Politics

Facts and figures: All about the Paris prison where Nicolas Sarkozy will be incarcerated

Five-year sentence for former president begins next week

French PM survives two votes of no confidence

The far-left motion came very close to toppling the government

Visual: How does suspension of pension reform affect workers in France?

Further progress on the reform has been delayed until 2027

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France’s 2026 draft budget: what it means for you

Freeze on pensions, benefits, and income tax bands among measures proposed - as well as changes to the ALD long-term illness system and school tax benefits

French prime minister suspends pension reform in bid for budget backing

Sébastien Lecornu is now expected to remain in position for budget negotiations and says he will not force through the bills

What is included in France’s 2026 draft budget - and what if no agreement?

Change to tax allowance for pensioners is among proposals

New French government announced but already faces threat of ousting

Several parties are expected to issue a vote of no confidence against new government

French PM resigns on Monday and renamed on Friday - what next?

Sébastien Lecornu promises ‘surprises’ in his new government. Socialists say the dissolution of parliament and fresh elections are now the most probable outcome

Emmanuel Macron to appoint new French prime minister within 48 hours, announces Elysée

Resigning Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu backs president and says calls to oust Macron or call new elections should be ignored

French parliament rejects bid to impeach Emmanuel Macron

Prime minister resigned - but is now trying to seek enough cross-party support to pass a 2026 budget

Poll: French people find their politics ‘embarrassing’

Most back decision of Sébastien Lecornu to resign as prime minister but are disheartened by state of French politics

‘French MP elections are likely now - and far-right set to make gains’

Political expert Luc Gras looks at possible scenarios following the resignation of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigns after record-short stint in office

The new cabinet announced by Sébastien Lecornu over the weekend faced widespread criticism

French PM promises not to force through 2026 budget, urges compromise

Sébastien Lecornu outlining budget approach in first televised address

Can you name, in order, France's seven prime ministers since 2017?

President Macron has appointed a joint-record number of people to the position

What are President Macron’s options if the government falls on September 8?

A defeat could force difficult choices about the country’s political future

‘Total blockade’ France September 10: major unions joins call to action

The blockade has been called in response to the government’s budget plans

France 'total blockade' call for September 10: how much support does it have?

The mysterious movement is being backed by some unions, politicians, and protest groups

French PM’s vote of confidence: kamikaze gamble or smart poker move?

François Bayrou appears to lack enough support to win September 8 vote

Why is France’s article 49 back in the news and what is it?

Use of the article by French PM could see him toppled next month

2026 budget: French prime minister calls for confidence vote on September 8

François Bayrou warns that France faces ‘immediate danger’ if no action is taken and that debt is growing by €12million every hour

'Bloquons tout': how serious is call for total France shutdown in September?

The mystery blockade movement calling for country-wide boycotts and acts of civil disobedience has gained support from politicians despite claiming no political allegiance

Britons in France prompted to send postcards to their UK MPs

Campaigners are urging for a link to be made with British MPs to convince them of the benefits of ‘overseas constituencies’.

Farming law approved but France upholds ban on pesticide

France’s top court rejected part of new law amid environmental concerns

How France’s 2026 draft budget could affect you – in detail

From frozen pensions to new charges for doctor visits, we break down what has been proposed

French MPs respond to outcry over re-legalisation of pesticide linked to bee deaths

Law aims to re-authorise pesticide that is only banned in France, but more than 1.5 million sign petition against it

Threats of censure, ‘social war’, ‘too hard on middle-class’: reaction to France’s austerity budget

François Bayrou looks set for an uphill struggle to pass text with €44 billion of savings this autumn but has backing of centrist MPs after ‘brave’ announcement

France unveils 2026 budget plan: €44 billion cuts and possible holiday reduction

Threat of a vote of no confidence that could oust Prime Minister François Bayrou raised across political spectrum

France 2026 budget: will there be an année blanche and how could it affect you?

Prime minister is searching for €40 billion in savings from the upcoming budget, which could see tax bands frozen

Macron pledges billions in extra defence funding for French army

By 2027 the sum given to the military will have doubled from 2017, but the president did not lay out where extra funds will come from

French senators debate new ‘Zucman tax’ on ultra-rich: who would this affect?

Tax could reportedly bring in up to €20 billion per year in additional revenue

Macron announces France will ‘ban social media’ for under 15s if EU does not

Facial recognition technology could be used to assess age of social media users

See how your local MP voted in France’s new end-of-life law

Check their vote on the ‘assisted suicide’ bill with an online tool

Businessman Charles Kushner confirmed as new US ambassador to France

Trump family member and pardoned former convict says he wants to focus on business relations between the two nations

Interior Minister wins election to head French right-wing Les Républicains party

Bruno Retailleau is seen as a hardliner on immigration

What is on the agenda for the EU-UK Brexit ‘reset’ summit on May 19?

The EU is reportedly unsatisfied with a lack of concessions from the UK on several topics including youth mobility

Referendums, immigration, budget, war: key points of President Macron’s interview

President also discussed giving more power to local police and EU use of nuclear arsenal

What is French President's two-hour TV interview about?

