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Just How Dangerous Is Europe’s Rising Far Right?
  + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Roger Cohen | ) www.nytimes.com   time to read: +1 min
Jordan Bardella, 28, is the new face of the far right in France. Mr. Bardella, the son of Italian immigrants and a college dropout who joined the National Front party (now National Rally) at 16, is the protégé of Marine Le Pen, the perennial hard-right French presidential candidate. Moderate in tone if not content, he is also the personification of the normalization — or banalization — of a party once seen as a quasi-fascist threat to the Republic. Across Europe, the far right is becoming the right, absent any compelling message from traditional conservative parties. Not only have the parties of an anti-immigrant right surged, they have seen the barriers that once kept them out crumble as they are absorbed into the arc of Western democracies.
Persons: Jordan Bardella, Victor Hugo, “ Jordan, Jordan, , Bardella Organizations: National Front Locations: France, Paris, Montbéliard, Republic, Europe
CNN —Aya Nakamura was born in the former French colony of Mali, raised in France and is widely considered the most streamed female Francophone artist in the world. However, ahead of Paris 2024, Nakamura finds herself at the center of France’s culture wars. Aya Nakamura attends the Kenzo Menswear Fall-Winter 2023-2024 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 20, 2023 in Paris, France. “I think that the people who criticize her actually don’t accept that she embodies France,” French activist Rokhaya Diallo told CNN. Politicians such as Le Pen hailed the legislation as an “ideological victory” whilst French health Minister, Aurelien Rousseau resigned in protest.
Persons: Aya Nakamura, Nakamura, Edith Piaf, Piaf, , , I’m, Rachida, Kenzo, Pascal Le Segretain, Marion Maréchal, Marine Le, Rokhaya Diallo, ” Nakamura, , le, Geoffroy Van Der, Emanuel Macron, Nakamura “, Le Pen, Vincent Martigny, Thomas Samson, Marion Marechal, Emmanuel Dunand, Martigny, Diallo, Zinedine Zidane, ” Diallo, , Oliver Roy, Reynaud Julien, Macron, Aurelien Rousseau Organizations: CNN, France’s, of Culture, Rally, Blacks, Rassemblement National, Getty, Olympic Aquatics, France Inter, Science, University of Nice, National Assembly, soccer team, Paris Olympic, Le, Palais des Sports, EUI, of Transnational Governance, Twitter, APS, France, BMFTV, RMC Locations: Mali, France, French, Paris, Bamako, Europe, , Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt, AFP, Rassemblement, Ukraine, North, Carhaix
Opinion: Why a booming economy isn’t helping Biden
  + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Fareed Zakaria | ) edition.cnn.com   time to read: +9 min
It used to be that the public’s view of the president depended mostly on its view of the economy. Democrats who had previously thought the economy was in terrible shape now thought it was booming, and Republicans did the opposite. I argue in the book that it is identity — which encompasses culture, class and tribalism. And when people see their world in flux, they often move not left on economics but right on culture. The left needs to play more effectively on the new crossroads of politics, where culture and class have replaced economics.
Persons: Fareed Zakaria, Fareed, Read, Joe Biden’s, haywire, It’s, Nate Cohn, Barack Obama’s, Donald Trump, , Trump, Ronald Inglehart, , Inglehart, John Burn, Organizations: CNN, Fareed’s, The New York Times, Immigration, Trump Locations: America, Sweden, Denmark, France, Austria, Germany, Japan, United States, Nigeria
The United States, Germany, the U.K., Spain, Poland and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg were among those denying that sending ground troops into Ukraine was an option. She claimed NATO countries' denials that they planned to send their ground troops into Ukraine showed the West had "betrayed Ukraine and will continue to use and betray it," repeating Moscow's baseless claims that Western countries are using Ukraine to destroy Russia. After the conference, Macron said discussions had also covered the possibility of deploying ground troops, although he said there was no agreement on the issue. France was left looking increasingly isolated throughout the day Tuesday, with the White House also distancing itself from Macron's comments. When asked about Macron's comments, Kirby said "well, that's a sovereign decision that every NATO ally would have to make for themselves.
