Political parties

‘French far-right fight over rural votes with village-idiot policies’

Political parties which promise to protect a mythic Gallic country life are living in a fantasy world, warns columnist Nabila Ramdani

Why Macron wants the right to abortion added to French constitution

The president announced the plan as part of an homage to the French lawyer instrumental in making abortion legal in France in 1975

French mayor formally probed over alleged erotic videotape blackmail

The video allegedly shows the mayor’s ex-deputy receiving an erotic massage from a male escort

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French minister defends appearance on Playboy magazine’s front cover

"In France, women are free," said French minister Marlène Schiappa, defending her decision to give an interview to Playboy France magazine

New leader of French Les Républicains party is ‘right of right’

Éric Ciotti is one of four new leaders recently appointed to opposition parties. He previously said he would have voted Zemmour if he had made the second round with Macron in April’s presidential election

New leader of French far-right party lays out post-Le Pen priorities

Jordan Bardella, 27, has said he will aim to unite all far-right groups in France, but some critics have said he represents the ‘radicalisation’ of the party

No confidence motion after French government forces through new budget

Article 49.3 was triggered ending the need for an MP vote on the subject. Minister defends budget by referring to financial risks caused by policies in the UK

French mayor faces party expulsion over sex tape blackmail accusations

The mayor of Saint-Étienne has been questioned by police with four others. He allegedly obtained the tape using public funds and pressured a former deputy with it

BBQ steak ‘a sign of virility’: The facts behind French MP’s comment

We explain the context of the quote, the backlash that has followed and the links it raises between male diet, meat and climate change

11 questions on the legislative elections this month in France

Find out the election dates, how to see the policies of candidates and the gamble being taken by the prime minister in also standing to be an MP

President Macron may form new unifying party to win French MP majority

The new party would need candidates from the Left and Right to stand in June’s ‘Assemblée nationale’ elections, and with a majority win they could push though Mr Macron’s laws

Marine Le Pen: ‘Putin could become ally to France again’

The far-right presidential candidate said that the ‘great power’ could be an ally ‘against Islamic fundamentalism’

Why does ‘left-wing’ France vote for election candidates on the Right?

High levels of social support make France look ‘left-wing’, but experts tell us why voting trends and ideologies have been moving Right since the 1970s

Racism still seen as a key problem in France despite rise of far-right

Discrimination in the workplace has more than doubled in the public sector in the past 14 years, according to a new survey

‘Beer Party’ launches in France, one of many quirky political parties

Le Parti de la Bière started as a joke but now has the serious aim of raising concerns over artisanal jobs and industry challenges

Far-right Marine Le Pen launches presidential bid on theme of freedom

'Free trains' for students and young workers outside rush hour, tough rules on immigration and crime, and fighting what she called the ‘dictatorship of the EU’ are among her campaign promises

EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier announces French presidential bid

The 70-year-old, whose policies would include ‘limiting and taking control over immigration’, joins several other candidates in the centre-right field

Marine Le Pen reelected head of RN and restates presidential plans

The far-right leader won the election with more than 98% of the vote, and used her party conference to reaffirm her goal to become French president in 2022

Thousands march across France against rise of ‘the far right’

The Marche des Libertés took place in 140 towns across the country, in denunciation of what organisers called ‘attacks on freedom’

Simon Heffer: Could French President Macron be derailed?

In Simon Heffer's monthly column, he talks of the downfall of the Macron regime, and what, in his opinion, has got the President to this point of possible derailment.

French Senate elections: What do the results mean?

The results of the French senate elections were revealed yesterday (September 27). We explain what happened and what the results mean.

Making sense of prefects and prefectures in France

Prefects have made headlines recently as they set some of the local rules for the Covid-19 pandemic, such as curfews in certain zones during the confinement period or areas where masks must be worn. But what do they do normally – and why will they soon be so important to Britons in France? We explain...

Greens surge to victory in French local elections

The second round of local elections in France took place yesterday (June 28), as results show historically low voter turnout and surprise victories for green candidates in major cities.

