Latest update: 20/12/2012 

- François Fillon - François Hollande - Jean-Francois Copé - Jean-Marc Ayrault - Marine Le Pen - Socialist Party (France) - UMP


France in 2012: Socialist revolution or politics as usual?

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On the menu today: our top story of 2012: the first Socialist elected president in nearly a quarter century. François Hollande ousting incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy.The honeymoon didn't last long though for Hollande and his government whose popularity has plummeted steadily since inauguration day back in May. It may be cold comfort for the Socialists but Sarkozy's succession has torn the opposition UMP between supporters of Jean-François Copé and François Fillon.

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By FRANCE 24

On the set:

  • Philip Turle, Journalist, RFI
  • Jean-Marc Gonin, Senior Writer, Le Figaro Magazine

Prepared by François Picard and Léa Berdugo.

Presidential press conference: Hollande in the hot seat
17/05/2013 - FACE-OFF

Presidential press conference: Hollande in the hot seat

This Thursday, François Hollande held his second full-fledged press conference at the Elysée Palace. With unemployment skyrocketing, France officially in recession and his popularity at a record-low, the French president used that opportunity to defend his record and promise that year II of his presidency will be a year of action. On Europe, on unemployment and on the explosive reforms of the pension system and family benefits. Will this be enough to ignite a comeback?
François Hollande: how can he rebound?
09/05/2013 - FACE-OFF

François Hollande: how can he rebound?

This week, François Hollande spent a gloomy first birthday at the Elysée palace, with record low popularity, record high unemployment and little reason to believe the end of the tunnel is near. How can he rebound? Marc Perelman asks his guests.
Same sex wedding: calm after the storm?
25/04/2013 - FACE-OFF

Same sex wedding: calm after the storm?

It was supposed to be a cakewalk. But it turned out be a wild ride. The gay marriage bill that was adopted this week ignited a wave of protests and controversy. Will it stop now that the bill has been passed? Also this week, the cabinet examined a bill proposal to moralize public life in the wake of the scandal over the Swiss bank account of the former budget minister. But it seems the ruling socialists are reluctant to embrace the move.
Gay marriage: an explosive debate
18/04/2013 - FACE-OFF

Gay marriage: an explosive debate

This week, tempers continue to flare in Parliament and in the streets over a government bill to legalize gay mariage and adoption. Also, this week, is the big clean-up of French politics for real? In the wake of a major scandal involving one of his ministers, François Hollande is pushing a daring agenda to force politicians to declare their assets.
Morality in politics: Zero tolerance for tax dodgers
11/04/2013 - FACE-OFF

Morality in politics: Zero tolerance for tax dodgers

Morality in politics... Is France's political elite about to clean up its act? Pressed to restore public confidence in politicians after an embarassing tax fraud scandal involving the country's Budget Minister, the French President has ordered all members of his government to publicly declare their personal assets by Monday. The initiative launched a fierce debate here in France where many experts say it's often easier to talk about sex than money.

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