FRENCH VOTERS
US stocks back at records while European bourses retreat
Wall Street equity indices advanced to fresh records Tuesday as markets embraced commentary from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, while European bourses retreated on unease about upcoming French elections. But bourses in Paris and Frankfurt both retreated amid concerns about the potential economic fallout should the far right win power in France in weekend elections.
French voters propel far-right National Rally to strong lead in first-round legislative elections
The far-right National Rally surged ahead in France’s first round of legislative elections, projected to win about one-third of the national vote. This poses a significant challenge to centrist President Emmanuel Macron. If the National Rally secures a parliamentary majority in the second round, it could form France's first far-right government since World War II. The party's leader, Marine Le Pen, urged voters to help her party achieve a legislative majority, potentially leading to a power-sharing arrangement with Macron.
France Election 2024: Far right leader Marine Le Pen hails projections of first-round election lead for her party
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen is calling on voters to give her National Rally an “absolute majority” in parliament as polling projections say French voters have propelled the party to a strong lead in Sunday's first-round legisla...
France is facing an election like no other. Here's how it works and what comes next
French voters face historic snap parliamentary elections that could usher in the first far-right government since WWII or result in no clear majority. Competing blocs include the far-right National Rally, Macron's centrist alliance, and the left-leaning New Popular Front. Outcomes are uncertain, with potential for significant political shifts.
5 world market themes for the week ahead
Euro 2024 excitement rises with political shifts in Britain and France. M&A activity surges amidst economic uncertainties. Emerging Asia grapples with inflation as central banks navigate rate decisions. Labour's potential win in Britain poses fiscal challenges. The market awaits U.S. job data impact on Federal Reserve's rate policy.
This is what Kylian Mbappe asked the people of France to do in the upcoming elections
Kylian Mbappe has urged the young voters in France to prevent the rising extremes in the country. He has urged them to uphold liberal French values. These comments have been made before the elections to the National Assembly.
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French left vows 'total break' with Macron policies
Left-wing outfits including hard-left France Unbowed (LFI), the Socialist, Communist and Green parties on Thursday agreed an election alliance called the New Popular Front.
French finance minister warns of financial crisis if far right wins election
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire warned of a potential financial crisis in France if the far-right, led by Marine Le Pen, wins upcoming elections, urging support for Emmanuel Macron's party.
Conservatives want poll deal with Le Pen-led French far right
Marine Le Pen's anti-immigration, eurosceptic National Rally is expected to emerge as the strongest force after President Emmanuel Macron called snap elections for June 30 and July 7. The RN was therefore looking for allies to secure control of parliament and it immediately applauded Ciotti's comment.
Macron urges French to make 'right choice' in election gamble
President Macron has called for snap elections in France after the far right's strong showing in the EU elections. Despite criticism, Macron is confident in the French people's choice. His move aims to keep the far right out of power but has sparked concerns and market instability. Macron's party faces challenges in regaining a majority in the National Assembly. The far right's gains in several European countries have drawn attention, with some seeing a potential shift in European politics.
France President Macron dissolves French parliament, calls a snap election after defeat in EU vote
The announcement came after the first projected results from France put the far-right National Rally party well ahead in the European Union's parliamentary elections, handing a chastening loss to Macron's pro-European centrists, according to French opinion poll institutes.
Dutch voters kick off marathon EU elections
Dutch voters kick off EU election marathon, testing far-right shift in EU parliament amid geopolitical uncertainty after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
France's far right may win big in EU elections. That's worrying for migrants, Macron and Ukraine
The June 6-9 elections in all 27 EU countries will shift the makeup of the European Parliament and policymaking in the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, likely further toward the right and far right. And that could boost Le Pen's chances of winning France's presidency in 2027, a long-time dream.
French President Emmanuel Macron flies to New Caledonia amid ongoing unrest
French President Emmanuel Macron flew to New Caledonia to address riots and tensions between Indigenous Kanaks seeking independence and others wanting to remain part of France.
New Caledonia: What triggered violence that turned South Pacific Paradise into hell? Details here
The root cause of the violence may be traced back to the mid-1800s when France took control of New Caledonia. Since then, there has been a tense relationship between indigenous Kanaks and white settlers.