Persons: Vladimir Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Mikhail Metzel, Emmanuel Macron, Jens Stoltenberg, Dmitry Medvedev, Macron, Vyacheslav Volodin, Volodin, Napoleon Bonaparte, Napoleon, Maria Zakharova, Macron's, Stephane Sejourne, John Kirby, Kirby, General Stoltenberg, , Biden, Timothy Ash, Ash Organizations: Defence, Sputnik, Reuters, NATO, Russian, Russia's Foreign Ministry, Ukraine —, Russian Foreign, Tass, Chesnot, Getty, White, . National Security, Kremlin Russia, Kremlin, Russia, BlueBay Asset Management Locations: Nazi Germany, Moscow, Russia, Reuters Russia, Ukraine, United States, Germany, Spain, Poland, NATO, Russian, France, Canada, Paris, France's, Republic, U.S
Macron's opponents are seizing on the farmers' demonstrations to bash his government's record ahead of European elections in June. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen, whose National Rally party is polling strongly, blamed free-trade agreements, imports and bureaucracy for farmers' economic woes. Roads hit Thursday morning by drive-slows included a highway west of the French capital and seat of power. “We are getting progressively closer to Paris,” farmer David Lavenant said to broadcaster BFM-TV. In recent weeks, farmers have staged protests in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania.
Persons: Gabriel Attal, Emmanuel Macron, Marine Le, , David Lavenant, Ursula von der Leyen, von der Locations: Paris, Agen, France, Brussels, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Romania
The unrest in France is also likely tied to how some French people feel about the country’s political atmosphere more broadly. The National Rally also garnered the highest percentage support among France’s political parties in a mid-December poll. In 2022, nearly half of France’s immigrant population had been born in Africa, with the top source countries being Algeria and Morocco, according to INSEE. The French president said in December that the immigration law is “what the French wanted.” And at least one recent poll appears to echo this. And nearly three-quarters (73%) thought the law was inspired by the ideas of the National Rally party.
Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Pen, , Élisabeth Borne, Le Pen’s, Macron –, , Macron Organizations: Republicans, National, Constitutional, Ministry, People, AP, Le, National Institute of Statistics, Economic Studies, National Rally Locations: France, Europe, Germany, Western Europe, Africa, Algeria, Morocco, North Africa
Spanish acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez during the investiture debate at the Spanish Parliament on Nov. 15, 2023 in Madrid, Spain. The rise of far-right political groups is the "biggest concern" for Western democracies, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told CNBC. "I think that not only the [political] fragmentation, but the advance of the far-right, it is something … I would say [it is] the biggest concern for Western democracies," Sanchez said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. His comments come in a year set to bring voters to the polls in several countries worldwide, which will include European Parliament elections in June. In France, Marine Le Pen's National Rally party has grown in popularity in the polls, while Geert Wilders' Freedom Party recorded a decisive victory in Netherlands' general elections in November.
Persons: Pedro Sanchez, Pedro Sánchez, Sanchez, Geert Wilders Organizations: Spanish, CNBC, Economic, Freedom Party Locations: Madrid, Spain, Davos, Switzerland, France, Netherlands
With 23% of the vote, Wilders stands a good chance of leading any future governing coalition. In the Netherlands, forming a majority coalition with Wilders' party was considered unthinkable not long ago. "And Wilders took off in the polls.”In December, a member of Wilders' party became president of parliament, marking a breakthrough in political acceptance. There is now a real prospect of his far-right party joining, or even leading, a majority governing coalition. Rather than far-right parties being pulled to the center, the center may veer to the right.
Persons: SINT, , Geert Wilders, Wilders, ’ ”, Rem Korteweg, , Walter de Jong, De Jong, Mark Rutte, Tom Theuns, ” Wilders, Theuns, ” Theuns, Jean, Marie Le Pen, Le Pen’s, , North Africa —, Mark Rutte's, Frans Timmermans Organizations: Party, Freedom, European Union, EU, Party for Freedom, Rabobank, , Leiden University, National, Frontex, , Pulitzer Center, Crisis Locations: SINT WILLEBRORD, Netherlands, Willebrord, Europe, Germany, France, Spain, Sweden, Austria, The Hague, Hungary, Serbia, Poland, Rucphen, Sint Willebrord, Ukraine, Soviet, Syria, Turkey, Belgium, Dutch, North Africa, EU
ROME, Dec 3 (Reuters) - European far-right parties met in Italy on Sunday vowing to reshape the European Union after next year's European Parliament elections, toughening the bloc's approach on immigration and softening its climate policies to protect jobs and industry. Parties from around a dozen countries gathered in Florence, galvanised by last month's general elections in the Netherlands, which handed a surprise win to Geert Wilders' anti-immigration Freedom Party (PVV). The far-right Identity and Democracy (ID) group is now the sixth-largest in the EU assembly, also behind liberal, green and conservative groups, but current polling data place it in fourth position. Salvini, who has failed to include in his alliance Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her poll-leading Brothers of Italy party, fronted a previous unsuccessful push in 2019 for a far-right breakthrough in EU elections. Wilders hailed Salvini, leader of the League party, as an inspiration and his "number one Italian friend."
