The Latest Breaking News from France Unbowed

What’s in France’s belt-tightening budget and can it win support?

The French government’s newly unveiled 2025 budget has drawn backlash from all sides as it pushes for €60 billion in spending cuts and tax hikes aimed at reducing the country’s “colossal” debt burden.

Radio France Internationale · Oct 11, 2024

Where did France's culture of political compromise go, and is it coming back?

It took France nine long weeks to form a government after parliamentary elections delivered a deeply divided National Assembly with no faction able to govern alone. The new prime minister has called for compromise – but that won't be easy in a country where meeting in the middle is often…

Radio France Internationale · Sep 24, 2024

Impeachment proceedings against France's Macron pass first hurdle

The bureau of France's National Assembly has validated an impeachment procedure brought by hard-left MPs against President Emmanuel Macron. It's an unprecedented move in France, but it is highly unlikely the head of state will fall.

Radio France Internationale · Sep 17, 2024

Macron has blocked left-wing choice for French PM – what happens next?

Left-wing alliance NFP has failed to secure cross-party backing for its choice for prime minister.

Al Jazeera · Aug 27, 2024

Olympics over, Macron walks a tightrope in search for new prime minister

A political whirlwind summer saw French President Emmanuel Macron dissolving parliament, calling snap elections, and then facing a hung National Assembly. It is now time for him to undo the political Gordian knot he has tied and choose the next prime minister. A handful of potential picks are under scrutiny…

France 24 · Aug 23, 2024

Macron begins crisis talks with party leaders to get government up and running

President Emmanuel Macron kicked off negotiations with party leaders on Friday in a bid to resolve France’s political deadlock, which has persisted for more than six weeks since snap legislative elections left the country with a hung parliament.

Radio France Internationale · Aug 23, 2024

France’s summer break is ending – and the bitter fight to form a government is back

President Emmanuel Macron launches negotiations with different party leaders this Friday in a latest effort to bring an end to six weeks of political deadlock following snap legislative elections. Macron seems set on forging a broad coalition that would likely include his own defeated centre-right bloc – though whether he…

France 24 · Aug 21, 2024

French hard-left party moves to overturn Macron's controversial pension reform

France's leftist party France Unbowed (LFI) announced its plan to introduce legislation on Tuesday to repeal President Emmanuel Macron's contentious pension reform, which raised the legal retirement age from 62 to 64. The bill seeks to reverse changes that sparked widespread protests last year.

Radio France Internationale · Jul 23, 2024

Far-right National Rally shut out of leadership of France's parliament

After a series of votes to fill leadership roles in the newly elected French parliament, the far-right National Rally has ended up without any key positions – despite being the biggest single party in the assembly.

Radio France Internationale · Jul 22, 2024

France's new parliament faces key decisions in first session

France's newly elected National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, meets on Thursday for the first time. The country is still struggling to form a government after snap elections failed to produce a majority, but MPs are on a deadline to fill key parliamentary posts.

Radio France Internationale · Jul 18, 2024