US press praises President Macron's Covid-19 response

French President Emmanuel Macron has been praised in a new article in The New York Times , which expresses shock over the gulf between what it calls his positive handling of the Covid-19 crisis and the negativity of public opinion in France.

France may extend state of health emergency to October

France could extend its current state of health emergency to October this year, the government has said, after it was already extended once to July 10.

Simon Heffer: Macron reignites ‘esprit de resistance’

Renowned political commentator, historian and Connexion columnist Simon Heffer comments on how Macron has invoked the greatness of de Gaulle to reinvent ‘esprit de resistance’.

Why France has a new health minister

France’s former health minister Agnès Buzyn has been replaced by MP and doctor Olivier Véran, after Ms Buzyn joined the race for Paris mayor in the wake of the Benjamin Griveaux scandal.

Not one year since 1947 without SNCF strike in France

There has not been a single year since 1947 in which SNCF train workers have not gone on strike in France in some way, a new study has found.

Green surge forecast in France's 2020 local elections

Political experts forecast 'a change in the game' in France's 2020 local elections

UK election manifestos and Britons abroad

The Liberal Democrats and Conservative UK election manifestos promise votes for life for Britons abroad.

‘Votes for life’ bill lost as Tory MP keeps on talking

A bill to give the vote back to more than a million Britons living overseas long-term has been lost as a Conservative MP spent so long talking that it ran out of discussion time.

Lessons from past for Les Républicains new leader

Simon Heffer, the renowned political commentator and historian, turns his gaze to French politics

Senate votes to ban signs of religion on school trips

The French Senate has voted to ban parents from displaying any signs of religion or wearing religious clothing when accompanying their children on public school trips.

I cannot vote but can I join a French political party?

I am American and I live in France. Can I join a French political party, even though I cannot vote? As a matter of interest, what are the numbers of members of the main ones? T.W.

Yes, foreigners can join political parties in France

I am American and I live in France. Can I join a French political party, even though I cannot vote? As a matter of interest, what are the numbers of members of the main ones? TW

French anti-immigrant group members jailed and fined

Three members of a French right-wing anti-immigration group have been sentenced to six months in prison and a fine of €2,000 each for their part in anti-immigrant actions on the Franco-Italian border.

France chooses climate change debate volunteer panel

This week, 150 volunteers in France will become part of a citizens’ council on climate and environmental issues, after President Emmanuel Macron pledged the idea earlier this year.

President Macron sums up key G7 issues as summit ends

President Emmanuel Macron has wrapped up the G7 summit in Biarritz, on topics including the “GAFA” digital tax, Amazon fires, Brexit, tensions between Donald Trump and China, and nuclear power in Iran.

Homeopathy: French MPs oppose reimbursement decision

A group of 45 French MPs have written an open letter in favour of homeopathy and in opposition to the government’s decision this month to end all State reimbursement of the medicine by 2021.

More expenses scandal allegations hit French minister

French former minister, François de Rugy, who stood down from his post this week after alleged inappropriate use of public funds, is now further accused of using a State driver for private trips.

A good night for Europe but also for the Brexiteers

Connexion speaks to British in Europe coalition leader Fiona Godfrey and sociologist Jean-Claude Kaufmann about the EU elections in the UK and France

Bannon air time cuts far-right RN's media allowance

Media watchdog decides that media appearances of Donald Trump's former chief strategist should be counted as support for RN's European election campaign

‘New’ RN party is still FN wolf in sheep’s clothing

According to projections, France’s Rassemblement National (RN) is due to do very well in May’s European Parliament elections.

DUP needs Brexit border mandate

In the Brexit referendum in 2016, the people of Northern Ireland voted to remain in the European Union.

Political party for everyone

Those who find the current political scene in the UK depressing can take comfort in the range of options available – whatever your tendencies.

All food adverts must show health score, France votes

All food advertising in France must now show the food’s official “Nutri-Score” mark to let consumers know at a glance how healthy the product is, the Assemblée Nationale has voted this week.

