Showing posts with label Emmanuel Macron. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Emmanuel Macron. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 07, 2024

Macron Calls Hamas Attacks ‘Biggest Antisemitic Massacre of Our Century’

THE GUARDIAN: President says ‘nothing can justify or excuse terrorism’, at Paris ceremony honouring French victims

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has called the 7 October attacks by Hamas on Israel the “biggest antisemitic massacre of our century” as he led a ceremony paying tribute to the French victims.

Macron described the attacks by the Palestinian militant group as “barbarism … which is fed by antisemitism and propagates it”. He said: “We must fight against hatred, we must not give in to rampant, unbridled antisemitism. Nothing can justify or excuse terrorism.” » | Angelique Chrisafis in Paris | Wednesday, January 7, 2024

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

EU Must Defend Ukraine Even If US Reduces Military Support, Macron Says

THE GUADIAN: French president says future security architecture of Europe could no longer be settled by the US and Russia

The European Union has to make bold decisions to defend Ukraine, pre-empting any US decision to withhold or reduce its military support, Emmanuel Macron has said.

In a speech in Sweden, which hopes to be the next country to join Nato, the French president also said the future security architecture of Europe, including arms control agreements covering European territory, could no longer be settled simply by the US and Russia, and Europe had to have a right to determine its own future.

His remarks were designed as a warning to Europe that it needs to ramp up its whole defence effort and prepare for the possibility that either Joe Biden will be unable to push his military assistance budget for Ukraine through Congress, or that later in the year he is defeated in a presidential election by an isolationist Donald Trump. » | Patrick Wintour, Diplomatic editor | Tuesday, January 30, 2023

Hear! Hear! – © Mark Alexander

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Wiederbewaffnung à la Macron

FRANKREICH

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Schuluniform, Nationalhymne, mehr Kinder und mehr Marschflugkörper für die Ukraine: Mit zahlreichen konservativen Maßnahmen will Präsident Macron ein „starkes Frankreich“ schaffen.

Die „Wiederbewaffnung“ ist das Lieblingswort des französischen Präsidenten. Zum Ende seiner mehr als zweistündigen Pressekonferenz im Elysée-Palast machte Emmanuel Macron klar, dass er nicht nur die französische Gesellschaft wehrhafter machen will. „Die russische Aggression gegen die Ukraine ist zweifellos die größte Bedrohung für Frankreich“, sagte Macron. Er kündigte die Lieferung von 40 weiteren Marschflugkörpern vom Typ SCALP an. Die vom europäischen Raketenkonsortium MBDA gebauten Raketen werden von der Ukraine bereits erfolgreich hinter den Frontlinien gegen russische Ziele eingesetzt, während die Bundesregierung zögert, die vergleichbaren Taurus-Marschflugkörper mit noch größerer Reichweite zu liefern.

Macron kündigte an, dass er im Februar nach Kiew reisen werde, um ein bilaterales Sicherheitsabkommen mit der Ukraine zu unterzeichnen. Alle G-7-Länder haben sich dazu verpflichtet, für Großbritannien hat der britische Premierminister Rishi Sunak seine Unterschrift bereits unter eine entsprechende Sicherheitsgarantie gesetzt. Macron sagte am Dienstagabend in Paris, dass Frankreich der Ukraine auch Hunderte Bomben liefern werde, ohne konkreter zu werden. Zudem soll die Produktion der Caesar-Haubitzen weiter hochgefahren werden, die bei den ukrainischen Truppen sehr beliebt sind. Die Haubitzen werden auf einem Allrad-Lkw montiert und sind beweglicher als die deutschen Panzerhaubitzen 2000. „Wir können Putin nicht erlauben, dass er siegt. Die Sicherheit Europas wäre dann kompromittiert“, warnte Macron. » | Von Michaela Wiegel, Paris | Mittwoch, 17. Januar 2024

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Tuesday, January 09, 2024

Emmanuel Macron Appoints France’s Youngest Prime Minister

THE TELEGRAPH: Gabriel Attal, the 34-year-old education minister known as ‘Macron Boy’, succeeds the sacked Elisabeth Borne

Newly appointed Prime minister Gabriel Attal is welcomed by outgoing Prime minister Elisabeth Borne as he arrives for the handover ceremony in ParisCREDIT: EMMANUEL DUNAND/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Emmanuel Macron has appointed a 34-year-old who made his name by banning Muslim abaya robes in schools as France’s youngest prime minister.

