Five things you need to know about France’s vote. Why is this election important? France is choosing its next president. The election is being closely watched because, for the first time in modern French history, neither of the two candidates in the decisive second round is from the mainstream parties of the left or right. … Read more
French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has announced that she is temporarily stepping down as head of her National Front party. Monday’s move appears to be a way for Le Pen to embrace a wide range of potential voters ahead of the May 7 runoff between herself and Emmanuel Macron, the independent centrist who came … Read more
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Monday accused French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen of a new, dangerous form of Holocaust denial disregarding European responsibility for the World War II murder of Jews. “The prevalent message arising from recent political statements is uniquely disturbing,” Rivlin said at a ceremony for Israel’s Holocaust Memorial Day. “And … Read more
Polls have closed in the first round of the French presidential election, with higher than expected turnout in a closely watched race that could change the future of Europe. First projections based on partial results showed Emmanuel Macron, a former minister and leader of the centrist En Marche! party and Marine Le Pen, president of … Read more
French overseas territories and residents in some U. S. states such as Hawaii began voting on Saturday in the French presidential election, a day ahead of a main first-round vote that could change the global political landscape. Of 47 million registered French voters, there are fewer than a million resident in far-flung places like French … Read more
Sevran, France – A few hundred feet away from Sevran’s Beaudottes metro station is a wall of metal attached to a railing, without distinguishing features except for the posters on it. Every one of France’s presidential candidates is there and judging by the levels of damage, it is clear who the Paris suburb’s vandals like … Read more
Leading candidates on the right in France’s presidential vote have been accused of using the killing of a policeman in Paris for political ends. The far right’s Marine Le Pen pledged to expel radical Islamists while the centre-right’s Francois Fillon talked of fighting “Islamist totalitarianism”. Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve accused Mr Fillon and Ms Le … Read more
People could be seen walking towards police with arms raised to show their hands after the shooting The gunman who shot dead a policeman in Paris on Thursday has been identified from papers left in his car, but French officials are yet to release his name. Local media say the 39-year-old lived in the city’s … Read more
French police foiled an attack during the presidential election with the arrest of two men in Marseille on Tuesday. Explosives and weapons, including a machine gun and two hand guns were found at the suspects flat in the southern city. The two Frenchmen, one born in 1987 and the other in 1993, had met while … Read more
French centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron has launched his presidential campaign with a plan to tackle terrorism by forcing internet firms to release encrypted messages. Election campaigning officially began on Monday, two weeks ahead of the first round of voting. Opinion polls predict Mr Macron and far-right Marine Le Pen will reach the second round on … Read more
French rightwing presidential candidate Francois Fillon has been hit in the face with flour moments before taking the stage at a campaign event. Fillon, 63, has faced protests in recent weeks after he was charged over allegations he gave his wife a fake parliamentary job for which she was paid hundreds of thousands of euros. … Read more
All 11 candidates for the French presidency fought for the spotlight in a marathon debate Tuesday, setting out their visions for turning around a moribund economy and redefining France’s place in Europe. “I want to recover the optimism of the French,” said 39-year-old centrist Emmanuel Macron, currently tipped to win in May, asserting that entrepreneurs … Read more
A month before the first round of France’s presidential election, 43 percent of voters are hesitant about who to vote for, a poll said on Friday, underlining the uncertainty surrounding the volatile election campaign. Opinion polls show independent centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen likely to lead in the first round of … Read more
French presidential candidate Francois Fillon has been placed under formal investigation over an alleged diversion of public funds, prosecutors say. The centre-right contender is suspected of paying hundreds of thousands of euros to his family for work they may not have done. He denies wrongdoing, but had earlier said he would quit the presidential race … Read more
Beleaguered French presidential candidate Francois Fillon has urged supporters to fight on, in a speech to a mass rally in Paris. He told tens of thousands of supporters, many waving tricolour flags, that he would be cleared over allegations he paid his wife and children for work they did not do. The rally is seen … Read more
French presidential candidate Francois Fillon has suffered another blow as his campaign manager quit late on Friday. Patrick Stefanini said his resignation will take effect on Sunday night. Earlier, the Union of Democrats and Independents (UDI) called on Mr Fillon’s Republican Party to choose another candidate in the wake of a scandal over payments. It … Read more
Asian shares rose on Thursday as investors were encouraged by President Donald Trump’s measured tone in his first speech to Congress, which sent Wall Street stocks sharply higher, while growing bets on a U. S. rate hike this month buoyed the dollar. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS rose 0.2 percent, led … Read more
French centre-right presidential candidate Francois Fillon says a judge is placing him under investigation over a fake job scandal – but has vowed to continue his election campaign. For weeks, Mr Fillon has fought allegations that his wife was paid for years for work she did not do. Mr Fillon called the investigation “a political … Read more
French centre-right presidential candidate Francois Fillon has said he will fight on, as he announced that a judge was placing him under formal investigation. For weeks, he has fought allegations that his wife was paid for years for work she did not do. He has now been summoned to appear before the judge, Serge Tournaire, … Read more
French centre-right presidential candidate Francois Fillon has said he will fight on, as he announced that a judge was placing him under formal investigation. For weeks, he has fought allegations that his wife was paid for years for work she did not do. He has now been summoned to appear before the judge, Serge Tournaire, … Read more