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The Latest Breaking News from Jacques Chirac

Has Gabon’s ‘all-powerful’ Bongo dynasty really lost its 55-year grip?

The coup may have ended the reign of Ali Bongo’s immediate family, but it’s still about the elite preserving itself.

Al Jazeera

India, France and what keeps their ties ticking

India and France have held on to three pillars in the relationship. which non-interference in internal affairs, strategic autonomy and non-alignment

The Hindu

From Trump to Sarkozy: the political leaders who have been prosecuted

Donald Trump is the first US president to be criminally charged, but across the globe, 78 countries have jailed or prosecuted leaders who left office since 2000

The Guardian - US

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Amid Trump indictment, a look back at France’s history of prosecuting ex-leaders

The United States waded into new territory on Thursday with the indictment of former president Donald Trump, a move that was unprecedented in US history. But other liberal democracies have extensive experience charging former – and sometimes current – leaders. While a serving French leader is generally safe from prosecution,…

France 24

A look back at when French protesters defeated government reform plans

Anger at President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform shows no sign of abating, with protests, strikes and unrest set to continue and both sides digging in their heels. To shed some light on the current stand-off, FRANCE 24 looks back at the last times the unions successfully forced the government to…

France 24

Former French Ambassador to Asharq Al-Awsat: Washington Accused Us of Lying about WMD in Iraq

Former French Ambassador Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, who recently published a remarkable book entitled "The Others Don't Think Like Us," experienced the US invasion of Iraq "first hand." Gourdault-Montagne served as the diplomatic adviser to late French President Jacques Chirac and his representative at the G7 and G20 in the summer of…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Chirac Warned Bush against Overthrowing Saddam

French Diplomat Maurice Gourdault-Montagne's memoirs are unlike those of any regular ambassador that fill French libraries year after year. The author of “The Others Don’t Think Like Us” is no ordinary ambassador. Now retired, his long diplomatic career took him to Tokyo, Beijing, Berlin and London. He was France’s sherpa…

Asharq Al-Awsat

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Pension reform in France: Macron and demonstrators resume epic tussle begun over 30 years ago

More than 1 million people poured onto the streets in France on Thursday to protest the government’s plans to reform the pension regime. The bill, which was presented to the Council of Ministers on Monday, aims to raise the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64 years old starting from…

The Conversation

Rafik Hariri to Blair: 11 Meetings with Israel… It Requested Hezbollah’s Dissolution

Asharq Al-Awsat Publishes Details of the Late Premier’s Meetings in London A series of recently declassified British documents reveal details of meetings held by the late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri with British officials in 1997 and 1999. According to the documents, Hariri informed his British counterpart Tony Blair that…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Will strikes force Macron to back down over French pension reforms?

France saw a wave of strikes against Emmanuel Macron’s pension reforms on Thursday, causing disruption to trains, flights, schools and even hospitals. Polls show a majority of the French oppose the president’s measures – and analysts say maintaining public support of strikes will be crucial to unions’ chances of forcing…

France 24

Factbox-Previous judicial investigations involving French leaders

France's financial prosecutor has opened a probe into suspected favouritism and alleged illegal financing of President Emmanuel Macron's 2017 campaign, in connection with contracts with McKinsey, Le Parisien newspaper said on Thursday.

Reuters

‘When You Win, You’re a French Player. When You Lose, You’re Not.’

France’s relationship with its diverse soccer-playing population is sometimes fraught, sometimes not. World Cup performance is a big part of the equation.

Sports Illustrated

The Queen and a tale of 10 French presidents

During her reign of seven decades, Queen Elizabeth II met with 10 French presidents – from René Coty to Emmanuel Macron. RFI takes a look at some of of the highlights.

Radio France Internationale

The French protest at soaring costs and get results - what’s wrong with the UK?

Polls show Britons are fed up and willing to challenge the government over the cost of living, says Guardian columnist Owen Jones

The Guardian - UK

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Radio France Internationale

Macron decries anti-Semitism on 80th anniversary of WWII roundup of Jews

French President Emmanuel Macron warned against anti-Semitism and historical revisionism on Sunday as he commemorated victims of the Holocaust on the 80th anniversary of the Vel d'Hiv roundup of Jewish families. "Anti-Semitism is not over and we should say so," he said.

Asharq Al-Awsat

France's Macron to Mark 80th Anniversary of WWII Round-up of Jews

French President Emmanuel Macron will on Sunday mark the 80th anniversary of the wartime round-up of Jews in France at a former railway station used to deport them to Auschwitz. With him at Pithiviers station, 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of Paris, will be some of the handful of the…

The Conversation

Parliamentary elections shock France’s political order to its core

The campaign for the second round of France’s legislative elections pitted two antagonistic forces against each other, Emmanuel Macron’s presidential coalition and the left-wing group, the New Popular Ecological and Social Union (NUPES).

Reuters

Macron's hung parliament dilemma: what to do next?

French President Emmanuel Macron and his allies on Sunday lost their absolute majority in the National Assembly and with it control of the reform agenda, a crushing outcome for the newly re-elected president.

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Asharq Al-Awsat

French Left Seeks to Challenge Macron in Parliament Elections

France goes to the polls on Sunday in the first round of parliamentary elections, with a resurgent and newly unified left seeking to thwart President Emmanuel Macron's plans for reform. Elections for the 577 seats in the lower house National Assembly are a two-round process.

France 24

Veteran diplomat Catherine Colonna takes the helm at France's troubled foreign ministry

When French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled his new government this week, the list included known heavyweights, newcomers, and personalities from both the left and the right. Among them was career diplomat Catherine Colonna – a former ambassador to the UK and only the second woman to take up the foreign…

Reuters

Catherine Colonna, French envoy to Britain, named foreign minister

Catherine Colonna, France's ambassador to Britain and former spokesperson for President Jacques Chirac, was named foreign minister on Friday, a move that may be aimed to win over diplomats after fractious relations with the presidency.

Radio France Internationale

Explainer: why you don’t need to hold elected office to become PM in France

France is hurtling towards legislative elections with a new Prime Minister in charge of ensuring President Emmanuel Macron’s party keeps its majority in parliament. It’s a tricky task for the holder of the second-highest job in the land – who herself has never held elected office.

France 24

Explainer: How do France's legislative elections work?

Close on the heels of April's presidential vote, French voters go back to the ballot box on June 12 and 19 to elect lawmakers to the National Assembly. France's legislative elections tend to pale next to the limelight-stealing race for the Élysée Palace, but with 577 distinct races to fill…

Reuters

Factbox-French left-wingers form bloc after decades of wrangling

France's left-wing parties have agreed in principle to join forces for the June parliamentary election, in an unexpected show of unity after decades of wrangling.

The Hindu

Macron’s re-election, a victory with challenges

France has voted, Europe is relieved, and the French President needs to move fast to douse the flames of polarisation

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