling it "dangerous" and "wicked".

Socialists ride high in new poll

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:52:00 +0200

Newly-elected Socialist party candidate François Hollande will be cheered by two new polls that predict a clear victory over Nicolas Sarkozy in next year's presidential elections.

French left picks Hollande for president

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:01:00 +0200

Francois Hollande has won the nomination to represent France's Socialists against President Nicolas Sarkozy in next year's presidential vote.

Hollande leads ahead of 2nd Socialist TV debate

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:33:00 +0200

With ten days to go until the first round of voting, a new opinion poll gives François Hollande an 11-point lead over his closest rival in the battle to become the Socialist party's candidate in next year's presidential elections.