#french-politics

#french-politics

By pushing through its plan to overhaul pensions and raise the national retirement age by two years to 64, the French government has exposed itself to no-confidence motions that could bring down President Emmanuel Macron's cabinet an outcome not seen in half a century of French politics.While predictions suggest that a no-confidence motion is unlikely to pass, recent statements from legislators who are seen as critical swing voters indicate that the outcome could be closer than expected.

RUSSIAN INFLUENCE Dogged by accusations of proximity to the Kremlin, Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party had hoped to clear its name by setting up a parliamentary inquiry to investigate foreign interference in French politics.But a draft report on the committee's findings, which was leaked to the press this week, shows the move backfired spectacularly, finding instead that Le Pen's policy stances sometimes echo the official language of Putin's regime.

Independence advocate Moetai Brotherson was elected president of France's Pacific territory of French Polynesia on Friday.Published: 13 May 2023 09:11 CEST French Polynesia's Member of Parliament Moetai Brotherson (L) is congratulated by a member of his party after Brotherson was elected president of France's Pacific territory of French Polynesia in Papeete on May 12, 2023.

Issued on: 11/05/2023 - 18:46 Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, pictured in a Paris court in December last year, has faced a string of legal woes since leaving office in 2012.Francois Mori, AP French prosecutors on Thursday demanded that former president Nicolas Sarkozy, who has been embroiled in legal troubles since leaving office, face a new trial over alleged Libyan financing of his 2007 election campaign.

A French appeals court has upheld a prison sentence against the former president Nicolas Sarkozy for corruption and influence-peddling maintaining he should serve one-year's detention at home with an electronic bracelet.Sarkozy was originally convicted in 2021 of trying to bribe a magistrate in exchange for information about a legal case in which he was implicated.

A person reaches over a sign in the city of Pantin, in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, on July 30, 2022.Julien de Rosa, AFP A French mayor has announced that his town's name will take on the feminine form for a year to raise awareness about gender equality.Bertrand Kern, the socialist mayor of Pantin outside Paris, announced the move in a New Year's video message on Twitter earlier this week.

Dock workers face riot police as they stand in front of a burning barricade next the port of Marseille in southern France on March 22. (Daniel Cole/AP)French President Emmanuel Macron is addressing the nation Wednesday after his move to force through legislation to raise the retirement age ignited angry protests and strikes around the country.

The massed ranks of opponents of pension reform were not so massed or so dense on the third day of nationwide protest yesterday.Only 757,000 people turned out, compared to 1,270,000 last Tuesday.Rail, Metro, school and energy strikes were also less powerful attracting, for instance only one in four rail workers, compared to one in two on the first day of action on 19 January.

The day would be historic, we were told.France would be blocked or closed down and its economy brought to its knees.Demonstrations against pension reform would be the biggest for decades.Tuesday's day of action the sixth since the protests began in January was impressive enough.The official figure for the number of demonstrators nationwide 1.28 million WAS the biggest for decades but it was only a little higher than the turnout achieved on January 31st (1.27 million).

The day would be historic, we were told.France would be blocked or closed down and its economy brought to its knees.Demonstrations against pension reform would be the biggest for decades.Tuesday's day of action the sixth since the protests began in January was impressive enough.The official figure for the number of demonstrators nationwide 1.28 million WAS the biggest for decades but it was only a little higher than the turnout achieved on January 31st (1.27 million).

The day would be historic, we were told.France would be blocked or closed down and its economy brought to its knees.Demonstrations against pension reform would be the biggest for decades.Tuesday's day of action the sixth since the protests began in January was impressive enough.The official figure for the number of demonstrators nationwide 1.28 million WAS the biggest for decades but it was only a little higher than the turnout achieved on January 31st (1.27 million).

The day would be historic, we were told.France would be blocked or closed down and its economy brought to its knees.Demonstrations against pension reform would be the biggest for decades.Tuesday's day of action the sixth since the protests began in January was impressive enough.The official figure for the number of demonstrators nationwide 1.28 million WAS the biggest for decades but it was only a little higher than the turnout achieved on January 31st (1.27 million).