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☆ French Business Leaders See Threat to Economy From Macron’s Opponents
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Liz Alderman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Both the far-right National Rally party in France and its competing left-wing New Popular Front coalition are promising to save the country from financial ruin. But French executives gave a chilly reception Thursday to competing economic platforms from the rival parties, warning that both could endanger the French economy and distance France from the European Union. With less than two weeks before pivotal legislative elections, members of MEDEF, the main employers association in France, held an “audition” for candidates from the main political parties that are vying to seize power from President Emmanuel Macron, whose government has been severely weakened after his party was battered by the far right in European Parliament elections. Mr. Macron called for snap parliamentary elections, gambling that voters would reject extremes and embrace his centrist Renaissance party. The first round of voting is slated for June 30, and the final round for July 7.

Persons: MEDEF, ”, Emmanuel Macron, Macron Organizations: Popular Front, European Union, Renaissance Locations: France

☆ French protests add to Macron's political gamble as election race heats up
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Matthieu Delaty | Afp | Getty ImagesFrance's election campaign kicked off in earnest Monday following a weekend of violent nationwide protests against the far-right National Rally, or RN, whose record European Parliament gains sparked the snap vote. Protesters gather during an anti far-right rally after French president called legislative elections following far-right parties' significant gains in European Parliament elections, in Paris on June 15, 2024. More likely, however, is a "messy" hung parliament, he said — part of Macron's gamble to discredit RN's legitimacy ahead of the 2027 presidential elections. French stocks gained on Monday, with Goldman Sachs' senior European strategist Sharon Bell saying that the sell-off may have been premature. Protesters gather during an anti-far-right rally after French President Emmanuel Macron called legislative elections following far-right parties' significant gains in European Parliament elections in Paris on June 15, 2024.

Persons: Matthieu Delaty, Jordan Bardella, France's Le, Lou Benoist, Emmanuel Macron's, Mujtaba Rahman, Mujtaba, Goldman Sachs, Sharon Bell, Bell, CNBC's, Emmanuel Macron Organizations: National Rally, Afp, Getty, France's Le Monde, CGT, CNBC, Union, Eurasia, CAC, Generale, Protesters Locations: Lyon, France, Paris, Europe

☆ French stocks take beating, risk premium rises under specter of possible far-right victory
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Jordan Bardella, President of the National Rally (Rassemblement National), a French nationalist and right-wing populist party, speaks to over 5,000 supporters on June 9th, at Le Dôme de Paris. French stocks plunged on Friday, with the country's blue-chip index heading for its worst week in more than two years, as investors weigh a potential far-right victory in the upcoming parliamentary elections. A volatile week kicked off in French politics, as President Emmanuel Macron called a snap election last Sunday. The president's decision came after the far-right National Rally party won a historic 31.37% of the French vote for the European Parliament, more than double the 14.6% won by Macron's own Renaissance party. The French leader has since said that he will not step down as president if National Rally makes significant gains in the French legislature, handing them control over economic policy and other domestic issues.

Persons: Jordan Bardella, Emmanuel Macron, Macron's Organizations: National, CAC Locations: French, Le, Paris, London

☆ France's Macron says he won't quit if his party loses in snap election vote
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-12 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks with CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin (not shown), in Paris on May 23, 2024. French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday affirmed that he would not step down if his party suffers in the recently called snap elections for France's Parliament. The snap election is a gamble for Macron, who has characterized the race as a choice for the French people between nationalism and demagoguery or liberal values and a strong, united European Union. The European Parliament election results indicated waning enthusiasm among voters for the EU, which analysts say surfaced at least in part due to rising frustration over issues like immigration, living costs and crime. France's right-wing National Rally (NR) party won a historic 31.37% of the French vote for the European Parliament, more than double the 14.6% won by Macron's Renaissance party.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin, Macron, Gabriel Attal Organizations: France's, CNBC, Sunday, French, Union, EU, Macron's Locations: Paris, France, Germany, Austria, Europe, it's, France's

