DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Opinion | The E.U. Is Revealing Its True Identity. Europeans Don’t Like It.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-23 | by ( Christopher Caldwell | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In European Parliament elections this month, voters in most of the European Union’s 27 countries rallied to parties that hold the union in contempt. Analysts have leaped to the conclusion that the European Union must have done something wrong. In Germany, where a hard-right party anchored in the formerly Communist East got more votes than any of the three governing parties, voters cited highhanded energy policies. But the European Union’s governing machinery in Brussels is never where voters’ hearts and hopes are. The union is looking more and more like one of those 19th- and 20th-century projects to universalize the un-universalizable, like Esperanto.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron Organizations: European Union, Communist Locations: France, Germany, Communist East, Brussels, Esperanto

☆ Opinion: Don’t expect footballer Kylian Mbappe to swing the French election
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Opinion Adam Plowright | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Paris CNN —French soccer superstar Kylian Mbappé made a dramatic foray into the country’s election campaign this week, but don’t expect the striker to have an influence on the outcome. The far-right National Rally party of anti-immigration leader Marine Le Pen is leading in the polls, and most pundits suspect her populist movement has never come this close to power. Leaders of the French far-right National Rally, Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, attend a rally ahead of the European Parliament elections where the party had huge success earlier this month. In 2006, Marine Le Pen’s father, far-right patriarch Jean-Marie Le Pen, suggested there were too many “players of color” on the national side. While millions will cheer them on at the Euros, they serve as a visible reminder of the country’s changing demographics — an issue which animates voters for the National Rally like no other.

Persons: Adam Plowright, “, Emmanuel Macron —, Read, Kylian Mbappé, Adam Plowright Adam Plowright, ”, Marcus Thuram, Mbappé, Emmanuel Macron, Marine, Macron, Le Pen’s, Le Pen, Jordan Bardella, Gonzalo Fuentes, Bardella, today’s TikTok, Thuram —, Lilian, Aime Jacquet, Stu Forster, Marcel Desailly, Zinedine Zidane, Didier Deschamps, Le, Jean, Marie Le Pen Organizations: Paris CNN —, UEFA, “, Real Madrid, Ipsos, Reuters, YouTube, Brazil, National Locations: Paris CNN — French, Germany, Paris, Cameroon, Algeria, France, United States, Europe, Guadeloupe

CNN —Allegations that three boys gang-raped a 12-year-old Jewish girl in northern France have triggered an outcry over surging antisemitism in the country, a key issue in the looming French parliamentary elections this month. The Nanterre prosecutor’s office announced Wednesday that it has launched an inquiry into the alleged “aggravated rape” of a minor, after receiving “reports from a 12-year-old girl” of the incident on June 15. The third boy has been placed under “assisted witness” status in relation to the alleged rape, the prosecutor added. The alleged attack took place as the girl tried to return home after meeting a friend. Protesters carried placards with slogans such as “Raped at 12 because she was Jewish,” and “Anti-Semitism is not residual,” and listened to speeches from Jewish rights activists in attendance.

Persons: Emmanual Macron, “, BFMTV, Gerald Darmanin, Jordan Bardella, ” Bardella, Pen, Emmanuel Macron, André, Gabriel Attal, Jean, Luc Melenchon, ” Attal, ” Melenchon Organizations: CNN, French, Senate, National Rally, Getty, TF1, BFMTV, Conseil, juives de Locations: France, Nanterre, Gaza, Elysee, Paris, Israel, Paris’s, juives, juives de France

☆ 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

☆ E.U. Warns France Over ‘Excessive’ Deficit, Adding to Political Risks
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Liz Alderman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Add an entry to the list of troubles facing President Emmanuel Macron of France less than two weeks before pivotal legislative elections: potential financial penalties by the European Union for failure to rein in the nation’s ballooning deficit and debt. Mr. Macron threw French politics into disarray earlier this month by calling for snap parliamentary elections after his party was battered by the far right in European Parliament elections. The fiscal warning by E.U. authorities set the stage for a possible confrontation between Brussels and Paris. institutions, and want to ease rather than tighten fiscal policy.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Macron Organizations: European Union, National, Marine, National Rally, New Locations: France, Brussels, Paris

A stock trader looks at his monitors in the trading room of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Worries about a new coronavirus mutation in southern Africa have dealt a major blow to the German stock market. The Stoxx 600 index was up 0.68% in early deals, with all sectors and major bourses trading in the green. Travel and leisure stocks led gains, up 1.84%, while banks were also 1.28% higher. The index fell more than 6.2% last week.

