Davide Basso
No ‘immediate exit’ from NATO for Mélenchon, but a vote in Parliament
French parliament would vote on the country's membership in NATO if radical left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon wins the June legislative elections and is nominated prime minister, the France Insoumise chief suggested on Thursday (19 May). EURACTIV France reports.
Radical Left refuses to join Mélenchon’s left-wing bloc over EU stance
France's Radical Left Party will not take part in the new 'united left' group set up by Jean-Luc Mélenchon's La France Insoumise, the party's president, Guillaume Lacroix, said, citing concerns over the alliance's EU stance. EURACTIV France reports.
Macron backs right-wing hopefuls ahead of June polls
French President Emmanuel Macron has chosen to back several right-wing Les Républicains (LR) candidates in the June legislative elections, continuing his takeover of the now ailing traditional right-wing bloc. EURACTIV France reports.
Le Pen makes her comeback by roasting Mélenchon
After the two weeks of silence that followed her defeat in the presidential election on April 24, Marine Le Pen returned to the political scene by attacking head-on the union of the left and the "fairy tales" of Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
French left-wing bloc divided over legislative nominees
France's new left-wing union has reached a compromise on sharing constituencies ahead of the legislative elections in June despite not everyone agreeing on the choice of nominees. EURACTIV France reports.
Scholz and Macron to reignite Franco-German engine on EU-integration
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to intensify the Franco-German tandem and to lead Europe on a path of reform to enable a stronger and more sovereign EU.
Macron teases alternative to EU enlargement
French president Emmanuel Macron on Monday (9 May) pitched a proposal for a new "political European community" that would allow Ukraine and others currently outside of the EU framework to be more closely involved with the EU.
Macron stalls on prime minister nomination
French President Emmanuel Macron is not expected to name the next prime minister before the end of next week although he is already being officially sworn in for a second term on Saturday (7 May), as several prominent figures have reportedly already turned down the job.
French Socialist Party in disarray after joining new Left alliance
France's Socialist Party has joined the New Popular Ecological and Social Union formed by Jean-Luc Mélenchon's La France Insoumise ahead of the legislative elections in June but the news has not been well-received by all. EURACTIV France reports.
Radical left and Greens agree ‘exceptional’ electoral pact in France
Europe Ecologie Les Verts (EELV) and Jean Luc Mélenchon's La France Insoumise have reached on Sunday an agreement setting up a joint programme and a sharing of electoral districts for the legislative elections.
France’s traditional right in turmoil ahead of parliamentary vote
France's formerly dominant right-wing party, Les Républicains (LR), will seek "no alliance" with re-elected centrist President Emmanuel Macron before the legislative elections in June, the party decided during a strategic council meeting on Tuesday (26 April). There have been no public statements since then.
Left-wing majority at French parliament polls ‘highly unlikely’
Though negotiations continue on an alliance between France's leftist parties ahead of June's legislative elections, the prospect of a left-wing majority in June remains remote, both for experts and the leaders of the left.
French Left split over union centred around Mélenchon
Negotiations over uniting the French left ahead of the legislative elections in June are underway but senior officials of the parties involved are split over calls to rally behind radical-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon. EURACTIV France reports.
Challenges already loom after Macron’s reelection
With the ongoing French EU Council presidency and the upcoming parliamentary elections, Emmanuel Macron will enjoy no grace period at the start of his second mandate. The opposition in France, both on the left and the right, is more determined than ever to strip the newly re-elected president of his majority in parliament.
Ahead of second election round, French more divided than before
Incumbent French President Emmanuel Macron is within reach of re-election in the second voting round on Sunday, but his far-right rival Marine Le Pen cannot be dismissed out of hand as the French seem to be more divided than before.
Le Pen’s U-turn on EU policy is proving difficult to sell
France's far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen insists she wants to remain in the EU and "deeply" reform it despite accusations that her programme is just a veiled "Frexit". EURACTIV France reports.
Macron and Le Pen adopt opposing strategies ahead of election run-off
With five days to go before the final run-off of the French presidential election, the two remaining candidates are adopting opposing strategies as far-right candidate Marine Le Pen wants to be viewed as 'presidential material' while President Emmanuel Macron aims to get closer to the people. EURACTIV France reports.
Students occupy universities to protest Macron-Le Pen face-off
Students have staged protests at France's main universities, with hundreds opposing the prospective leadership of both outgoing president Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen, the two candidates in the run-off of the presidential election. EURACTIV France reports.
Macron wants institutional reform, proposes trans-partisan convention
French President Emmanuel Macron wants to hold a trans-partisan convention that will debate and decide on institutional reform, possibly including an overhaul of the country's entire election schedule, if he is reelected in a run-off vote on 24 April.
Le Pen sets out blueprint for government
Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen has unveiled how she plans to govern France if she wins the run-off against incumbent President Emmanuel Macron, stressing that she would rely on "consulting the people" through referendums.
The Brief – The death of the French right? Not so fast
Between the historically low score for Les Républicains in the first round of Sunday's presidential election and the loss of ideological bearings, the death certificate of the great party of the French right seems to have been signed.
Sarkozy calls to vote for Macron as the French right fractures
The former right-wing president of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, has called on citizens to vote for Emmanuel Macron in the second round of the presidential election on 24 April, in contrast with the position of his former party.
Pécresse will not urge voters to pick Macron in final round
French right-wing candidate Valérie Pécresse said on Friday (8 April) she will not tell voters who to pick in the second round of the presidential election should she fail to make it past the first one on Sunday (10 April) - a surprising move for a party that has always urged voters to block the far-right.