Gabriel Attal, the education minister, was chosen to breathe new life into the president’s flagging second term in office.

The move will not necessarily lead to any major political shift but signals Macron’s desire to try to move beyond last year’s unpopular pension and immigration reforms and improve his centrist party’s chances in June’s EU ballot.

Mr Attal, who has been called “Macron Boy”, is seen by some as a potential presidential candidate in 2027. He is the first openly gay prime minister. » | Telegraph’s Foreign Staff | Tuesday, January 9, 2024

LE MONDE : Gabriel Attal à Matignon, la promotion spectaculaire d’un fidèle du chef de l’Etat : Le ministre de l’éducation nationale, l’un des plus populaires du gouvernement, a été propulsé, mardi, à Matignon. Ancien socialiste, il avait rejoint Emmanuel Macron dès 2016. A 34 ans, il devient le plus jeune premier ministre de la Vᵉ République » [€]

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG : Gabriel Attal, ein Klon Macrons: Gabriel Attal tritt als jüngster Regierungschef an. Weitere Ähnlichkeiten mit dem Präsidenten sind gewollt. In Gestalt des 34 Jahre alten Gabriel Attal setzt der französische Präsident auf ein frisches, unverbrauchtes Gesicht an der Regierungsspitze. In den französischen Medien wird der neue Premierminister als politisches Wunderkind gefeiert. Attal hat bislang schlicht die Zeit gefehlt, sich in seinen Ämtern zu bewähren. Das Bildungsministerium hatte er erst im vergangenen Sommer übernommen. Er stellte sich mit dem Verbot der Abaja genannten islamischen Überkleider in den Klassenräumen vor. » [€]

THE GUARDIAN: Gabriel Attal appointed youngest French PM as Macron tries to revive popularity: Attal, 34, rose in opinion polls during his time as education minister and may improve ruling party’s chances in EU elections »

Who Is Gabriel Attal de Couriss? The French PM who climbed the ranks in record time?

Thursday, December 14, 2023

Leasing social : Emmanuel Macron lance la voiture électrique à 100 euros par mois, découvrez comment en bénéficier

LE FIGARO : Le président vient de donner le go de cette promesse destinée à démocratiser l’achat d’un véhicule électrique. Elle sera proposée à moins de 25.000 personnes en 2024.

Après des mois de tergiversation sur les modalités du leasing social à 100 euros, une promesse de campagne d'Emmanuel Macron pour démocratiser l'achat d'un véhicule électrique, le président appuie sur le bouton. Dès vendredi, les personnes intéressées par cette mesure vont pouvoir vérifier sur la plateforme mon-leasing-electrique.gouv.fr créée tout spécialement s'ils sont éligibles ou pas à la location longue durée d'un véhicule à batterie, neuf ou d'occasion, qui coûterait environ 100 euros par mois hors assurance auto. Pour en bénéficier, les critères sont sélectifs : déclarer moins de 15.400 euros de revenus annuels par part fiscale, être un « gros rouleur » c'est-à-dire effectuer plus de 8000 kilomètres par an ou bien habiter à 15 kilomètres au moins de son lieu de travail. » | Par Valérie Collet | jeudi 14 décembre 2023

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

France to Ban Smoking on All Beaches in Effort to Create ‘Tobacco-free Generation’

GUARDIAN EUROPE: Public parks, forests and areas near schools will also become smoke-free as part of nationwide move

Two small parts of the beaches in Cannes are cigarette-free, but its mayor questioned the government’s smoking ban. Photograph: Sébastien Nogier/EPA

France is to ban smoking on all beaches, as well as in public parks, forests and near schools, after Emmanuel Macron promised to create “the first tobacco-free generation” by 2032.

“From now on, no-smoking areas will be the norm,” said the health minister, Aurélien Rousseau.

There are already 7,200 tobacco-free areas in France – including in Nice, on the French Riviera, which was the first to establish a cigarette-free beach in 2012 with the approval of France’s League Against Cancer.

The government said that instead of smoke-free areas being decided by individual local authorities, central government would introduce a nationwide ban. “We are now shifting the responsibility and establishing a principle which will become the rule,” Rousseau said.

Taxes on cigarettes will be increased, with a pack of 20, now priced at about €11 (£9.50), rising to €12 by 2025 and €13 the following year. » | Angelique Chrisafis in Paris | Tuesday, November 28, 2023

It was bad enough that the Anglo-Saxon world was working overtime to kill off the concept of joie de vivre; now, Macron’s government is also hell-bent on taking la joie out of la vie too! Clearly, the end is nigh for freedom in the West. Maybe Macron should think of changing the motto Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité into just Égalité, Fraternité, because liberty in France is clearly being eroded.