☆ Macron's snap election gamble in France resurfaces an old criticism — that he's arrogant
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Left-leaning newspaper Liberation described the snap election call as an "extreme gamble," while the center-right Le Figaro ran a brief headline Monday: "Le choc" ("shock"). That happened well before the humiliation of the European election results, in which Macron's Renaissance party got less than half as many votes as the far-right Rassemblement National ... In the meantime, other commentators and newspapers, such as Les Echos, have characterized Macron's move as a game of poker. Macron's supporters defend the president as a self-made and ambitious man who has a direct way of speaking to voters. "First, he has interpreted the vote for the European Parliament as a personal insult, as a rejection of his domestic policy direction.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Xi Jinping, Ursula von der Leyen, Gonzalo Fuentes, Emmanuel Macron's, Macron, drubbing, Jordan Bardella, Le Figaro, Alexis Brézet, Fenoglio, Macron's, it's, Robert Ladrech, Chirac Organizations: Reuters, Macron's Renaissance Party, National Assembly, Le Monde, CNBC, Keele University Locations: Paris, France, what's, EU

☆ 'Huge political gamble': France's Macron calls for snap election his rival Le Pen could easily win
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Chesnot | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesFrench President Emmanuel Macron's decision to call a snap national election after a surge for his far-right rivals is a high-stakes move and a huge political gamble, analysts say. Macron's decision to call a snap parliamentary vote comes after the right-wing National Rally (RN) party, led by Marine Le Pen, won around 31% of the vote in Sunday's European Parliament election. That was more than double the 14.6% seen for Macron's pro-European and centrist Renaissance Party and its allies. France's CAC 40 slumped 1.8% in the early hours of trading Monday morning with French banks trading sharply lower. "This is an essential time for clarification," Macron said in a national address Sunday evening as he announced his decision to dissolve parliament.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Emmanuel Macron's, Macron, Le Pen, Macron —, —, Daniel Hamilton, Johns Hopkins University SAIS, Antonio Barroso, Teneo, Barroso, Le, Douglas Yates, Yates Organizations: Getty, Getty Images, Marine, Sunday's, Renaissance Party, CAC, BNP, Societe Generale, Foreign, Institute, Johns Hopkins University, CNBC, Research, National Assembly, American Graduate School Locations: Chesnot, France, Paris

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Far right gains in EU elections
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Abid Ali | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Far-right advanceFrench President Emmanuel Macron said he will dissolve parliament and call for a new legislative vote after his Renaissance party suffered a major defeat at the EU elections. Populist, far-right parties also won record support in this year's European Parliament elections, exit polls indicated late on Sunday. No way, MuskNorway's $1.7 trillion sovereign wealth fund, Tesla's eighth-largest shareholder, will vote against Elon Musk's $56 billion pay package.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Pen, CNBC's Karen Gilchrist, Dow, Stocks, Musk, Kitty's, Keith Gill, Gill, Korea's Kospi, Macron Organizations: CNBC, Populist, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Treasury, Elon Musk's, GameStop, Nikkei, Markets, Nvidia, Apple Locations: Europe, freefall, Japan, Asia, Australia, Hong Kong, China

☆ French election shock hits stocks and the euro
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

London CNN —The decision by French President Emmanuel Macron to call a snap election after losing to the far right in a vote for European lawmakers roiled markets and the euro Monday. The first round of the French election is scheduled for June 30, followed by the second round on July 7. Under the French system, parliamentary elections are held to elect the 577 members of the lower house, the National Assembly. Higher yields indicate that investors want a bigger premium to buy French bonds given the political uncertainty. “A right-wing majority in the (French parliament) would hamper any reform plans.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Générale, “, ”, Mike O’Sullivan, whittle, Andrew Kenningham, ” Mohit Kumar Organizations: London CNN, BNP, Credit Agricole, National, National Assembly, CNN, Capital Economics, Jefferies Locations: Paris, Europe, —, France

