Saturday, March 16

France

Minister: French Shops Will Lower Food Prices Because of Inflation
Business, Europe, France, News

Minister: French Shops Will Lower Food Prices Because of Inflation

The French government has agreed with large retailers that they will significantly reduce the prices of their food products. With this, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire wants to accommodate consumers, who have had to deal with rising costs in recent months. Le Maire says prices will be reduced "to the lowest possible level" until June. He indicates that the companies agreed to bear the price reductions' costs. These would amount to "several hundreds of millions of euros", according to Le Maire. Most major food retailers in France took part in the talks. According to the national statistics agency Insee, food prices in France rose 14.5 percent year-on-year in February. Le Maire thinks he can make an "anti-inflation quarter" with the second-quarter measure. Consumer organization...
Lavrov Criticizes French Leaky Conversation Between Macron and Putin
France, News, Russia

Lavrov Criticizes French Leaky Conversation Between Macron and Putin

France has violated international diplomacy rules with a leaked meeting between President Emmanuel Macron and President Vladimir Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.   According to Lavrov, you cannot unilaterally decide to leak recordings of a diplomatic conversation to the media. Lavrov's complaint stems from a French documentary by broadcaster France2 about, among other things, Macron's mediation efforts, shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine in February. The documentary features a 9-minute telephone conversation between the two leaders. According to Lavrov, the conversation does not embarrass the Kremlin, but in international diplomacy, this is something that can not be done. Lavrov is visiting Vietnam. He will be in Bali on Thursday for the two-day G20 minister...
President Macron Rejects Borne’s Resignation
Europe, France, News

President Macron Rejects Borne’s Resignation

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has tendered her resignation after the election defeat of President Emmanuel Macron's party coalition. It is customary for the Prime Minister to leave after such a heavy political defeat. But Macron has not accepted her resignation.   He believes that "the government should continue to carry out its duties". Macron says he is looking for "possible constructive solutions". His party coalition Ensemble won only 245 seats in the National Assembly from 577 deputies in the parliamentary elections. He ruled until this week with a majority of 350 seats. Macron must now look for new allies or partners of tolerance. He is therefore speaking with the leaders of all political parties to see what kind of government can come. He has the best chance with the...
French Diplomats Strike Out of Dissatisfaction With Government Policy
Europe, France, News

French Diplomats Strike Out of Dissatisfaction With Government Policy

French diplomats went on strike on Thursday to protest the policies of President Emmanuel Macron's government.   They accuse the government of insufficiently recognizing the importance of their work and unjustly cutting back on the diplomatic service, thereby also damaging France's reputation in the world. It is the first French diplomat strike in 20 years. France has one of the most extensive diplomatic services in the world, with 1,800 diplomats and 13,500 officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs working for the service. French governments have been trying to get rid of the expensive service for years. Since 2007 there has been a significant cut in expenditure and the workforce has shrunk by a fifth as a result. According to the striking diplomats, there are now far too few ...
French President Reverses Nuclear Power Plant Expansion
Europe, France, News

French President Reverses Nuclear Power Plant Expansion

On closer inspection, France is going to invest heavily in nuclear energy. President Emmanuel Macron presents major plans to build more nuclear reactors in eastern Belfry.   Nearly five years ago, Macron gradually got rid of nuclear power plants in the country, but now 50 billion euros is being pumped into the construction of six new EPR-type plants to start with. The six should be ready in 2045. But according to Macron, it doesn't stop there. After that, eight more are to be built between 2050 and 2065 for an estimated 100 billion euros. The ambitious approach is partly inspired by the intention to emit fewer greenhouse gases, the increasing demand for energy, and the significant decrease in nuclear energy production in recent years. Twelve of the 56 existing nuclear reactors are...
French Constitutional Court Approves Corona Pass Subject to Conditions
Europe, France, News

French Constitutional Court Approves Corona Pass Subject to Conditions

The French Constitutional Court approves the controversial corona vaccination pass, but subject to conditions. For example, the measure should end when it is no longer necessary, and an exception should apply for political meetings.   The pass will be put into use from the following Monday. The measure ensures that only people over 16 who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus have access to, for example, catering and cinemas. Previously, proof of a negative test was enough to be allowed in. If the pandemic poses a lesser risk to public health, the pass will be cancelled. This involves looking at the pressure on hospitals. The French parliament approved the pass on Sunday, but the rule could not be implemented until the Constitutional Court gave the green light. The announce...
Macron Sticks to Controversial Statements about Unvaccinated People
Europe, France, News

Macron Sticks to Controversial Statements about Unvaccinated People

French President Emmanuel Macron stands by his controversial statements about unvaccinated people. Earlier this week, the president told Le Parisien newspaper that he wanted to "make life miserable for unvaccinated Frenchmen".   Political opponents strongly criticized him for both his message and his use of language. Macron told the newspaper that he wants to restrict unvaccinated people in everyday life, for example, by denying them access to the hospitality industry. The president explained that he wanted to thwart unvaccinated people, using the word 'emmerder', derived from the French word for shit, 'merde'. Opponents called it "disgusting" statements that create "second-class citizens". Macron responded Friday that it is necessary to restrict unvaccinated people to protect mor...
France Starts Lawsuit Against Britons Over Fishing Licenses
Europe, France, News, UK

France Starts Lawsuit Against Britons Over Fishing Licenses

In January, the French government will start a lawsuit against the United Kingdom to enforce more fishing licenses for British waters. The countries have been at odds about permits for some time.   A few weeks ago, the British issued even more permits to accommodate French fishermen. Although according to France, there were not enough, they are now at 93 percent of the target number. The British say they have licensed all fishermen who fished in British waters before Brexit and who properly applied. French European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune said in an interview with France 2 television on Thursday that consultations will be held at the European level on 4 January about the permits. Shortly afterwards, the case is started to enforce the permits at a "special tribunal", accordi...
Fifteen Arrested for Smuggling Migrants Through the Channel
France, News, UK

Fifteen Arrested for Smuggling Migrants Through the Channel

French police have arrested 15 suspected members of an international network that helped migrants cross the Channel to the United Kingdom.   The arrests come at a time when more and more migrants are venturing down this perilous route, and tensions are mounting between the French and British. Among those arrested are Iraqi Kurds, Romanians, Pakistanis and Vietnamese. They are said to have approached migrants in northern France and urged them to cross the Channel in small boats. According to the survey, which began in October last year, this network helped at least 250 people a month on their journey to the south of England. According to the police, the smugglers charged 6000 euros per migrant. They would have made about 3 million euros in profit. The arrests, which had already tak...
France is Still Trying to Evacuate Hundreds of People
Afghanistan, France, News

France is Still Trying to Evacuate Hundreds of People

France is still trying to get several hundred people out of Afghanistan. French President Macron's announcement came shortly after a deadly attack at the airport in the Afghan capital Kabul. The airport is crucial for evacuations.   According to Macron, Paris will make every effort but cannot guarantee due to the "extremely tense" security situation. He said there are still 20 buses carrying evacuees that France wants to evacuate. It concerns several hundred people who are still at risk, the president said. Partly due to fears of attacks, Germany ended its evacuations from Afghanistan. The last military aircraft left Kabul on Thursday. The Germans thus join the growing list of Western countries that no longer carry out flights due to the approaching departure of the Americans, who ...