- FRANCE 24

15/04/2011 - TALKING POINTS

France - prostitution: criminalising clients?

French lawmakers have drafted a bill that would make it illegal to pay for sex. Under the proposed legislation, clients of prostitutes could be jailed for six months and be made to pay up to 3,000 euros in fines. The bill is modelled on the Swedish system, where a similar law is credited with curbing street prostitution. Here in France, however, it is something of a revolution, since prostitution is not illegal.

(2) comments

13/04/2011 - TALKING POINTS

Ivory Coast: who is Alassane Ouattara?

As debate rages over the extent and significance of France’s involvement in the arrest of Laurent Gbagbo, we look at the man who takes over from him as a democratically elected president, and yet who in the end only took power after military intervention by the former colonial power. Who is Alassane Ouattara, and how different will his rule be from that of his predecessor?

(1) comment

12/04/2011 - TALKING POINTS

EU-Diplomacy: divided they stand?

The EU’s common foreign policy was strengthened back in 2009 by the Lisbon treaty, which created a new post to help ensure its coordination. But in the past few weeks it has faced its first major hurdle with the Arab springs and all that has ensued in Libya; all this on Europe's doorstep..

(3) comments

11/04/2011 - TALKING POINTS

France's burka ban: how can it be enforced?

From today, it is illegal here in France to wear the face-covering veil in public. Any woman caught wearing the burka or niqab will face a fine and will be asked to take citizenship lessons. It is thought that in France, which is home to Europe’s largest Muslim population, the new law will affect around 2,000 women currently believed to wear the full veil. So was this law really necessary, and how will it be enforced?

(2) comments

08/04/2011 - Talking Points

Immigration: back to fortress France?

Europe supported the Tunisian revolt against former president Ben Ali, but it has not been so welcoming of the Tunisians fleeing the upheaval of the post-Ben Ali transition. More than 20,000 migrants have landed on Italy’s shores since the Arab spring began. They are seeking better economic opportunities not only in Italy, but also in other European countries like France.

07/04/2011 - TALKING POINTS

Afghanistan - Ivory Coast - Libya: Nicolas Sarkozy, the new war president

Afghanistan, Libya and now Ivory Coast: France is engaged in three military operations abroad at the same time, a quite unprecedented event. Paris has been at the forefront of the Western military intervention in Libya and is now battling forces loyal to outgoing president Laurent Gbagbo in Ivory Coast. Does this have anything to do with the French president's record-low poll ratings?

(1) comment

06/04/2011 - TALKING POINTS

Syria: Bashar al-Assad sticks to his guns

What is happening in Syria? With all eyes on Libya, recent events have received much less attention in the Western world. In his first speech since protests began, President Bashar al-Assad give little or no concessions to demonstrators. Will the protest movement fizzle, and will the regime hold its ground?

05/04/2011 - TALKING POINTS

Florida - Koran burning: fanning the flames

A Koran burned in a small church in Florida has unleashed a wave of violence in Afghanistan. At least 24 people have been killed in riots, including seven UN workers.

04/04/2011 - TALKING POINTS

Berlusconi’s trials: can he survive ?

Last week, Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi appeared in a first of a series of trials, focusing on suspicions of corruption in one of his media companies. This coming Wednesday, another trial is set to begin in Milan, this one on allegations that the 74-year-old prime minister paid for sex with an underage prostitute and abused his power by getting her released from police custody. Could she cause Berlusconi to lose his post?

01/04/2011 - TALKING POINTS

France and Islam: why are we still talking about it?

Its organisers say it's nothing more than a nationwide brainstorming session. But to critics, France's national debate on Islam and the role of secularism is a thinly veiled attempt by Nicolas Sarkozy's governing UMP party to steal votes from the Far Right. The debate has caused big rifts in Sarkozy's own party. Why now, and what for?