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Far-right makes gains in EU elections
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Abid Ali | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Populist, far-right parties also won record support in this year's European Parliament elections, exit polls indicated late on Sunday. No way, MuskNorway's $1.7 trillion sovereign wealth fund, Tesla's eighth-largest shareholder, will vote against Elon Musk's $56 billion pay package. Despite a recent 2% drop in Aramco's stock and pressures on global oil prices, the offering attracted strong international demand.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Pen, CNBC's Karen Gilchrist, Dow, Stocks, Musk, Kitty's, Keith Gill, Gill, Prince Mohammed bin, Aramco's, Morgan Stanley, there's Organizations: CNBC, Populist, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Treasury, Elon Musk's, GameStop, Saudi, Nvidia Locations: Europe, freefall, Saudi Arabia, Aramco, Saudi

☆ France’s Macron bets big and stares down the far right
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Saskya Vandoorne | Joseph Ataman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

When Jordan Bardella, the leader of the far-right National Rally party, called on Macron to dissolve the French national parliament on Sunday night, it seemed like political posturing, riding high on his victory in European polls. Calling the far right’s bluffMacron will try to rally the right and left, urging their supporters to come together and vote against the far right, but there’s no knowing if it’ll pay off. The last time a French president dissolved the country’s lower house, the National Assembly, was in 1997. French far-right leader Marine Le Pen arrives at the National Rally party headquarters on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Paris. This could see voters of different stripes banding together to oppose a candidate from the far right.

Persons: parry, Emmanuel Macron, Jordan Bardella, ”, Macron, Jacques Chirac, Stephane Séjourné, Séjourné, ” Manon Aubry, Jean, Luc Mélenchon, Marine Le Pen, Thomas Padilla, Le Pen, Pen, Bruno Le Maire, Hannah McKay, he’ll, It’ll, ” Macron, Bardella, Yaël Braun Organizations: Paris CNN, National Assembly, French, Radio France, France, National Rally, French Finance, National, RTL, Getty, Macron’s, “ Locations: France, Republic, Macron, Gaza, Paris, Europe, Macron’s, Le Touquet

☆ What to Know About France’s Snap Parliamentary Elections
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Aurelien Breeden | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Emmanuel Macron threw French politics into disarray on Sunday when he unexpectedly called for snap elections. The surprise move came after his party was battered by the far right in European Parliament elections. Mr. Macron dissolved the lower house of France’s Parliament and said the first round of legislative elections would be held on June 30. France now finds itself in unpredictable territory, with the future of Mr. Macron’s second term potentially at stake. Mr. Macron’s centrist Renaissance party came in a distant second, with about 14.6 percent.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Macron’s, Jordan Bardella Organizations: National Rally, Marine, Renaissance Locations: France

President Emmanuel Macron of France, battered by a crushing defeat to the extreme right in European elections, dissolved the lower house of Parliament on Sunday and called for legislative elections beginning on June 30. His decision, announced in a television broadcast to the nation, was a measure of the devastating nature of the European Parliament election result, which gave the National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen and her wildly popular protégé, Jordan Bardella, about 31.5 percent of the vote, to about 15.2 percent for Mr. Macron’s Renaissance party. It became the leading party in France by some distance. “The rise of nationalists and demagogues is a danger for our nation and for Europe,” Mr. Macron said. But the political winds have turned in favor of less Europe, not more.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Jordan Bardella, ” Mr, Macron, ” Organizations: National, Marine, European Locations: France, Europe, European Union