Organizations: Frankfurt Stock Exchange, CAC Locations: Africa

☆ Europe stocks set to open mixed as investors look ahead to Bank of England decision later this week
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Commuters crossing a junction near the Bank of England (BOE), left, in the City of London, UK, on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photographer: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesLONDON — European markets are set to open mixed as investors attempt to shake off negative sentiment from last week and look ahead to the latest interest rate decision from the Bank of England. Investors are looking ahead to the Bank of England's policy rate decision on Thursday. In Asia-Pacific, markets were mixed on Monday as the region assesses key economic data out from China. U.S. stock futures were little changed on Monday morning as traders start a holiday-shortened week.

Persons: BOE, Andrew Bailey, Hollie Adams, Emmanuel Macron's Organizations: Bank of England, City of, Bloomberg, Getty, CAC, Bank of, Reuters Locations: City, City of London, Italy, Asia, Pacific, China . U.S

☆ 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

☆ The leaders at this year's G7 summit look weaker than ever
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThe G7 summit has long been a showcase of global leadership and power. But 2024's group of leaders appears to be one of the weakest that has attended the summit for some time. French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, US President Joe Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the G7 summit. 'Brittle at best'Payne argued that some of the G7 leaders aren't outright weak; rather, they face circumstances that threaten their authority. And right now, the domestic foundations of most of the G7 leaders are brittle at best," he added.

Persons: —, Inderjeet Parmar, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz's, Rishi Sunak, Giorgia Meloni, Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, Antonio Masiello, Andrew Payne, Payne, Donald Trump, Hunter Biden's, Parmar, aren't Organizations: Service, Business, Politico, City University of London, EU, Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats, Christian Democrats, Social Democrats, White House Locations: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Italian, Ukraine

☆ Energy prices in France turn negative as surging renewable output takes nuclear plants offline
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

French energy prices fell into negative territory on an overflow of renewable power, Bloomberg reported. AdvertisementDay-ahead energy prices in France fell into negative territory amid surging renewable power production, Bloomberg reported. The situation in France is different in that the rollout of renewable power has been slower than in other countries in the region, Reuters said. Paris has installed around 45 gigawatts of wind and solar capacity, and is behind European Commission targets. AdvertisementIf the National Rally party wins, it has pledged to slash renewable subsidies and end the wind power industry's expansion.

Persons: —, It's, SEB Research Organizations: Bloomberg, Service, Electricite, Reuters, National Rally Locations: France, Spain, Germany, Paris

☆ Europe stocks head for higher open to round off choppy week
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

This picture taken in Paris on March 3, 2024 shows the silhouette of the Eiffel Tower and the city skyline against a cloudy weather. The Stoxx 600 index is nonetheless on course for one of its worst weeks of the year so far. Stateside, two sets of inflation data — the consumer price index and the producer price index — both came in softer than expected, boosting U.S. stocks. Between those readings, the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady and revised its outlook for interest rate cuts to just one in 2024. The start of the week was dominated by market reaction to elections to the European Union's parliament, in which far-right parties made gains, as had been forecast.

Persons: Stefano RELLANDINI, STEFANO RELLANDINI, Germany's DAX, Emmanuel Macron's Organizations: Eiffel, Getty, CAC, Federal Reserve, spooked Locations: Paris, AFP

☆ 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

☆ How Jordan Bardella has helped give the far right an acceptable face in France
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-12 | by ( Saskya Vandoorne | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

He’s poised to become the next prime minister if the French president loses his gamble in the upcoming snap election. Bardella, the National Rally party leader, grew up an only child in social housing in Seine-Saint-Denis, a working-class suburb in the northeast of Paris. Le Pen handpicked the young politician to head the party in 2022 – ending a 50-year-rule by the Le Pen dynasty – and bring a fresh boost to the French populist right. Le Pen, a self-described Bardella groupie, has said she’s always been a great admirer of his and that he shows great maturity. Bardella and Le Pen attend the National Rally party's Congress in Paris, France, November 5, 2022.

