President Hollande: is he too soft?

François Hollande knew it would be hard. But the new Socialist president probably did not imagine it would be this hard when he was elected back in May. And yet, the bad news keeps piling up, with unemployment hitting the 3-million mark and Hollande's polling numbers down. The French are growing impatient with the new administration and wonder whether Hollande is up to the job. Is he too soft or can he rise to the challenge?

FACE-OFF

By FRANCE 24

On the set:

Philip Turle, Journalist, RFI
Grégory Viscusi, Reporter, Bloomberg News

11/10/2012 - FRANCE 2012

European treaty vote: a win for Hollande?

The European fiscal pact has been approved by France's National Assembly, or lower house of parliament. This was to be expected since both the ruling Socialists and the opposition right were in favour of the treaty. But it was still an important test for President François Hollande. Also on the show: why French politicians are up in arms over a chocolate pastry.

04/10/2012 - FRANCE 2012

France's troubled suburbs: the same old story?

The escalating violence in France's suburbs is becoming a headache for the Socialist government. How can they tackle crime without mimicking what the previous conservative governments have done for the past 10 years? Also in the news: layoffs are continuing to pile up, mostly in French industry. The government is trying to limit the damage, but how much can it really do?

20/09/2012 - France 2012

Foreigners' voting rights, gay marriage: will Hollande's campaign promises be kept?

Will foreigners soon be able to vote in local elections in France? This is what François Hollande promised during his campaign. Will he deliver or will he pass the buck because the mood is not ripe? Also on the menu, another hot-button issue: will same-sex couples soon be allowed to marry? Again, this is one of Hollande's campaign pledges, but it faces strong opposition from the Catholic Church.

12/09/2012 - France 2012

France: Is it a crime to be rich?

Is being rich an achievement or a burden? In any case, it is a matter of heated debate these days in France. With the Socialist government planning to hit those earning over 1 million euros a year with a 75% tax rate, coupled with news that France's richest man has asked for Belgian citizenship, the left and the right have been at loggerheads over the issue.

04/07/2012 - France 2012

Budgets cuts and higher taxes: the end of the Socialist honeymoon?

The French saw it coming, and now they know the pill will be bitter to swallow. Socialist PM Jean-Marc Ayrault delivered his keynote address to Parliament this week, warning that France's ills are serious, and that the road to recovery will be a long and tortuous one. Meanwhile, on the other side of the political aisle, the battle is on to take the helm of the conservative UMP party.