-
Wet south-east, dry north: France's reversed rainfall pattern March-May 2025
Precipitation exceeded seasonal averages by more than 60% in Alpes-Maritimes and Var
-
French rail union announces June - September strike action
Rolling strike attempts to catch rail operator off guard with last-minute walkouts
-
Two supermarket olive oil brands may pose health risk says French consumer organisation
Oil revealed as having the lowest level of pollutants is surprisingly affordable
Petition on French paternity leave gathers support
A petition to extend the length of paternity leave in France is gathering support, with over 40 well-known personalities adding their names to the list.

The petition, published on the Change.org website by the women’s magazine Causette, seeks to extend and improve the paternity leave offered to fathers after the birth of their child. It is currently 11 days, and can be optional.
The petition has raised 8,442 signatures so far, including many well-known male supporters including the writer Frédéric Beigbeder, singer Albin de la Simone, journalist Mouloud Achour, singer Julien Clerc, gynecologist François Olivennes, and comedian Guillaume Meurice.
Once completed, the petition will be delivered to Emmanuel Macron, via Marlène Schiappa, the secretary of State in charge of equality, and the minister of health Agnès Buzyn.
The demand reads: “Eleven days is not enough to create a real bond between the baby and the father (getting used to a new routine, sharing of care time with the mother, medical checkups, changes, care, food, nappy-changing)".
The petition is demanding that the overall leave time be extended to six weeks, and at a minimum, that the current 11 days be made compulsory.
As it states, “For women, eight weeks are obligatory, of which six are immediately after the birth.”
Stay informed:
Sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter
Subscribe to access all our online articles and receive our printed monthly newspaper The Connexion at your home. News analysis, features and practical help for English-speakers in France