I think that this is a very unwise move on Macron’s part at this time because this could help sweep Marine Le Pen to power at the next election. Populists are already gaining strength right across the Continent anyway. This will surely help populist parties become even stronger. – © Mark Alexander


France urged to accept the science on how to stop smoking: France’s Parliamentary Office for Scientific and Technological Assessment has concluded that a drastic change in approach is required to get cigarette smokers to stop smoking, A report prepared by members of both chambers of the French Parliament recommends a risk reduction approach that offers smokers the chance to switch to much less harmful electronic cigarettes, writes Political Editor Nick Powell. »

Tabagisme : « Il faut avancer sur la voie de la réduction des risques » : Alors que les politiques publiques semblent perdre en efficacité avec le temps, des spécialistes des addictions appellent, dans une tribune au « Monde », à tenter une nouvelle stratégie d’accompagnement des fumeurs. »

Being that France (and other Western countries) are on a banning spree... just as smoking can cause cancer, so can drinking alcohol. So, why not ban alcohol, too? Why stop at smoking? Ban all sources of pleasure! Don't waste any time: Ban the bloody lot! Why not?

Alcohol and its link to cancer »

Joint statement by WHO/Europe and IARC to the European Parliament – raising awareness of the link between alcohol and cancer »

Ireland signs law requiring cancer warnings on all alcoholic beverages: The Irish government says the measure — opposed by drinks industry chiefs worldwide but cleared by EU and WTO regulators — will come into force in May 2026. »

Thursday, November 02, 2023

Macron Plans to Make Freedom to Have an Abortion an 'Irreversible' Constitutional Right | DW News

Nov 2, 2023 | When the US Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion across the United States last year, the backlash around the world was fierce. But it's not just in the US that reproductive rights are under attack. In recent years, efforts to restrict access to legal and safe abortions have increased in Latin America as well as the EU. This trend has spurred authorities in France to move to enshrine the right to abortion in their constitution.

Over the weekend, President Emmanuel Macron tweeted "The draft constitutional law, which was based on the work of parliamentarians and associations, will be sent to the Council of State this week and presented to the Council of Ministers by the end of the year. In 2024, the freedom of women to have an abortion will be irreversible."


Emmanuel Macron is a real hero to enshrine this right into the French Constitution. Europe isn't the home of the Enlightenment for nothing. – © Mark Alexander

Sunday, October 29, 2023

Emmanuel Macron to Enshrine Women’s Right to Abortion in France

GUARDIAN EUROPE: President promises by next year the constitutional right to choose ‘will become irreversible’

Macron will submit a draft to the highest administrative court next week. Photograph: Christophe Petit-Tesson/AFP/Getty Images

Emmanuel Macron has promised to enshrine a woman’s right to an abortion in the French constitution by next year, after restrictions in other countries propelled France on a path towards unconditionally guaranteeing abortion rights.

The French president said on Sunday that his government would submit a draft text to France’s highest administrative court over the coming week, with the aim of making abortion rights constitutional by the end of the year.

“In 2024, the right of women to choose abortion will become irreversible,” he wrote on social media. » | Angela Giuffrida and agencies | Sunday, October 29, 2023

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Emmanuel Macron propose à Benyamin Nétanyahou que la coalition contre l’EI « puisse lutter aussi contre le Hamas »

LE MONDE : Lors d’une déclaration commune à Tel-Aviv, le chef de l’Etat français a fait valoir que la France était aux côtés d’Israël dans sa lutte contre ce « groupe terroriste ». Il a également insisté sur la nécessité d’une « relance décisive du processus politique avec les Palestiniens ».

Le premier ministre israélien, Benyamin Nétanyahou, et le président français, Emmanuel Macron, lors d’une conférence de presse conjointe à Jérusalem, le 24 octobre 2023. CHRISTOPHE ENA / AFP

« C’est une page noire de notre propre histoire » : Emmanuel Macron, en visite en Israël mardi 24 octobre, a exprimé avec émotion sa solidarité après l’attaque sanglante du Hamas, et proposé une « coalition » internationale pour « lutter » contre le mouvement islamiste palestinien qui contrôle la bande de Gaza.

