Let’s take a look at what kind of Europe the presidential candidates stand for. Spoiler alert: there is bad news for people who support European integration. — The political parties in France are once again divided on the issue of Europe. For over thirty years, the sovereignist and federalist parties have opposed each other on the issue. This dichotomy has internally divided the right and left parties since 1992. That year, a referendum allowed the adoption of…

France is facing a growing Chinese influence. In Africa, Oceania, and at home. — In November, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called China a “predatory partner.” In an interview with Le Monde, he was particularly critical of Chinese policies in Africa. China is now the continent’s most important trading partner. It is also the biggest creditor of African countries whose debts have exploded…

President Macron has set out his European strategy that seems to operate on two levels: the electoral and the geopolitical. — A few days ago, President Macron opened the EU six-month presidency at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. In his speech, he called for the inclusion of the right to abortion and environmental protection in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The president also stressed the need for a new security…

A few weeks ago, President Emmanuel Macron met with Pope Francis at the Vatican to talk about the future of Europe and the results of COP26. But it was also a gesture by the French president towards French Catholics who could play a role in the upcoming presidential elections. — President Emmanuel Macron was in Rome a few days ago to sign the Treaty of Quirinal, which deepens the strategic partnership between Italy and France. On this occasion, Macron also met with Pope Francis. The two spoke about biodiversity, solidarity with developing countries, and the debt of African countries. …

The truce between Marine Le Pen and Eric Zemmour is over. The former is playing for political survival. The latter is establishing himself as the main candidate of the nationalist right. — The far-right French presidential candidates are at war. The latest polls have Eric Zemmour tied with Marine Le Pen, the leader of the Rassemblement National. Some other polls say Zemmour would reach the second round against Emmanuel Macron.

The French opposition conservative party will hold an internal election to designate its candidate. But, at the moment, no one seems to warm the hearts of voters. — In early December, the center-right Les Républicains party will elect its presidential candidate for 2022. The party’s 110,000 supporters will have a choice of five candidates: Michel Barnier, Xavier Bertrand, Éric Ciotti, Philippe Juvin and Valérie Pécresse. The first round of the Convention will take place on December 1st and…

To understand Zemmour’s views, here is a list of his past and present positions on issues. — Alternative facts Zemmour is indeed used to citing statistics and talking about history. And increasingly, TV and other news outlets are trying to verify what he says. But Zemmour does not take a positive view. He sees the fight against fake news as a pretext to “legitimize an appropriation of media by…

The far-right television star, writer, and journalist is surging in the polls. How high his numbers can go is hard to say. But all presidential candidates will have to contend with his nationalist agenda. — Zemmour is not yet an official candidate, but he is all over television publicly mulling his presidential bid. Meanwhile, the darling of the far-right is also attending rallies with his “reader voters.” And he has taken the time to visit right-wing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. No other “candidate” attracts…

A new law on regional languages is causing controversy within the presidential majority. A debate that could endanger some of Macron’s electoral strongholds. — After many years, a new law protects and promotes France’s regional languages. According to the government, six regional languages are still spoken: Alsatian-Franco-Moselle, Basque, Breton, Catalan, Corsican, and Occitan. There are also several overseas languages such as Tahitian, Creole or Wallisian, and Futuna.