The holidays are over, and President Hollande has returned to the Elysée Palace where a long to-do list awaits him. Next, rioting youths in the northern city of Amiens cause a headache for the government and police. Finally, French ferry workers clubbed together to form a new company after SeaFrance went bankrupt - we witness the first ‘My Ferry Link’ crossing between Calais and Dover.
FRENCH PRESS REVIEW, Tues. 21/08/12: As the government prepares for its first cabinet meeting tomorrow, a lot of French papers are focusing on what President Hollande has achieved so far. Left- and right-leaning dailies are critical of the president and say it’s time for him to make some tough choices.
IN THE FRENCH PAPERS, Mon. 20/08/12: French papers focus on the government as summer recess comes to an end. François Hollande and his ministers have their work cut out for them, according to Le Parisien. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Manuel Valls defends the government's security policy. And Le Figaro says the race for the top job at the opposition UMP party has begun.
This week, the French Olympic team was met by proud fans as it returned home to Paris. Also, Socialists continue Nicolas Sarkozy's controversial policy of deporting Roma immigrants. Finally, French hospitals are attracting foreign patients with good service and cheaper prices.
Diesel fuel and petrol prices are rising again, and the French government has said it will honour campaign promises to put a temporary cap on the cost of fuel at the pumps.
French papers, Tuesday 14th August: L’Humanité assesses the achievements of President François Hollande after 100 days in power; Les Echos likewise looks at his economic strategy so far; Le Figaro analyses what French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius hopes to achieve during his trip to the Middle East; Libération warns there could be hidden dangers in your suntan lotion.
French President François Hollande isn’t doing enough to resolve the Syrian crisis, former conservative Prime Minister François Fillon (pictured) wrote Wednesday in a cutting editorial in right-wing daily Le Figaro.
French papers, Monday 13th August : Former French Prime Minister François Fillon tells Le Figaro what he would do if he were President; Le Parisien says it’s a bitter-sweet birthday for President François Hollande; Libération looks at what the President’s achieved after 100 days of being in power; Le Parisien reviews the ups and downs of the French team in the 2012 Olympic Games.
François Hollande has recently met with the controversial king of Bahrain and Gabon’s president - leaders accused of being repressive or corrupt. The meetings have not been kept secret, but have been discreet.
French papers, Friday 10th August 2012: Le Monde looks at the extended reaction to Nicolas Sarkozy's comments on Syria; Libération examines why a decision by France's top court is good news for the President; and Le Figaro says camping is making a comeback!