Persons: Geert Wilders, Matteo Salvini, Salvini, Giorgia Meloni, Wilders, Tino Chrupalla, Jordan Bardella, righters, Chrupalla, Harald Vilimsky, Vladimir Putin, Chizu Organizations: European Union, Party, League, Marine, Austrian Freedom Party, Thomson Locations: Italy, European, Florence, galvanised, Netherlands, Europe, Germany, Africa, Austrian, Russia, Ukraine, Israel
Paris CNN —When the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, French women were paying close attention. Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty ImagesProtesters voice their support for abortion rights during a debate at the Senate in Paris. According to backers of the bill, therefore, constitutionalization would safeguard abortion rights even if a pro-life majority were to be voted into office. Just last week, Argentina elected a far-right president who has pledged to reverse the abortion rights the country acquired in 2020. ‘Now or never’In France, recent polling data suggests 86% of people are now favorable to the constitutionalization of abortion rights.
Persons: Paris CNN —, Roe, Wade, France, , Mélanie Vogel, Vogel, Emmanuel Macron, Stephanie Hennette, Ludovic Marin, Jordan Bardella, ” Bardella, Laurence Rossignol, Malagré, , Enora Malagré, Pierre, Stephane Cardinale, Corbis, Rossignol, Sarah Durocher, it’s, Marine Le, Le Pen, that’s “, Lafargue Raphael, Durocher, Vauchez, ” Vogel, “ It’s Organizations: Paris CNN, United States, Atlantic, CNN, Senate, Getty, Popular, Law, Justice, National Rally, Locations: France, French, Paris, AFP, United States, Popular French, Poland, Argentina, Versailles
Israel-Hamas War Exposes Divisions in France
  + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Colleen De Bellefonds | Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com   time to read: +10 min
"Many people have taken sides,” says Sandrine, who didn't feel comfortable providing her last name given the sensitivity of the topic. Immediately following the Oct. 7 attacks, Macron condemned Hamas and supported Israel’s right to defend itself. “The explicit prohibition of Palestinian demonstrations is something very recent and, in my opinion, a massive political mistake,” Lazar says. The RN, which denounces mass immigration to France from largely Muslim countries, also views Israel as a beacon of democracy in the Arab world. "He needs to defend what [Hamas does] without saying he supports them directly" as part of the Palestinian cause, says Lazar.
Persons: , Sandrine, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Marc Lazar, ” Lazar, Mahmoud Abbas, Israel, Marc Hecker, “ That's, Hecker, David, Goliath, Joe Biden, Jean, Marie Le Pen, Marie Le Pen’s, , Le, Le Pen, , ’ ”, Yves Camus, Luc Mélenchon, , Lazar, Mélenchon, they’re Organizations: Hamas, Montaigne Institute, Sciences Po, West Bank, Center for Security Studies, French Institute of International Relations, French Institute of Public, Palestinian Authority, U.S, National, La France, National Assembly, National Front, Israel, FN, Marine, Rassemblement, Institute of International Relations, Strategic Studies, European Jewish Congress, Locations: Paris, Israel, France, Gaza, Western Europe, Egypt, Jordan, Syria
Dutch shock points to tremors in Europe’s core
  + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Rebecca Christie | ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +4 min
Dutch far-right politician and leader of the PVV party, Geert Wilders speaks to the press following the exit poll and early results in the Dutch parliamentary elections, in The Hague, Netherlands November 22, 2023. The results add to the sense that Europe’s core is starting to rot. Even if Wilders drops his most radical ideas, mainstream conservatives, who won 24 seats, may have reservations about supporting his cause. The Dutch results, combined with German political turmoil, likely put paid to hopes of a deal on Europe’s fiscal rules by year-end. Europe’s core, the bloc’s lynchpin during the euro zone crisis, is now a shaky foundation.