☆ Far right surges in European Parliament elections but center still holds
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-09 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Far-right parties are predicted to win a record number of seats in the European Parliament, a result that, if confirmed, would deliver a stinging rebuke to Brussels’ political mainstream and add uncertainty to Europe’s future direction. Most of the far-right gains were concentrated in countries that elect large numbers of seats: France, Italy and Germany. Alternative for Germany (AfD) party co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla cheer the exit poll in Berlin, Germany, June 9, 2024. Annegret Hilse/ReutersWhile the far-right surge may further complicate Brussels’ bid for unity, the far-right parties themselves remain relatively divided. Several other far-right parties are among the non-aligned (NI) group, predicted to secure 45 seats.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, –, ”, Europe’s centrists, Le, Emmanuel Macron, Jordan Bardella, ” Macron, Brigitte Macron, Stephane Lemouton, Olaf Scholz, Scholz, shored, ” von der Leyen, Alice Weidel, Tino Chrupalla, Annegret Hilse, Maximilian Krah, Roberta Metsola Organizations: CNN, European People’s Party, EPP, Macron’s Renaissance Party, Socialists, Social Democrats, Christian Democrats Party, CDU, EU, Forces, Reuters, Nazi, SS, Brussels Locations: Brussels, France, Italy, Germany, France’s, Europe, Britain, Russia, Ukraine, Kyiv, Berlin

☆ France's Macron calls for snap election after losing big to the far right in EU vote
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-09 | by ( Katrina Bishop | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said he would dissolve the country's parliament and call for a new legislative nationwide vote after suffering a heavy defeat at EU elections. After requesting that Macron call an election, Le Pen welcomed the news, saying on X: "We are ready for it." It's a risky move by Macron, who could be left with no control over France's domestic issues if RN wins a parliamentary majority. The first round of the parliamentary election will take place on June 30, with the second round on July 7, Macron said. The center-right European People's Party (EPP) is once again projected to win the most parliamentary seats, however, with slightly more seats than before.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Le Pen, isn't, — CNBC's Charlotte Reed Organizations: EU, France TV, Macron's, CNBC, European People's Party, EPP Locations: Elysee, Paris, France

☆ Macron calls snap parliamentary election after crushing loss to far-right in European election poll
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-09 | by ( Niamh Kennedy | Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Within an hour, Macron made a national address, announcing he would dissolve the French lower house and hold parliamentary elections. In the capacity of the French people to make the most just decision,” the French president added. Macron and the First Lady Brigitte Macron at the Touquet polling station, for the European elections, June 9, 2024. Stephane Lemouton/SIPA/APUnder the French system, parliamentary elections are held to elect the 577 members of the lower house, the National Assembly. The last time a French president dissolved parliament was in 1997, which led to Jacques Chirac losing his majority and ushering the Socialists into power under Lionel Jospin.

Persons: CNN —, Emmanuel Macron, Jordan Bardella, “, ” Bardella, Macron, ” Macron, Brigitte Macron, Stephane Lemouton, –, ”, Le Pen, Jacques Chirac, Lionel Jospin Organizations: CNN, National Assembly, Sunday, Socialists, Assembly, Trust, Macron’s

☆ Far Right Surges in European Parliament Elections, Early Data Shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-09 | by ( Matina Stevis-Gridneff | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Elections in 27 countries for the European Parliament ended on Sunday, with early projections giving far-right parties a strong showing, a result that, if confirmed, would amount to a powerful gauge of voter dissatisfaction and a stinging rebuke for the political mainstream. The balloting indicated that the prevailing winds had grown decidedly chill for Europe’s political establishment. The results are likely to make it harder for the European Parliament to form majorities to pass laws, and would render negotiations over divisive issues even tougher. More broadly, they underscored that the momentum of the far-right forces that have been expanding their challenge to centrists over the past decade had yet to crest. The results were especially crushing for President Emmanuel Macron of France, who on Saturday night hosted President Biden at a state dinner in Paris.

