Nearly a quarter of voters in Europe now back far-right parties Analysis by more than 150 political scientists finds proportion who back such parties has increased nearly fivefold since 1995 The Guardian - UK · Jun 24
French Resistance hero and historian Marc Bloch enters France's Pantheon French Resistance fighter and pioneering historian Marc Bloch entered France's Pantheon on Tuesday, becoming the first historian to receive one of the nation's highest honours. The ceremony comes amid renewed political debate over his anti-nationalist legacy less than a year before France's presidential election. France 24 · Jun 23
'Passeport' controversy explained: Why did a French town cancel a play about refugees? A mayor's decision to cancel a play about refugees has caused uproar in France and raised concerns about the far-right's grip on culture. Euronews · Jun 22
Fashion tycoon Bernard Arnault accused of stranglehold over French business press Arnault’s addition of leading weekly to stable of publications raises concerns about media ownership in France The Guardian - UK · Jun 17
ABC began international search to replace Justin Stevens as news director without his knowledge Hugh Marks confirms ABC secretly engaged recruitment firm and signals sweeping changes at national broadcaster The Guardian - AU · Jun 9
Hard-left Mélenchon launches 2027 campaign with broadside against National Rally Jean-Luc Melenchon launched his presidential campaign on Sunday with a rally in Saint-Denis, a Paris suburb that has become both a stronghold for the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party and a symbol of the “New France” he hopes to champion. Radio France Internationale · Jun 7
France’s youngest PM to run for president MUR-DE-BARREZ, France - Former prime minister Gabriel Attal said on Friday he would run for president of France year when Emmanuel Macron steps down, becoming the second prominent centrist to challenge the far right. Bangkok Post · May 22
The far right is surging in France, Germany and parts of Europe. What will this mean for Ukraine? In recent local elections in the United Kingdom and Australia, right-wing populism has appeared to be on the march. Support has surged for the Reform UK and One Nation parties. The Conversation · May 22
French farming reform bill spurs renewed clashes over pesticides and water France’s emergency agricultural bill has returned to the National Assembly, setting the stage for what are expected to be lengthy and highly charged debates over water storage, pesticides and the future of livestock farming. Radio France Internationale · May 20
The die isn’t cast: France is pessimistic, but not doomed to far-right rule Apocalyptic forecasts are a national sport. But while polls point to a National Rally president in 2027, it’s still all to play for, says Foreign Policy Research Institue fellow Joseph de Weck The Guardian - UK · May 20
Marine Le Pen’s party hits back at Kylian Mbappé comments Captain of French football team expressed concerns about far-right National Rally party gaining power The Guardian - UK · May 13
French film industry at risk from the far right, say actors and directors Juliette Binoche joins 600 leading figures to warn against a ‘fascist takeover of the collective imagination’ The Guardian - UK · May 12
France has a record number of presidential hopefuls. Will any of them be able to hold back the far right? About 30 people – nearly all men – have expressed an interest in taking on the far-right National Rally in next year’s ballot The Guardian - UK · May 9
EU prosecutors probe alleged misuse of funds linked to France's Bardella European Union prosecutors have launched a probe into a possible misappropriation of EU funds, after a complaint alleged France's far-right National Rally had used European grants to benefit its leader Jordan Bardella, a source close to the case told AFP Thursday. Radio France Internationale · May 7
The Guardian - UK · May 5 Political row as report calls for sweeping cuts to French public broadcasting Inquiry set up by rightwing politician recommends merging major channels and slashing TV entertainment budgets by 75%
Radio France Internationale · May 5 France's public broadcasting sector facing major 'crisis': parlimentary report The French public broadcasting sector is in "a financial and administrative crisis," and has "lost touch with the expectations of the French people". This is according to a report following a parliamentary inquiry, published on Tuesday, the conclusions of which have drawn sharp criticism from across the political spectrum.
Radio France Internationale · May 5 French banks float state role in election campaign funding to reassure lenders France's banking chief has suggested that early state support for political campaigns could be key to reassuring lenders, and help presidential candidates secure campaign funding.
Radio France Internationale · May 3 French hard-left politician Mélenchon to stand in 2027 presidential election Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leading figure in the hard-left France Unbowed (La France Insoumise) political party, will stand in next year's presidential election, he said on Sunday.
Radio France Internationale · Apr 20 French far right courts business community ahead of elections With a year to go before France’s presidential election, the far-right National Rally (RN) is stepping up efforts to win over business leaders. RN leader Jordan Bardella met representatives of Medef – the main bosses' union – for lunch on Monday, just a fortnight after a discreet dinner between Marine…
The Guardian - UK · Apr 16 Can anyone stop Jordan Bardella in France? A crowded field could gift the election to the far right A long list of contenders want to be president in 2027. But with anti-establishment sentiment dominating the national mood, outsiders have the advantage, says the European Policy Centre’s Paul Taylor
Reason · Apr 9 What Does the New Right Believe? From trade to migration to personal freedom, the conservatives of the global New Right hold a philosophy incompatible with individualism.
Radio France Internationale · Apr 3 Future uncertain in New Caledonia after French MPs block reform plan French lawmakers rejected the government’s constitutional reform for New Caledonia on Thursday, casting doubt over the plan’s future and prompting Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to call fresh talks with local political leaders.
The Guardian - UK · Mar 31 Can Europe’s public service media survive attacks by the far right? From Italy to France, Germany to Hungary, nationalist governments and politicians are targeting media with the same playbook
The Guardian - UK · Mar 25 Could the continent’s far right be suffering from a Trumplash? France’s National Rally missed key targets in local elections ahead of next year’s seismic presidential vote, and the mainstream is doing OK elsewhere, too
The Conversation · Mar 25 French local elections: political scientist on what’s next for the hard right and radical left In the wake of the final round of France’s local elections, we asked political pundit Frédéric Sawicki what the mayoral vote tells us about the political future of the two main contenders – Rassemblement National (RN) and La France Insoumise (LFI)?