French Election

Macron to name new French PM within 48 hrs amid deepening political crisis

French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday that he will name a new prime minister in the next 48 hours, for now rejecting other options in the face of a political storm. The naming of a replacement for outgoing Prime Minister Sbastien Lecornu, who abruptly resigned on Monday, will at least for now move France away from the likelihood of snap legislative elections, another possibility that is available to the French leader but which could plunge the European Union's second-largest economy into even greater uncertainty. The announcement from Macron's office of a prime ministerial appointment before the weekend came after Lecornu at the president's request spent the two days after his resignation taking the temperature in Parliament, to see whether there was enough support in the powerful but fractured lower house to form a new government. Lecornu concluded that there was, even though Macron's camp and its allies don't have a majority in the National Assembly and the French ..

Protests erupt across France as new PM faces 'baptism of fire'; 200 held

Protesters blocked roads, set blazes and were met with volleys of police tear gas Wednesday in Paris and elsewhere in France, seeking to heap pressure on President Emmanuel Macron by attempting to give his new prime minister a baptism of fire. The interior minister announced nearly 200 arrests in the first hours of the planned day of nationwide protests. Although falling short of its self-declared intention to Block Everything, the protest movement that started online and gathered steam over the summer caused widespread hot spots of disruption, defying an exceptional deployment of 80,000 police who broke up barricades and swiftly made arrests. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said a bus was set on fire in the western city of Rennes and that damage to a power line blocked trains on a line in the southwest. He alleged that protesters were attempting to create a climate of insurrection.

Macron looks to appoint new French PM after Bayrou loses confidence vote

While Macron doesn't lack for people who might accept the role, selecting someone who can find common ground among the groups is far from obvious

Pressure mounts on French President Macron to name a new prime minister

Sense of urgency comes days after Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally joined a left-wing coalition to topple the government, leaving France's political system in disarray

Macron refuses resignation of France PM for 'stability of country'

President Emmanuel Macron refused the resignation of France's prime minister, asking him on Monday to remain temporarily as the head of the government after a chaotic election result left the government in limbo. Voters split the legislature on the left, centre and far right, leaving no faction even close to the majority needed to form a government. The results from Sunday's vote raised the risk of paralysis for the European Union's second-largest economy. Macron gambled that his decision to call an early election would give France a moment of clarification, but the outcome showed the opposite, less than three weeks before the start of the Paris Olympics, when the country will be under an international spotlight. The French stock market fell upon opening before quickly recovering, possibly because markets had feared an outright victory for the far right or the leftist coalition. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal had said he would remain in office if needed, but offered his resignation .

Carla Bruni charged with witness tampering in husband's campaign case

Former supermodel and French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy was given preliminary charges Tuesday for involvement in alleged efforts to pressure a witness who accused ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy of receiving illegal campaign financing from Libya. Bruni-Sarkozy was placed under judicial supervision on Tuesday, which included a ban on contact with all those involved in the proceedings with the exception of her husband, according to a judicial official not authorized to be publicly named when speaking about an ongoing investigation. Preliminary charges against Bruni-Sarkozy include witness tampering and participation in a criminal association with an attempt to commit fraud in efforts to deceive magistrates investigating her husband on suspicion of receiving illegal funds during his 2007 presidential election campaign, the official said. Bruni-Sarkozy's lawyer did not respond to requests for comment. After she was questioned by police in May, her lawyers said she provided 'useful ...

Germany fears victory for far-right could harm close relations with France

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is worried about the outcome of the run-off election in France. Scholz, who is normally tightlipped when asked about domestic politics in other European countries, has in recent weeks more than once expressed concern that the far-right, nationalist National Rally may win the second round of elections in neighbouring France on Sunday. Earlier this week, the decidedly pro-European German chancellor even revealed that he and beleaguered French President Emmanuel Macron are texting on a daily basis as the election draws closer. We are discussing the situation, which is really depressing," Scholz said at a summer gathering of his Social Democratic Party in Berlin on Tuesday, according to German news agency dpa. In any case, I am keeping my fingers crossed that the French, whom I love and appreciate so much, the country that means so much to me, will succeed in preventing a government led by a right-wing populist party," Scholz added in an unusually emotiona

Far-right majority can be avoided in polls, says French PM Gabriel Attal

Asked about calls for the creation of a temporary cross-party government if no grouping achieved a majority, Attal said he would not impose on voters "a coalition they did not choose"

Euro inches up after Macron's victory, gains against bruised sterling

Euro gained a fraction after French President's comfortable defeat of his opponent Marine Le Pen. The outcome was largely expected by market pundits and political analysts.

French election: President Macron in pole position, Le Pen racing hard

Polls also forecast a possibly record-high number of people who will either cast a blank vote or not vote at all

Macron lead in French election lends a hand to the euro ahead of ECB

The euro briefly flickered as high as $1.0955 in thin early hours of the Asia session, before settling about 0.15% higher than Friday's close at $1.0890. It was also firmer on sterling and the yen.

Macron, French President-elect has a difficult task ahead: Here are some

Emmanuel Macron's victory is only the first step; Here are some difficulties he is likely to face

The French people don't know the dangers of autocratic populism

A view from Pakistan

French election highlights a deep divide on the European Union

Le Pen has shown that nationalist, anti-EU, and anti-globalisation sentiment