Persons: Geert Wilders, Yves Herman, Mark Rutte, Wilders, won’t, Giorgia Meloni, , Rutte, Neil Unmack, Streisand Neto Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, EU, Party, Freedom Party, Labour, Italian, Green, People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, Thomson Locations: The Hague, Netherlands, Rights BRUSSELS, Wednesday’s, Hague, Europe, Ukraine, Israel, France, Germany, Dutch, Belgium
Crowds Join Lawmakers in Paris March Against Antisemitism
  + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com   time to read: +2 min
PARIS (Reuters) - Thousands of marchers joined lawmakers in Paris on Sunday to condemn a surge in antisemitic acts in France during the conflict in the Gaza Strip, but arguments over political participation clouded an intended show of unity. Political figures, including Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and former presidents Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy, headed the march, holding a banner with the slogan "For the Republic, against antisemitism". Left-wing lawmakers have joined pro-Palestinian protests in recent weeks, including a march in Paris on Saturday. Protests against antisemitism also took place in other French cities on Sunday, including in Marseille where some 7,000 people turned out according to a police estimate. Elsewhere in Europe, concern is running high over antisemitism and other forms of extremism being whipped up.
Persons: Elisabeth Borne, Francois Hollande, Nicolas Sarkozy, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Benjamin Netanyahu, Gus Trompiz, Tangi Salaun, Lucien Libert, Marc Leras, Barbara Lewis Organizations: PARIS, . Police, . Locations: Paris, France, Gaza, Israel, Republic, Sunday's, Marseille, Europe, Britain
Crowds join lawmakers in Paris march against antisemitism
  + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +2 min
Political figures, including Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and former presidents Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy, headed the march, holding a banner with the slogan "For the Republic, against antisemitism". They led several renditions of the French national anthem. Left-wing lawmakers have joined pro-Palestinian protests in recent weeks, including a march in Paris on Saturday. Protests against antisemitism also took place in other French cities on Sunday, including in Marseille where some 7,000 people turned out according to a police estimate. Elsewhere in Europe, concern is running high over antisemitism and other forms of extremism being whipped up.
Persons: Yael Braun, Elisabeth Borne, Gerard Larcher, France Francois Hollande, Nicolas Sarkozy, Francois Hollande, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Benjamin Netanyahu, Gus Trompiz, Tangi Salaun, Lucien Libert, Marc Leras, Barbara Lewis Organizations: National, . Police, ., Thomson Locations: France, PARIS, Paris, Gaza, Israel, Republic, Sunday's, Marseille, Europe, Britain
Macron Says France Will Be 'Ruthless' Against Antisemitism
  + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com   time to read: +2 min
PARIS (Reuters) - France will firmly combat antisemitism, President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday, pointing to a surge in incidents of hatred against Jews since the attack by Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7 and subsequent fighting in the Gaza Strip. There have been 1,159 antisemitic acts in France since Oct. 7, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said earlier on Wednesday, more than three times the number of such acts in 2022. Those acts include spray-painting swastikas or stars of David on walls, but also insults and assault, Darmanin said, amid a global surge in antisemitic acts. "Antisemitism is resurfacing, in words, on the walls," Macron said in a speech. "The Republic does not and will not compromise, and we will be ruthless against those who carry that hatred."
Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Gerald Darmanin, David, Darmanin, Macron, Ingrid Melander, Blandine Henault, Jean, Stephane Brosse, Layli Foroudi, Alex Richardson Organizations: PARIS, daubing, Le, Police Locations: France, Israel, Gaza, Republic, Europe, Russia
A right-wing TV host in France linked the Paris' bedbug outbreak to immigrants. A government minister called Praud's comments on CNews, likened to Fox News, as "hate speech." AdvertisementAdvertisementA right-wing pundit in France is under investigation by Arcom, the country's audiovisual regulator, for making "racist" comments about the current bedbug infestation in Paris, The Times reports. Pascal Praud, a TV host on right-wing channel CNews, asked Nicolas Roux de Bezieux, the founder of a pest control firm, whether immigrants had caused the onslaught of bedbugs. David Belliard, Paris' Deputy Mayor, called the comments "stupid and racist," and added that CNews' views could be summarized in the clip.