France imposes emergency in Pacific territory of New Caledonia as violent unrest turns deadly
France imposes 12-day emergency in New Caledonia to tackle deadly unrest among indigenous people seeking independence. Security forces deployed to quell violence following protests over voting reforms, with armed clashes, looting, arson. Police reinforcements rushed to the island. Residents affected by the unrest as French constitution amendments spark tensions. Curfew extended, schools and main airport closed in New Caledonia.
Two dead, hundreds injured as riots sweep New Caledonia
Two people were killed and hundreds injured in New Caledonia during a second night of rioting, as anger over constitutional reforms from Paris boiled over. The violence began as pro-independence demonstrations and has spiraled into three days of the worst violence seen on the French Pacific archipelago since the 1980s. Despite heavily armed security forces fanning out across the capital Noumea and the ordering of a nighttime curfew, rioting continued overnight virtually unabated.
Russian lawmakers adopt resolution slamming French 'mercenaries' in Ukraine
The Russian parliament passed a resolution denouncing the alleged presence of French "mercenaries" in Ukraine, escalating tensions with Paris. Russia claimed, without evidence, to have killed a group of French mercenaries in Ukraine's Kharkiv last week. Moscow summoned the French ambassador over what it deemed "growing involvement in the Ukraine conflict."
French pension protesters target Paris restaurant favoured by Macron
Protests since January have gathered huge crowds against the flagship reform of Macron's second term, which lifts the retirement age by two years to 64. But the rallies and strikes have also coalesced widespread anger against the president, who is often the target of banners and chants.
French Minister Marlene Schiappa faces flak for appearance on Playboy magazine’s cover
French Minister Marlene Schiappa is set to appear on the cover of Playboy France magazine. Her interview focuses on women's rights and LGBTQ+ issues, but politicians criticized the move due to ongoing widespread unrest over pension reforms.
No more room for vroom? Paris votes on banishing e-scooters
Zipping around the City of Light on one of them, wind in the hair, or romantically but naughtily e-scooting a deux on one machine when the gendarmes aren't looking could soon be over if Parisians vote Sunday to do away with the 15,000 opinion-dividing micro-vehicles.
How a Canadian town famous for xenophobia fell in love with immigrants
Canada's federal government has announced plans to welcome record numbers of new immigrants over the next three years, with the goal of adding 1.45 million immigrants to the country's population of 39 million. The only outlier has been Quebec, where politicians have fanned anti-immigrant sentiments by seizing on French Québécois voters' fears of losing their cultural identity.
French prosecutors search Emmanuel Macron's party offices
The Paris offices of US consulting giant McKinsey were also searched on Tuesday, the National Financial Prosecutors' Office said, confirming a report in Le Parisien newspaper.
Who is Jordan Bardella? Young French politician who replaces Marine Le Pen as National Rally leader
It is reported that Marine Le Pen will shift her focus to lead the group in the French Parliament.
What next for Emmanuel Macron after election humbling?
His allies, known together as "Ensemble" (Together), were finishing as the biggest party in parliament with 234 MPs so far according to a 97 percent vote count, but far short of the 289 needed for a majority. This scenario is extremely rare under modern France's presidential regime, even before a constitutional change in 2002 which was intended to make it easier for the head of state to secure a parliamentary majority.
French President Emmanuel Macron loses parliament majority in stunning setback
The result from Sunday's second round poll threw French politics into turmoil, raising the prospect of a paralysed legislature or messy coalitions with Macron forced to reach out to new allies. Macron, 44, now also risks being distracted by domestic problems as he seeks to play a prominent role in putting an end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and as a key statesman in the EU.
French head to polls as Macron battles for majority in parliament
Government insiders expect a relatively poor showing in Sunday's first round for Macron's coalition "Ensemble", with record numbers of voters seen abstaining. Hard-left firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon's bloc hopes to capitalise on anger over the rising cost of living.
Why France's parliamentary elections are important to Macron
Elections are being held nationwide to select the 577 members of the most powerful branch of France's Parliament, the National Assembly, on Sunday, with a runoff on June 19.
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