Gilets jaunes: Rise in numbers on 15th protest weekend

There was a rise in the number of gilets jaunes protesters across France this weekend, as 46,600 people - including 5,800 in Paris - were counted on the 15th consecutive Saturday of the movement.

Anti-semitism protest in Paris draws 20,000 people

Over 20,000 people have gathered in Paris to protest against the recent rise in anti-semitism, as President Emmanuel Macron laid a wreath on the city’s Holocaust Memorial.

Early leader Jacline set to launch political party

One of the early gilets jaunes leaders, Jacline Mouraud, says she is launching a political party.

Macron answers queries in seven-hour first Grand Débat

The national “ Grand Débat ” has launched after French President Emmanuel Macron responded to questions from mayors for almost seven hours last night (Tuesday January 16).

French PM announces new law on violent protests

The French government is to introduce a new law against violent protesters, and is to increase police numbers ahead of this weekend’s expected gilets jaunes movement, it has announced.

Gilets jaunes leader arrested as protesters face fines

The arrest of a key leader of the gilets jaunes movement has sent “a very bad signal” to the public, protest leaders have said, amid reports that some groups are now being threatened with high fines.

President Macron will not receive his planned pay rise

French President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed that he is to renounce the planned €64 salary rise that he was due to receive automatically from January 1 2019.

French PM announces new gilets jaunes measures

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has admitted the government “made mistakes” in responding to the gilets jaunes , and has announced a series of new measures to address their grievances.

Mixed reactions in France to President Macron’s speech

Reactions have been mixed after French President Emmanuel Macron made his “Address to the Nation” speech, designed to calm the Gilets Jaunes movement, last night (Monday December 10).

President Macron: Four measures to calm Gilets Jaunes

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced four measures designed to appeal to and calm the Gilets Jaunes protest movement, including offering a rise in benefit payments and a year-end bonus.

France introduces fixed fine for drug use

The French Assemblée Nationale has voted to introduce a fixed €200 fine for the use of narcotics - and cannabis in particular - in an effort to step up the fight against illegal drugs.

5th Republic poll: Mitterrand ‘best’ French President

François Mitterrand has topped a list of the French public’s “best” French Presidents over the last 40 years, in a poll to mark the 60th anniversary of the Fifth Republic.

All French police should carry guns, report suggests

All municipal police in France should carry semi-automatic pistols as standard, according to recommendations by a new report on security handed to the government this week.

Macron defends his plans for France as popularity dips

President Emmanuel Macron has defended his plans for his presidency - focusing especially on business and welfare - in an address to 900 MPs and Senators at the Palace of Versailles this week.

Protests against Macron spread across the country

Tens of thousands of people took part in the “popular tidal wave” march against President Emmanuel Macron this weekend, as protests spread in Paris, Nantes, Marseille and beyond.

Campaign aims to find out views of French on EU

A nationwide campaign is under way to find out what the French think of the EU

New British party looking to France for inspiration

A new centrist, pro-EU party in the UK, called Renew, hopes to follow in the footsteps of En Marche! One of its leaders, James Torrance, a London accountant and former world debating champion, spoke to Oliver Rowland

French would most like to ‘have a beer’ with Macron

Forget his policies or political movements; President Emmanuel Macron has just topped a poll as the politician most French people would like to “have a beer with”.

French politics seems more involved and more involving

Dr Tim Blakemore, a former senior law lecturer at the University of Northampton who now lives in France, looks at whether exciting French politics can be just a little too exciting

Macron marches on with absolute majority

Shock verdict on socialists, Front National and ecologists as new parliament has 75% of new faces and 39% of women

Macron’s party marches on

New president could have support from 75% of the MPs in new Assemblée Nationale – but abstentions hit 31%

Who needs political parties?

Traditional political parties are redundant. That is the message of new president Emmanuel Macron whose first government deliberately ignores party divisions in the cause of “progressive national renewal”.