Persons: Pascal Praud, , Arcom, Nicolas Roux de Bezieux, Praud, Roux de Bezieux, Le, Emmanuel Macron's, Bérangère Couillard, David Belliard, Euronews, CNews, Eric Zemmour, Louis, Ferdinand Céline Organizations: Fox News, Service, Times, Charles, Rugby, Agence France, AP, France Insoumise, Gender Equality Locations: France, Paris, Gaulle
David A. Andelman CNNBoth appear to have thrown Ukraine and its war with Russia under the bus. Nationwide, Fico himself was the largest single vote-getter, while three of the top five are members of his anti-Ukraine party. They said they’re going to support Ukraine in a separate vote,” Biden said. Only 52% of French voters and 49% of German voters are in favor of offering EU membership to Ukraine. Quick action by Congress is needed to stem further erosion — or even the possible collapse — of determined support for Ukraine across the western democracies.
Persons: David A, CNN —, Vladimir Putin, Robert Fico, Fico, Michal Šimečka, Volodymyr Zelensky, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin —, Zelensky, Joe Biden, Republicans –, ” Biden, , Viktor Orban, “ Guess, ” Orban, Tomas Benedikovic, ” Fico, Orban —, Mateusz Morawiecki, ” Poland’s, Donald Tusk, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Putin, Marine Le, Turkey, Hungary’s Orban, Slovakia’s Fico, waffling Organizations: CNN, French Legion of, The New York Times, CBS News, Russian, Russia, Nationwide, Ukraine Progresivne, Ukraine, United Nations General Assembly, Republicans, Putin, Slovak, Getty, European Union, NATO, Law, Justice Party, Polsat, European Council, Social Democratic, National Rally, Kremlin, Congress Locations: Slovakia, Ukraine, Russia, Russian, Fico, Washington, New York, Bratislava, Hungary, AFP, Luhansk, Poland, Europe, Germany, France, Sweden, United States
Marine Le Pen, member of parliament and president of the French far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National - RN) party parliamentary group, speaks during the questions to the government session at the National Assembly in Paris, France, July 4, 2023. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The Paris prosecutor's office said on Friday that far-right leader Marine Le Pen and 23 other members of her party should stand trial over alleged misuse of EU funds, escalating a seven-year-old probe. The prosecutor's office said some 49 assistants' situation had been examined over a period of time spanning three EU parliament terms of office, from 2004 to 2016. She faces a potential 10-year jail sentence, a one million euros fine, and - as she's an elected official - ineligibility to hold public office for 10 years, the prosecutor's office said. Judges will have to decide whether or not to accept the prosecutor's office petition for trial.
Persons: Stephanie Lecocq, Marine Le, Le Pen, Emmanuel Macron, Juliette Jabkhiro, Dominique Vidalon, Elizabeth Pineau, Charlotte Van Campenhout, William Maclean Organizations: National Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, Rassemblement, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Le Pen's
Far-right parties are propping up coalitions in Finland and Sweden. Afraid of losing voters to UKIP (and other far-right parties), the governing Conservatives ended up adopting many of its positions. Chesnot/Getty Images Europe/Getty ImagesConversely, far-right parties have attempted to sanitize some of their rhetoric, hoping to appear a more credible electoral prospect. Leon Neal/Getty ImagesA different type of populismAnd so the recent successes of far-right parties cannot be explained by dramatic shifts in public opinion. A lot depends on the ability of mainstream parties – particularly on the left – to build tents big enough to accommodate their differences, rather than compromising with far-right parties to prop up their coalitions.
Persons: Donald Trump, , Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel’s, Mario Draghi, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Viktor Orban, Andrej Babis, Czech Michael Bloomberg, Czech Donald Trump, Meloni, Mussolini, Nigel Farage, Jack Taylor, Farage, Jean, Marie Le Pen, Marine, Lionel Jospin, Jacques Chirac, Petteri Orpo, Sanna Marin, Vilhelm Junnila, Ulif Kristersson, Mark Rutte’s, Pen, Chesnot, Philippe Marlier, ” Le, Matteo Salvini, Vladimir Putin, Tino Chrupalla, Alice Weidel, Thomas Lohnes, Omer Messinger, Larry Bartels, Boris Johnson, Leon Neal, Giorgia Meloni, Odd Andersen, Orban, Kaczynski, Rutte’s, Pedro Sanchez Organizations: CNN, White, Channel, European Central Bank, Italy’s, Vox, UK Independence Party, UKIP, European Union, EU, Conservatives, National, Socialist, Socialists, Finns Party, Swedish, Sweden Democrats, Rassemblement National, University College London, Lega, Ukraine, Russia, Former British, Italy's, NATO, Getty, Spain’s Locations: United Kingdom, United States, Europe, Brussels, Spain, Poland, Hungary, Germany, Czech, France, Finland, Sweden, Austria, European, Netherlands, Russian, Oxfordshire, Vilnius
And what does it tell us about French politics? “Currently, this fund complies with our terms of use because the funds will be paid directly to the family in question. Le Pen also tempered her rhetoric in response to this crisis, in what Marliere said was an attempt to appeal to more middle-of-the-road voters. While Zemmour called the rioters “scum” and called for some of their requests for French nationality to be refused, Le Pen spoke more sympathetically about the victim. “The Meloni strategy is very much what Le Pen is trying to follow in France,” Marliere said.