Persons: bode, Emmanuel Macron, Biden Organizations: of Locations: France, Germany, Paris

☆ European elections 2024: What’s at stake in the world’s biggest multi-country vote
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —One of the world’s largest democratic exercises gets underway this week, with some 373 million people across the European Union eligible to vote in elections for the next European Parliament. Pedestrians walk past a banner displayed on the building of the European Parliament in Brussels on May 17, 2024. The European Parliament sits primarily in Brussels, Belgium, but moves roughly once a month to Strasbourg, France. National elections are set to take place in France in 2027, in which right-wing populist Le Pen could emerge victorious. There are EPP members (and certainly ECR members) who will agree with ID members on matters such as immigration and climate change.

Persons: Kenzo Tribouillard, Germany’s Ursula von der Leyen, Ursula von der Leyen, Giorgia Meloni, Yara Nardi, Pen, Emmanuel Macron’s, What’s, Simona Granati, der Leyen, Von der Leyen, it’s Organizations: CNN, European Union, Voters, EU, Getty, European Commission, European Council, Italian, European, European People’s Party, EPP, Progressive Alliance of Socialists, European Conservatives, ECR, Corbis, Von Locations: Ukraine, Gaza, EU, Brussels, AFP, European, Belgium, Strasbourg, France, Lampedusa, China, Europe, Italian, Rome, Italy, Germany

"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

☆ What you need to know about Europe’s bedbug panic
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Blane Bachelor | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

“Since I am a dermatologist and I post a lot on my clinic account, I thought it would be nice to post a reel on bed bugs,” she told CNN Travel. “I was like, ‘I find that very hard to believe’,” Starkey told CNN Travel. Yet in Belgium, doctors in Antwerp are “sounding the alarm” about the spread of bedbugs from Paris, according to The Brussels Times. Colleen Oakley, a bestselling novelist in Atlanta, told CNN Travel she would “absolutely not travel” to Paris right now based on her “awful” experience with the creepy crawlies in 2006. It sounds silly to have panic attacks over bugs, but they are really invasive critters.

Persons: Zeina Nehme, bedbugs, Nehme, “, ” Cynthia Starkey, Starkey, texted Starkey, she’d, ” Starkey, Mikayla, I’m, ’ ” Starkey, ” Zach DeVries, ” DeVries, Stella McCartney, Marc Piasecki, Emmanuel Macron’s, Paris Emmanuel Grégoire, Aurélien Rousseau, bedbugs ”, hasn’t, Sadiq Khan, ”, Joe Rominiecki, I’ve, Richard Pollack, Pollack, Paris –, Apple bedbugs, “ Bedbugs, –, Naomi Campbell, “ bedbugs, Colleen Oakley, Oakley Organizations: CNN, City, CNN Travel, Paris, University of Kentucky’s, bedbugs, Fashion, French, Monde, Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance Party, French Health, France Inter, Eurostar, French Agency for Food, Occupational Health, Safety, Entomological Society of America, Harvard Campus Services, Apple, NL Times, Brussels Times, Air, World Health Organization, telltale, American Academy of Dermatology Association, Travelers, Orkin Locations: Paris, London, City of, Beirut, Lebanon, Phoenix, Europe, France, New York, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Antwerp, bedbugs, Air France, Orkin Canada, Atlanta, New, West Village

☆ French centre-right keeps control of Senate, far-right wins three seats
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] French Senate President Gerard Larcher arrives to attend a state dinner in honor of Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Chateau de Versailles (Versailles Palace) in Versailles, near Paris, on the first day of their State visit to France, September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Acquire Licensing Rights Read morePARIS, Sept 24 (Reuters) - France's centre-right Les Republicains (LR) party maintained its majority in the Senate after Sunday's vote, in which three senators from Marine Le Pen's far-right party were elected. The Senate is indirectly elected by France's mayors as well as regional, departmental and municipal councillors. Le Pen's Rassemblement National had been widely expected to make a new breakthrough in the Senate but the score of three wins was above expectations. Under France's Fifth Republic, the Senate has less influence over legislating than the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament.

