Profiles

As the French music festival season fast approaches, we profile two talented songwriters performing live this summer

How does the election work, who are the main candidates and what are their policies?

Marine Le Pen may be more politically acceptable as they leader of France's far-right party than her father but how different is she?

Centrist François Bayrou should be close to both sides of the political debate but, once seen as forward-thinking, his strategies and tactics are now criticised as outdated and he is clearly isolated. Here we look at France’s ‘third man’, who may run for president a fourth time

Lying behind by Alain Juppé and Nicolas Sarkozy in the opinion polls, Bruno Le Maire and François Fillon are battling for third place in the Républicains’ election for presidential candidate.

Michelle de la Rosa Lewis explains why it could still be important

More than a decade after his political disgrace, Alain Juppé is a strong contender in the 2017 race for president. Michelle de La Rosa Lewis takes a look at the chequered career of a man who divides opinion

Arch-socialist, scheming opportunist, unapologetic womaniser – former president François Mitterrand continues to divide opinion 20 years after his death. Damien Black examines the faceted life of a great statesman

Finding homes for the homeless is Gilbert Pinteau's life - and he knows their difficulties, having been homeless himself. Samantha David marvels at determination in hard times

A man who overcame horrific disability to become a champion for the disabled plans to enter the Dakar Rally next year. Samantha David looks into his new challenge...

Read all about Georges Simenon, long considered as the father of gritty crime novels