Après un entretien avec le premier ministre israélien, Benyamin Nétanyahou, à Jérusalem, le président français a présenté les « condoléances » d’un « pays ami, éploré devant l’acte terroriste le plus terrible de votre histoire et saisi par votre chagrin et votre douleur ». « Je vous apporte aujourd’hui l’émotion et la solidarité des Français. Nos deux pays sont liés par le même deuil », a-t-il ajouté, le ton grave, au côté M. Nétanyahou. » | Le Monde avec AFP | mardi 24 octobre 2023

France proposes widening anti-Islamic State coalition to fight Hamas: Emmanuel Macron visits Israel and emphasises ‘common enemy’ in terrorism »

Macron Says Israel Must Fight Hamas ‘Without Mercy but Not Without Rules’: The French president also suggested that the international coalition once deployed to fight the Islamic State could also fight Hamas. »

Monday, September 25, 2023

France to Withdraw Troops and Ambassador from Niger - BBC News

Sep 25, 2023 | President Emmanuel Macron has said France will withdraw its ambassador and end all military co-operation with Niger following a coup.

The military junta which seized power in Niger in July welcomed the move.

The decision by Paris follows months of animosity and protests against the French presence in its former colony, with regular demonstrations in the capital Niamey.

The move deals a hammer blow to France's operations against jihadists in the wider Sahel region and Paris' influence there. But Mr Macron said France would "not be held hostage by the putschists”.


Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Stars Join King Charles at Versailles Banquet during French State Visit

THE GUARDIAN: Trip designed in part as show of friendship to reset UK-French relationship after Brexit years

Queen Camilla and King Charles with Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron at the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday evening. Photograph: Stéphane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images

King Charles was welcomed at a lavish state banquet at the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday night, at the start of a state visit to reinforce the renewed UK-France relationship after the near total collapse in trust during the Boris Johnson years after Brexit.

In Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors, the famed 17th-century gallery built by the Sun King Louis XIV to project the power and majesty of the French monarchy, King Charles told the French president, Emmanuel Macron: “Your generosity of spirit brings to mind how my family and I were so greatly moved by the tributes paid in France to my mother, the late Queen … You said that she had touched your hearts – and it was she who held France in the greatest affection.”

He added: “I would like, if you would allow me, to raise a toast to President and Madame Macron and to the French people, as well as to our entente cordiale – a sustainable alliance. Whatever lies ahead, may it endure, faithful and constant, for centuries to come.” He was accompanied by Queen Camilla, who wore a blue silk crepe dress and matching cape by Dior, with diamonds inherited from the late Queen. » | Angelique Chrisafis in Versailles | Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Depuis l'Arc de Triomphe, accueil de Leurs Majestés le Roi Charles III et la Reine Camilla.

Streamed live this afternoon

Rapport to the Fore as King Charles and Macron Rebuild Cross-Channel Trust

THE GUARDIAN: State visit by British monarch to Versailles and Bordeaux offers chance to further reset UK-French relations

King Charles and Emmanuel Macron, pictured here at Cop26 in November 2021, are said to have a relationship built on ‘friendship and trust’. Photograph: Reuters

Emmanuel Macron and King Charles will dine on lobster at the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday night in a three-day state visit by the British monarch, marking a crucial reset of the UK-French relationship after the near-total collapse in trust of the Boris Johnson years.

At a one-to-one discussion at the Élysée Palace, the king and the French president will discuss the war in Ukraine, military coups in the Sahel region of Africa and the challenges of artificial intelligence.

During his visit, the king will also address French lawmakers at the Senate, view restoration work at Notre Dame Cathedral, meet business leaders to discuss biodiversity at the Museum of Natural History and travel to Bordeaux, where he will meet emergency workers and communities affected by the 2022 wildfires. Queen Camilla and Brigitte Macron will launch a new annual Franco-British literary prize, to be awarded from 2024. » | Angelique Chrisafis | Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Première visite en France du roi Charles III et de la reine Camilla : trois jours pour mettre en scène l’amitié franco-britannique : Après un projet de visite en mars, reporté à cause des manifestations contre la réforme des retraites, le roi et la reine britanniques seront en France de mercredi à vendredi. De Notre-Dame de Paris au Sénat, en passant par les vignobles du Bordelais, leur programme a été largement calqué sur celui de leur visite initialement prévue. »

« La visite de Charles III est le signe que Londres souhaite renforcer le lien avec la France » : Décidée par le premier ministre, la venue du monarque dans l’Hexagone montre que Rishi Sunak souhaite rompre avec la politique des précédentes administrations britanniques, affirme Stephen Bates, journaliste spécialiste des affaires royales, dans une tribune au « Monde ». »

EN DIRECT - Visite de Charles III : menu, vins, cadeaux... Le programme de la soirée à Versailles : La venue du roi britannique sera marquée par un somptueux dîner d’État donné ce mercredi au château de Versailles, mobilisant trois grands chefs français. »

Lien lié à cette histoire ici.

