Inside France: Taxi strikes, translation fails and Napoleon's code
Boiling point
Sometimes in France you get disputes that simmer away in the background for ages and then suddenly erupt onto the national stage. Last year's farmer protests were one example - suddenly going from turning village signposts upside down to nationwide roadblocks and calls to 'besiege Paris' - and
this week's taxi protests
are another.
Taxi drivers have been protesting for more than a year about plans to lower the fares they can charge for medical transport; taking patients to and from medical appointments in
trips that are reimbursed by the state
. This week, however, their grievances exploded into the public consciousness via a series of rolling roadblocks, blockades of sites like airports and
highly photogenic confrontations with police
. PM François Bayrou has now
said he will meet with them
to discuss their grievances.
At the opposite end of the spectrum are strikes that are billed as likely to cause absolute mayhem, and end up being quite underwhelming. These are often public sector strikes, especially transport strikes, which are talked up in advance by union chiefs - predicting
une semaine noire
is a standard part of the negotiating process.
There are a whole group of strike/protest soothsayers in France who try to predict where the next disruption will come from, but it's far from a precise science, although
there are signs you can learn to read
.
READ ALSO
How I learned to stop worrying and love French strikes
Advertisement
Talking France
In the latest episode of the Talking France podcast we discuss hospital waiting times, the UK-EU reset and the best place to buy a second home in France (plus Smurfs). Listen
here
or on the link below.
Napoleon is complex
Here at The Local we're used to slightly left-field questions from readers, but this one was unusual:
Why does France still have the Napoleonic Code?
The answer is that it doesn't, really - the civil law code introduced by Napoleon in 1804 has in many areas been revised or rewritten, or superceded by more recent laws or international treaties like the European Convention on Human Rights.
Some parts of it remain in place, however, especially
France's strict laws on inheritance rights
(which, it turned out, this reader was referring to) which forbid parents from disinheriting their children and give kids equal rights to a parental estate, regardless of where they are in the birth order.
At the time this was quite radical, moving away from the previous 'oldest son inherits all' system, and in fact there are several parts of the Napoleonic code that remain the basis for modern French law.
In many areas, however, the Napoleonic code reversed laws passed after the French Revolution. But to modern sensibilities, it was the legal changes of the Revolution that seem more palatable; legalising homosexuality, outlawing slavery, giving women legal and property rights.
Even the machine that became the symbol of the nightmare that the Revolution descended into was introduced for humanitarian reasons. The guillotine was intended as a humane method of execution and its introduction was
part of a legal code
that ended barbaric practices like boiling people to death or having them torn apart by horses and ensured a single execution method for all, regardless of class. It also ended the practice of confiscating property from the families of executed criminals.
Advertisement
Offaly unfortunate
And is this France's least appetisingly named restaurant?
Paris restaurant Bowel Kitchen. Photo: The Local
A close look at the menu reveals it serves various types of Bowls, so I am persuaded that its name is just an extremely unfortunate spelling mistake. Although I'm not confident enough to back when it's open and try its cuisine (if anyone has eaten at the Bowel Kitchen, do get in touch and tell me what it was like!)
Inside France is our weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in France that you might not have heard about. It's published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox, by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euronews
9 hours ago
- Euronews
US-led coalition in Syria captures senior IS group commander
US-led coalition forces captured a senior Islamic State commander believed to be the group's leader in a pre-dawn helicopter raid Wednesday near Syria's Turkish border, killing one Iraqi citizen during the operation. The operation took place in Atmeh, a town near the Turkish border, and an IS group commander alleged to be Abu Hafs al-Qurashi was taken away. At the same time, an Iraqi citizen was killed, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The observatory said the man captured had a French-speaking woman with him, and it is not known if she was taken by US forces or Syrian security, who later cordoned off the area. The US military has not responded to requests from the media for comment, and it is not immediately clear if the man captured is IS' main leader. Two years ago, the IS group announced that a man called Abu Hafs al-Hashemi al-Qurashi had been named as its new leader after Turkish authorities killed his predecessor. The IS jihadist group broke away from al-Qaeda more than a decade ago. It attracted supporters from around the world after it declared a self-proclaimed "caliphate" in 2014 in large parts of Syria and Iraq. Despite its defeat in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria two years later, the IS group's militants still carry out deadly attacks in both countries and elsewhere. All previous IS leaders have adopted Al-Qurashi as part of their surname, implying a connection to Quraish, the tribe to which Islam's Prophet Muhammad belonged. The IS group claims its leaders hail from the tribe, and al-Qurashi is used as a nom de guerre -- all part of the terror organisation's propaganda, as it is largely invented and its handful of leaders are unrelated, according to reports. Its first leader, the self-proclaimed emir and caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, did not take on the Al-Qurashi name, despite claiming he hailed from the tribe without providing evidence.
