French politics news stories on Newser

What Hollande's Victory Means for France

Evann Gastaldo — Mon, 07 May 2012 07:48:13 CDT

Following last night’s victory over Nicolas Sarkozy , Francois Hollande will have to jump right in to his new role—he will be sworn in as France’s president next Tuesday, the BBC notes. What does his election mean? Hollande has vowed to renegotiate the eurozone budget treaty Sarkozy championed along with...

France's Le Pen Endorses ... Blank Ballot

Tue, 01 May 2012 06:39:11 CDT

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen is refusing to endorse either candidate in France's presidential runoff and says she will cast a blank protest ballot. Le Pen, who came in a strong third place in the first round of voting April 22, told her supporters at a big rally in Paris...

Sarkozy, Hollande Advance to Runoff

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 12:52:37 CDT

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and chief rival Francois Hollande are headed for a showdown on May 6, after finishing as the top two candidates in today's first round of voting in France's presidential elections. Though the French government has yet to finalize the tally, the Wall Street Journal and other...

With Sarkozy's Career on the Line, France Votes

Polly Davis Doig — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 08:27:14 CDT

Throngs are voting today in Round 1 of France's presidential elections in what's seen as a referendum on Nicolas Sarkozy's economic stewardship and divisive personality, reports the AP . Early polls show a 28% turnout in the vote, which will trim the field of 10 candidates to two for a May...

France Toughens Citizenship Gauntlet

Kevin Spak — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:28:52 CST

Bad news, Francophiles: It just became harder to become French. Nicolas Sarkozy’s government has just thrown up some tough new hurdles for would-be French citizens, requiring them to pass a difficult language test (foreigners will need to speak French at the level of a French 15-year-old) and swear allegiance to...

France Finds Chirac Guilty of Corruption

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:28:00 CST

A French court found former President Jacques Chirac guilty of embezzling public funds to illegally finance the conservative party he long led, in a historic verdict today with repercussions for his legacy and France's political elite. Chirac will not go behind bars, but was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence...

Chirac, PM Took $20M From African Leaders: Aide

Evann Gastaldo — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:55:00 CDT

Former French president Jacques Chirac and his prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, have been accused of taking $20 million in illicit payments from African heads of state, allegations that both men deny. Lawyer Robert Bourgi, a onetime aide to the politicians, made the accusations in a radio station interview today,...

Half of French Want DSK Comeback

Sun, 03 Jul 2011 09:03:46 CDT

A new poll indicates that French people are divided over whether Dominique Strauss-Kahn should re-enter French politics after the weakening of the sexual assault case against the former International Monetary Fund chief. Forty-nine percent of those surveyed in the Harris Interactive poll for French newspaper Le Parisien responded "yes" to...

France Looks Hard at Pols Gone Wild

Mark Russell — Tue, 31 May 2011 03:30:00 CDT

The Dominique Strauss-Kahn sexual assault case in New York has French society taking a hard look at sexist politicians like never before, reports the Telegraph . "[I]f all those who mix power and sex had to account for their actions, half of our [male] politicians would be in trouble," said one...