Persons: Nahel, Jean Messiha, Messiha, Eric Zemmour, Pen’s, Eric Dupond, Moretti, , GoFundMe, , Philippe Marliere, ” Marliere, Florian.M, Pen, Marliere, Zemmour, Le Pen, Le, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Georgia Meloni, Joseph Downing, Downing, that’s, ” Downing, Nahel Merzouk, Alexis Jumeau Organizations: CNN, National, Marine, , France Inter, BFMTV, Twitter, University College London, AP, Nanterre, Italian, Bois, Macron Locations: France, Paris, Marseille, Nanterre, Clichy
Emmanuel Macron attended an Elton John concert in Paris on Wednesday night. It comes as mass riots are ravaging France following the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old. "While France was on fire, Macron preferred to applaud Elton John." An Instagram picture posted by Elton John's husband, David Furnish, of the couple arm-in-arm with a smiling Macron and his wife, Brigitte Marie-Claude Macron. "France is burning, and the president of France is going to the Elton John concert.
Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Elton John, Macron, , Thierry Mariani, Elton John's, David, Brigitte Marie, Claude Macron, Nahel, Sarah Meyssonnier Macron, Le, Pascal, Dominique Sopo, Sopo, George Floyd Organizations: Service, The Telegraph, Marine, REUTERS, Guardian, BBC, London Metropolitan Police Locations: Paris, France, Nanterre, Aubervilliers, Rothschild, Republic, Alma, Roubaix, London
Unions - and protesters - will pressure Macron not to promulgate the law, and try to find another way out. The Council's decision is expected late afternoon or early evening, likely after 1600 GMT. It could strike down the bill, but this is something it has rarely done and constitutional experts and government sources see this as unlikely. Political observers say the widespread discontent over the government's reform could have longer-term repercussions, including a possible boost for the far right. "I'm not that optimistic about the Constitutional Council's decision," far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who opposes the pension legislation, said earlier this week.
[1/2] Protesters hold a drawing depicting a portrait of French President Emmanuel Macron during a demonstration as part of the tenth day of nationwide strikes and protests against French government's pension reform in Paris, France, March 28, 2023. "I'm not that optimistic about the Constitutional Council's decision," far-right leader Marine Le Pen told BFM TV, who is against the pension bill. Macron and his government argue the law is essential to ensure that France's generous pension system does not go bust. Unions say this can be done by other means, including taxing the rich more, or making deeper changes to the pension system. However, the CGT union called for a walkout at all refineries on Thursday as part of the nationwide strike.
French President Emmanuel Macron. Shahin Vallée senior research fellow, German Council on Foreign RelationsMacron's popularity rating has worsened in the wake of the pension reforms. The proposed legislation pushes the retirement age up from 62 to 64, and for Macron, and his government, it's a necessity in order to balance the public finances. "Macron is not grooming anyone and that's part of the problem," Vallée said, adding that "Renaissance [party] is a one man party." Macron is serving his second mandate as president and the French constitution prevents him from running again for the job in 2027.
French President Emmanuel Macron arrives to attend the National Roundtable on Diplomacy at the Foreign Ministry in Paris on March 16, 2023. The government of French President Emmanuel Macron faces a no-confidence vote Monday afternoon, as furious opposition lawmakers contest his decision to force changes to the pension system through parliament without a poll. If the no-confidence vote fails, the bill will go through and lift the retirement age of most workers from 62 to 64 by 2030. Much will hinge on how many members of the center-right Les Republicains party break ranks and vote against the government. Macron calculated he did not have the votes to see the legislation through the lower house of the National Assembly.
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