Persons: Gerard Larcher, Britain's King Charles, Queen Camilla, Hannah McKay, Les Republicains, Le Pen's, Sonia Backes, Emmanuel Macron's, Macron, Michel Rose, Sybille de La, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Chateau, REUTERS, State, France's Fifth, National Assembly, Socialist, Thomson Locations: Versailles, Paris, France, PARIS, Marine, Rassemblement, New Caledonia, France's Fifth Republic

☆ French government wants the power to block social media and to tap into cellphones
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Katie Hawkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

President Macron has said his government needs the authority to block social media to curb protests. First, on July 4, during a meeting with mayors, Macron suggested the government needs the authority to regulate or block social media platforms during major protests. Both left- and right-leaning lawmakers, meanwhile, characterized the comments about blocking social media made by Macron, who is considered centrist, as anti-democratic. Elsewhere in the world, social media censorship has increased in recent years. In an effort to stop people from gathering to protest COVID-19 restrictions, the Chinese government censored discussion of certain cities on social media, according to the BBC.

Persons: Macron, Emmanuel Macron, Monde, Eliska, — Organizations: Service, Police, French, Washington Post, Le Monde, Renaissance Party, Human Rights Watch, Wall Street Journal, Department of Homeland Security, Journal ., New York Times Locations: France, Wall, Silicon, Europe, Spain, Belarus, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, San Francisco

☆ Analysis: French pension standoff causing cracks in Macron's camp, insiders say
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Elizabeth Pineau | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

With no sign of the protests abating, insiders question whether Borne's government has lost control of the political messaging necessary to appease the street. The situation has deteriorated considerably since Macron decided on March 16 to adopt the reform using special constitutional powers to bypass parliament. When asked about the divisions, the president's office said the majority of Macron's camp remained strong and united. "There are still ministers who are saying 'we should have done this or that', No!," the source lamented. An official in Borne's office said the prime minister had made efforts to preserve unity among ministers and lawmakers.

☆ France looks to AI-powered surveillance to secure Olympics
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Layli Foroudi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

PARIS, March 23 (Reuters) - France's National Assembly on Thursday approved the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) video surveillance during the 2024 Paris Olympics, overlooking warnings from civil rights groups that the technology posed a threat to civil liberties. If formally adopted, France would become the first country in the European Union to legalise AI-powered surveillance. That would be setting a worrying surveillance precedent, a group of several dozen European lawmakers said last week. The plan to deploy AI surveillance has met strong resistance from rights groups such as Amnesty International and digital rights groups. Access Now's Leufer questioned the utility of AI in spotting would-be attackers because of the complexities in training algorithms on rare incidents.

☆ France's President Macron overrides parliament to pass retirement age bill
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Alain Jocard | Afp | Getty ImagesFrench President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday resorted to using special constitutional powers to push his plan to raise the retirement age to 64 from 62 through the lower house of parliament. The plans were passed in France's Senate on Thursday morning but had been due for a vote in the National Assembly (the lower house), where its approval was not guaranteed. Instead, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne announced to the assembly that the government would trigger Article 49.3 of the French constitution. Macron's Renaissance party argues reform of the pension system is necessary to sustain it long into the future. Household waste containers and rubbish dumps continue to pile up on the pavements of Paris streets on 14 March 2023 since garbage collectors went on strike against the French government's pension reform bill on 6 March 2023.

☆ France faces another day of nationwide protests against Macron's pension plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, March 11 (Reuters) - France faced a seventh day of demonstrations on Saturday against President Emmanuel Macron's unpopular pension reform plans amid ongoing rolling strikes which have affected refineries, public transport and garbage collections. Demonstrations started at 10 a.m (0900 GMT) in the streets of major cities including Toulouse and Nice. Opinion polls show a majority of voters oppose Macron's plan, while a slim majority supports the strike actions. An additional day of nationwide strikes and protests is planned for March 15. Reporting by Tangi Salaun, Forrest Crellin and Benoit Van Overstraeten; Editing by Mike HarrisonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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