Mr Macron is widely expected to announce new domestic policies on May 13

Do people in France still consider the US an ally? What new poll shows

US President Donald Trump’s foreign policy statements are unpopular across the Atlantic

Trump tariff rises: which American items will be worst hit and when?

Three rounds of escalating tariffs will impact €22 billion worth of US goods

Trump calls for Marine Le Pen to be freed (but she is not in prison)

US president said her embezzlement court case was a ‘witch hunt’

Marine Le Pen appeal decision should be given in summer 2026, says court

It comes as the RN leader continues to maintain her ‘innocence’ and right-wing politicians have called her conviction ‘an attack on democracy’

What do Trump and other world leaders say about Le Pen office ban decision?

From ‘left-wing abuse of the legal system’ to ‘the rule of law’, reactions have been fierce

Marine Le Pen banned from running in 2027 presidential election

The leader of the far-right Rassemblement National has been found guilty of misusing EU funds by Paris court

Pension age reform in France: New poll shows support for a return to age 62

Employers' organisations and trade unions are currently meeting to discuss the subject on the orders of Prime Minister François Bayrou

Marine Le Pen awaits trial decision that could derail her 2027 presidential hopes

The far-right politician could be banned from running in upcoming key election if found guilty of embezzlement

French party leader says Americans should return Statue of Liberty

‘Apparently you despise it…so she’ll be very happy here with us’

Crackdown law on nuisance cold calls in France backed by MPs

The law was passed unanimously, but there is still some disagreement over proposed exemptions

New poll: How do people in France view relationship with the US?

The study also asked about Ukraine’s President Zelensky, military aid, and joining NATO

Debate begins on new law to crack down on telemarketing calls in France

If passed, the new bill will aim to require consent even before the first call

Macron’s TV address: Key points on defence, Russia, the US and nuclear capacity

‘We must be ready without or without the US.’ Extra defence spending will not be funded by taxes, says president

Four US consulates in France identified as facing possible closure under Trump

The American administration is cutting back on diplomatic missions across the world, with France seen as a key target for downsizing

Profile: French overseas minister Manuel Valls

The former prime minister and so-called ‘Sarkozy of the Left’, whose shifting allegiances never fail to attract controversy

US media praises 'charmer' Macron over his meeting with Trump

Talks covered War in Ukraine and EU-US relations

Trump tariff row: How much - and what - does the US export to France and vice versa

‘The EU has been very unfair to us,’ says US President Donald Trump

Macron confirms what he wants to say to Trump when he visits US next week

Ukraine, EU and US relations and geopolitical situation are unsurprisingly key topics

French MP complains over lack of foie-gras in parliamentary restaurants

MP from Gers in the south-west told menus have been changed to feature more ‘sustainable’ dishes

French mayor bans showing of British film judging it to be racist

Far-right director is currently serving jail sentence in UK and film is banned in UK

French budget is forced through parliament: how could it impact your finances

Numerous tax increases have been included

French PM plans use of controversial article 49.3 to force through budget – will he be toppled?

A vote of no confidence is set to follow if government tries to pass budget without a vote

These are the new French income tax rates agreed for budget debate

‘Now we need to move straight on to adoption. A country like ours cannot remain without a budget… This will be done on Monday,’ says PM

Tell your French life stories in support of new MPs for British abroad

Unlike France, the UK has no MPs directly representing citizens abroad

Tax, retirees, work, immigration… key points from French PM’s latest interview

A 2025 budget will be debated in the coming weeks

Ministers propose people work seven hours unpaid to clear French deficit

The measure would fund the Social security debt, ministers say, but criticism has been strong

French prime minister pledges voting and pension reform in key policy speech

The new government already faces calls for a vote of no confidence

French far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen dies aged 96

The controversial figure founded the far-right Front National in 1972 and reached the second round of France’s 2002 presidential election

Key points of President Macron’s New Year message

President spoke about the political instability and hinted at launching referendums. He also said a European ‘wake-up call’ was needed

At-a-glance: France's new government under François Bayrou

Several familiar faces are returning to key posts

Familiar faces return in France’s new government: who is who

Former French prime minister Manuel Valls has returned to hold a ministerial post

New French PM Bayrou wants to retain Pau mayor role – is this possible?

There are strict limits on how many duties MPs and ministers can hold at the same time, but not prime ministers

Half of UK election postal votes - including from France - 'did not count'

Organisation recommends overhaul of voting process for Britons abroad

Law passed to allow France to continue to collect taxes despite lack of 2025 budget

A new budget will still need to be passed at the start of next year. The emergency law does not raise income tax bands as usually happens so these remain frozen at 2024 levels

Which two French prime ministers of the Fifth Republic also served as president?

There have been 26 prime ministers since 1960 and the position is traditionally relatively stable despite the country’s recent political upheaval

France set to pass emergency ‘budget law’: is it good or bad for your finances?

The country will effectively be without a budget from 2025, with knock-on effects for individuals and companies

Centrist François Bayrou announced as new French prime minister

The veteran politician is currently mayor of Pau and a key Macron ally in parliament