France: new ambitions on the right?

Marc Perelman interviews Carole Barjon, a senior reporter with Le Nouvel Observateur, Philip Turle, a journalist with Radio France Internationale, René Moerland, the Paris correspondent of the Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad and Bruno JEANBART, the director of polling with the Opinion Way institute.

POLITICS

Click here to watch part 2 with Carole Barjon, Philip Turle, René Moerland and Bruno Jeanbart.

Marc Perelman

French Politics Editor

13/06/2013 - POLITICS

Pension reform: a major risk for Hollande?

Three years ago, France's ruling Conservatives reformed the state pension system, by pushing the legal retirement age up from 60 to 62, prompting howls of protest from the Socialists. Now, the Socialists are in power and they are angling for a reform to try to salvage the cash-strapped pay-as-you-go system. The reform is likely to resemble the one they so vividly blasted in 2010. In other words, the French will have to work longer and their pensions are likely to be less generous.

(1) comment

06/06/2013 - POLITICS

Family benefits: the end of the French model?

It is a running joke in France: the only thing working in this country is making babies. The French have more children than most of their neighbours, thanks in large part to a family policy laden with incentives. But in these tough economic times, generous welfare policies are being downsized. This week, the government announced that tax breaks for families with children will be reduced, prompting an outcry from the opposition.

30/05/2013 - POLITICS

Islam and secularism: can it work?

Islam in France has for years been a sensitive issue. It once again grabbed headlines this week when a convert to Islam stabbed a French soldier, just a few days after a similar attack in London. In a much less dramatic way, the way in which Muslims live and work in France has also become a topic of discussion, with several bills now before parliament. For the first time, a major survey on religious demands in the workplace has been conducted and provides interesting answers.

23/05/2013 - POLITICS

Fight against tax fraud: is it for real?

In Washington, Brussels and Paris, one issue has taken centre stage: tax evasion. While US senators grilled Apple executives for avoiding high taxes, European leaders vowed to crack down on fraud and French lawmakers looked into a recent scandal involving a government minister.

(2) comments

17/05/2013 - POLITICS

Hooligans in Paris: a government blunder?

Interior minister Manuel Valls has been a rare shining star in the socialist government. However this week, he has come under withering criticism from the opposition for the violent incidents that have marked the celebrations of the championship win of the Paris football team. So, did the government blunder or is the Right playing politics?