Friday, September 15, 2023

«C’est ma place» : Emmanuel Macron justifie sa présence à la messe du pape à Marseille

LE FIGARO : Le président de la République a réagi vendredi à la polémique autour de sa présence à la messe du pape François le 23 septembre à Marseille.

Le président Emmanuel Macron a défendu vendredi sa décision d'assister à la messe que donnera le pape François le samedi 23 septembre à Marseille, affirmant qu'il irait en tant que «président» d'un pays laïque mais pas en tant que «catholique». «Je considère que c'est ma place d'y aller. Je n'irai pas en tant que catholique, j'irai comme président de la République qui est en effet laïque», a-t-il dit lors d'un déplacement à Semur-en-Auxois, en Côte-d'Or. «Je n'aurai moi-même pas de pratique religieuse lors de cette messe», a-t-il ajouté. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 15 septembre 2023

Emmanuel Macron dit qu’il assistera à la messe du pape en tant que président, « pas en tant que catholique » : Le chef de l’Etat a justifié sa présence le 23 septembre prochain, répondant aux critiques de la gauche, qui estime qu’il ne devrait pas y assister, au nom de la laïcité. »

Wednesday, September 06, 2023

French President Macron Concerned about Diminished Western Influence • FRANCE 24 English

Aug 28, 2023 | In his speech to French ambassadors, President Emmanuel Macron warned that European countries, and the West in general, were in danger of decline as major powers emerged elsewhere. He said demographic developments were not in favour of Europe, and its wealth creation and share of global trade had diminished. FRANCE 24's International Affairs Commentator Douglas Herbert tells us more.

Friday, July 14, 2023

Macron Booed during Bastille Day Parade in Paris

Jul 14, 2023 | Members of the public booed the French president during the annual military parade in Paris as he travelled down the Champs Élysées in a military car, commemorating the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789, one of the most important events of the French Revolution. Macron's decision to raise the retirement age sparked months of protests and has damaged his popularity ratings.

Friday, June 16, 2023

Poverty, Climate, Regional Stability on Agenda as Saudi Crown Prince Visits France

Jun 16, 2023 | Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Friday with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris as part of an official visit, during which he will also participate in a global financing summit aimed at fighting poverty and climate change.

Thursday, May 18, 2023

If Macron Doesn’t Know Why He’s Despised, He Hasn’t Been Listening

THE GUARDIAN: The president had no mandate to dismantle France’s social model. His contempt for the people risks opening the door to extremism

Emmanuel Macron at a ceremony marking the 78th anniversary of the victory of 8 May 1945 in Paris. Photograph: Eric Tschaen/Sipa/Shutterstock

As France was commemorating the end of the second world war in Europe this month, Emmanuel Macron cut an isolated figure on a near-empty Champs-Elysées, surrounded by steel security barriers to prevent any member of the public from getting within shouting, let alone pot-banging, distance.

For the first time, and by police order the French people were barrred from a large area ringing the official 8 May remembrance of the liberation. Six years after his first presidential victory and a year after winning a second term in the Elysée, Macron can scarcely show his face in public without being booed, heckled or insulted.

Our youngest-ever president – who once embodied hope, triumphantly defeated the far right and claimed to have broken the political mould by rising above traditional divides – has gone from being admired to being despised. Macron’s decision to push through an increase in the state pension age from 62 to 64, despite a huge groundswell of opposition, has created unprecedented levels of anger across the country – most of it directed at the president himself. » | Rokhaya Diallo | Thursday, May 18, 2023

Friday, April 14, 2023

French Pension Age Rise to 64 Cleared by Court - BBC News

Apr 14, 2023 | France's top constitutional body has cleared the raising of the state pension age from 62 to 64. The Constitutional Council has rejected calls for a referendum by political opponents, however it said some articles of the controversial reform have legal flaws. Twelve days of protests have been held against the reforms since January. In March, the government used a special constitutional power to force through the reforms without a vote. President Emmanuel Macron's government argues the changes are essential to prevent the system collapsing.