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François Fillon

In the shadow of Sarkozy, UMP picks new leader
18/11/2012 - FRANCE

In the shadow of Sarkozy, UMP picks new leader

Relegated to France’s opposition after losing this year’s presidential poll, the conservative UMP party voted to pick a new top leader on Sunday. Ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy continued to loom large in this divisive race of succession.
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France's Conservative Party: Who will lead it post-Sarkozy?
15/11/2012 - FRANCE 2012

France's Conservative Party: Who will lead it post-Sarkozy?

François Fillon versus Jean-François Copé: on Sunday, the white smoke will come out of the UMP party, and there can only be one new leader. Also, President Hollande tries to show he knows what he is doing by granting a major press conference. Can he bounce back from his disastrous poll figures?
Fillon and Copé face off in bid for party leadership
15/11/2012 - IN THE FRENCH PAPERS

Fillon and Copé face off in bid for party leadership

IN THE PAPERS NATIONAL - 15/11/12: With just a few days to go until members of the conservative UMP party elect their new leader, the two front-runners in the race outline their programmes in Le Figaro. Meanwhile, Libération explores how French politics in general is moving more and more to the right.
We meet again, Mr Bond
26/10/2012 - IN THE FRENCH PAPERS

We meet again, Mr Bond

The French papers are dominated by the aftershocks of a controversial competitiveness report, and François Hollande comes in for criticism in a popularity poll. Also, UMP politicians go head to head in a battle to lead the party, and film critics are wowed by the new James Bond film.
Too much or not enough? French president acknowledges 1961 massacre of Algerians
18/10/2012 - THE DEBATE

Too much or not enough? French president acknowledges 1961 massacre of Algerians

The French president acknowledges the 1961 Paris roundup and massacre of scores of Algerians demonstrating for independence, but should François Hollande have served up a full-blown apology? François Picard’s panel looks at how a nation deals with a dark – some even say hidden - chapter in its past.
European treaty vote: a win for Hollande?
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.
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.
Foreigners' voting rights, gay marriage: will Hollande's campaign promises be kept?
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.
'A tragic mystery'
07/09/2012 - IN THE FRENCH PAPERS

'A tragic mystery'

FRENCH PAPERS, Friday 7th September: The tragic murder of a British family in the French Alps is on the front page of Le Parisien; French economic daily Les Echoes praises the actions of ECB chief "Super" Mario Draghi; and 20 minutes give its top 10 tips for a fine tipple.
Roma expulsions: Kicked out of camps...but what next?
28/08/2012 - THE WEEK IN FRANCE

Roma expulsions: Kicked out of camps...but what next?

France’s new Socialist leaders have ordered the police to dismantle more Roma camps, sparking outrage in France. Next, we head to a "Friends of Nicolas Sarkozy" gathering to check out how "Sarkonostaglia" is clouding the leadership race for France's centre-right UMP party. Finally, we find out what Maurice Ravel, Marcel Proust and Coco Chanel all have in common.
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