Latest update: 13/12/2011 

- Angela Merkel - Economic crisis - European Union - eurozone - France - Germany - Nicolas Sarkozy


France and Germany, marriage or divorce?

Will the European crisis revive old demons? The core of the European Union, the Franco-German couple, is officially working hand in hand to salvage the euro and refound the union. Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel basically spent the week together - Monday in Paris, Wednesday in Marseille, and Thursday and Friday in Brussels. But some here in French resent the perceived alignment with Germany as a loss of sovereignty and identity.

  • Gregory VISCUSI, Reporter, Bloomberg News;
  • Marc-Olivier PADIS, Vice-president, Terra Nova + Editor-in-chief, "Esprit" Magazine;
  • Thomas KLAU, Paris Bureau Chief, European Council on Foreign Relations. 
EU fiscal pact: the Socialist malaise
04/10/2012 - POLITICS

EU fiscal pact: the Socialist malaise

One thing is certain: a clear majority of the French parliament will vote in favour of the EU fiscal pact. But another thing is too: the treaty has sown divisions within the ruling majority, not just between the Socialist party and its Green allies but also within the ruling party, much to the delight of the opposition conservatives.
François Hollande: a new foreign policy?
27/09/2012 - POLITICS

François Hollande: a new foreign policy?

This week, French president François Hollande took a much-needed break from depressing economic news at home and jetted off to New York to address world leaders for the first time at the UN General Assembly. It's an opportunity to find out who this self-styled "normal" president is and whether there is a Hollande style, or perhaps even a Hollande doctrine, when it comes to foreign policy.
France on the world stage: the Hollande factor
27/09/2012 - POLITICS

France on the world stage: the Hollande factor

This week, French president François Hollande took a much-needed break from depressing economic news at home and jetted off to New York to address world leaders for the first time at the UN General Assembly. It's an opportunity to find out who this self-styled "normal" president is and whether there is a Hollande style, or perhaps even a Hollande doctrine, when it comes to foreign policy.
France's conservative UMP party: who's the boss?
20/09/2012 - POLITICS

France's conservative UMP party: who's the boss?

The war for the leadership of France's conservative UMP party is on. Two contenders are facing off in a vote to designate the head of the party in November: former PM François Fillon and current party boss Jean-François Copé. But the next presidential elections will take place in 2017, meaning there is ample time for others to throw their hats into the ring, such as a man who said he was withdrawing from political life: former president Nicolas Sarkozy.
President Hollande: Mr. Austerity?
12/09/2012 - POLITICS

President Hollande: Mr. Austerity?

It's back to school time for French lawmakers, two weeks earlier than planned. President Hollande has decided to quicken the pace of reforms as the French grow impatient and unemployment continues to rise. There are lots of new bills to debate - first and foremost to boost employment, but also on housing and Europe.

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