Persons: Jordan Bardella, Emmanuel Macron’s, He’s, Denis, ” Bardella, ”, Macron, Le Pen, Le, Marine’s, Jean, Marie Le Pen, Bardella, Jeff Pachoud, Dominique Moisi, “, relatable, Luc Mélenchon, Critics, Eric Ciotti, France’s, Pen, Bardella –, –, she’s, Christian Hartmann, Emma Leyo Organizations: Paris CNN —, National Rally, Sorbonne, France, National, Macron’s, BFMTV, Republicans, Rally party's Locations: French, Seine, Paris, France, AFP, East, Africa

☆ Why the far-right surge in European elections could be an omen for Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

US voters don’t take direction from foreigners, and American presidential elections, which play out state by state, are far different from those for the European Union. Another lesson of the European elections is that in an age of inflation, incumbents are vulnerable to a disgruntled electorate. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are smarting from their rebuke in European elections that rewarded far-right parties that echo the continent’s dark past. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s low approval ratings mean he might not even lead his Liberal Party into elections due by the end of next year. Macron, who heads a centrist party that was routed in the European elections, may be betting that the higher turnout in legislative elections could reverse the trend.

Persons: CNN —, Donald Trump’s, Hillary Clinton’s, Joe Biden, Trump, Biden, he’ll, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Justin Trudeau’s, Rishi Sunak, Macron, Le Pen, Jordan Bardella, Le Pen’s, ” He’s, ” Organizations: CNN, European Union, Canadian, Liberal Party, British, Conservative, “ Make, GOP, Labour Party, Trump, National Rally, Paris Locations: Britain, Europe, Italy, Poland, Normandy, EU

☆ 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

☆ European stocks head for flat to higher open as markets turn to Fed, U.S. inflation data
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON — European stocks are expected to open flat to higher Tuesday as investors look ahead to the Federal Reserve's next meeting and U.S. inflation data. The U.K.'s FTSE index is expected to open unchanged at 8,223, Germany's DAX up 6 points at 18,493, France's CAC 40 up 21 points at 7,897 and Italy's FTSE MIB up 16 points at 34,568, according to IG. Regional markets fell on Monday as traders reacted to the EU Parliament elections and French President Emmanuel Macron's decision to call a snap election after the right-wing National Rally party made strong gains.

Persons: Germany's DAX, Emmanuel Macron's Organizations: Federal, CAC, IG, Regional

☆ 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

☆ Macron has taken a radical gamble that could backfire
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewFrench President Emmanuel Macron shocked the world on Sunday by calling a snap election in France. The move came after a big win for his rival Marine Le Pen's National Rally party at the European parliamentary elections. AdvertisementHowever, the snap election could likely end the current coalition, which comprises Macron's party, Renaissance, the Democratic Movement, Horizons, En commun, and the Progressive Federation. Macron may have to form a cohabitation government with a prime minister from an opposition party, such as the National Party or Les Republicains. AdvertisementRepresentatives for President Macron did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Persons: —, Emmanuel Macron, There's, Daniel Hamilton, Johns Hopkins University SAIS, France's, Macron, I've, Pen, Alain Duhamel, Bruno Cautrès, Antonio Barroso Organizations: Service, Business, Foreign, Institute, Johns Hopkins University, CNBC, Guardian, Cac, Financial Times, Democratic Movement, Progressive Federation, National Party, Sciences Po Locations: France, Paris

☆ The far-right is set to make huge gains in European election. It could define the next five years of European politics
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

EU politics has always relied on awkward alliances between countries and political ideologies that represent vastly different electorates. Francois Greuez/SIPA/APThe European Parliament is the place where this is most visible at an EU level. Most of the lawmakers (known as MEPs) belong to a political party in their own country. ECR and ID are typical of European Parliament parties in that they are home to a pretty broad group of conservatives. The European Parliament can often seem like looks like a boring, bureaucratic blob, tediously grinding its way through process.

Persons: Francois Greuez, Angela Merkel, Christoph Reichwein, David Cameron, Georgia Meloni, Viktor Orban, Orban, Ursula von der Leyen, Giorgia Meloni, Hungary's Viktor Orban, –, Geert Wilders Organizations: CNN, European Union, National Rally, European, European People’s Party, EPP, European Conservatives, Politico, British, Brexit, Georgia, Ukraine, Russia EU, EU, SS, Nazi, Dursun, ERC, European Commission, Kremlin Locations: United States, South Africa, Mexico, Taiwan, Ukraine, China, EU, France, Belgian, Brussels, Hungary, Russia, Italian, Anadolu, United Kingdom, Germany, Europe, Netherlands, Europe’s

☆ Aya Nakamura: The most streamed female Francophone artist has become a target in France’s culture wars ahead of Paris 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Bea Adeleke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

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

☆ Russia relishes NATO disarray after hasty denials of plan to deploy ground troops to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

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

☆ Advance of far-right parties is the ‘biggest concern’ for Western democracies, Spain’s Prime Minister says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Vicky Mckeever | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

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

Search resuls for: "National Rally Party"

25 mentions found