Euronews
10 hours ago
- Euronews
France hits back after Netanyahu accuses Macron of antisemitism
Paris has hit back after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused French President Emmanuel Macron of fuelling antisemitism with his decision to recognise a Palestinian state. Tensions between the two nations have escalated since Macron announced last month that France intends to formally recognise Palestinian statehood in September at the United Nations General Assembly. Netanyahu wrote a letter to Macron earlier this week claiming that antisemitism has "surged" in France since that announcement. "Your call for a Palestinian state pours fuel on this antisemitic fire," Netanyahu wrote. "It is not diplomacy, it is appeasement. It rewards Hamas terror, hardens Hamas's refusal to free the hostages, emboldens those who menace French Jews and encourages the Jew-hatred now stalking your streets," he added. A statement released by Macron's office on Tuesday evening said Netanyahu's accusations were "erroneous, abject, and will not go unanswered". "Violence against the Jewish community is unacceptable," the statement by Macron's office said. It noted that the French president has systematically asked all his governments since 2017, and even more so since the 7 October 2023 attacks by Hamas, to "take the strongest possible action against the perpetrators of antisemitic acts". "[France] protects and will always protect its compatriots of the Jewish faith," it added. Australia also criticised France is home to Western Europe's largest Jewish population, with an estimated 500,000 Jews — approximately 1% of the national population. In recent years, antisemitic incidents have surged in France, with a sharp increase reported in 2023 after 7 October and the ensuing war in Gaza. These include physical assaults, threats, vandalism, and harassment, prompting alarm among Jewish communities and leaders. Last week, Israeli airline El Al said its Paris office was vandalized with anti-Israel graffiti, calling the act "deeply disturbing". In a separate incident, Macron pledged that no effort will be spared to track down and prosecute unknown attackers who chopped down an olive tree planted in homage to a French Jew murdered in 2006. Netanyahu's letter to Macron cited the El Al incident and mentioned other recent examples of violence against Jews as well as vandalism of Jewish institutions in France. "These are not isolated incidents. They are a plague," Netanyahu wrote. Separately on Tuesday, France's Minister for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad criticised Netanyahu's letter and defended France's record on antisemitism. "I'm telling you that this is a matter that should not be instrumentalised. France has no lessons to learn in the fight against antisemitism," Haddad told broadcaster BFM TV. Macron's pledge to recognise Palestinian statehood last month was followed by similar promises from Britain, Canada and Australia, although their vows came with caveats. On Wednesday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dismissed accusations from Netanyahu claiming that he was a "weak politician who had betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia's Jews" by recognising a Palestinian state. "I treat leaders of other countries with respect. I engage with them in a diplomatic way," Albanese said in response to Netanyahu's criticism, which was also delivered in a letter.
Euronews
11 hours ago
- Euronews
Why Brussels doesn't hate AC — but Europe still struggles with it
In a summer when radio failed to deliver a single memorable hit, one subject managed to keep everyone talking: Europe's troubled relationship with air conditioning. It's not a new debate. Every few years, as temperatures climb, the transatlantic divide on cooling habits resurfaces. But this year, it grew unusually fierce, straining cultural ties between Europeans and Americans almost as much as Trump's tariffs or disagreements over Ukraine's future. Americans, baffled that Europeans can live without constant cooling, defended their beloved AC with the same bitterness Italians judge other cultures' pizza toppings or the French bristle at foreigners mangling 'la langue française'. The numbers of this divide are stark: nearly 90% of US households have air conditioning, compared with around 20% in Europe, with some countries falling far below that figure. In France, the topic has even entered the political arena, with far-right leader Marine Le Pen calling for a major air conditioning infrastructure plan. Meanwhile, international news outlets like the Financial Times and Wall Street Journal warned that Europe's slow adoption of cooling technology is already costing lives. Critics have gone so far as to blame EU regulations (or the flagship environmental policy Green Deal itself) for keeping Europeans sweaty. The myth of the AC ban Like most things in the EU, even air conditioning comes with an acronym. The Brussels bubble doesn't talk about AC like normal people do, but about HVAC, namely heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. But does Brussels really hate air conditioning? Despite what some critics imply, the EU has never banned HVACs. Nor do its rules dramatically restrict installations. What the EU does regulate are the types of systems allowed, imposing limits on harmful refrigerants, requirements for greater efficiency, and guidelines for buildings. The reasoning is straightforward. Europe has committed to becoming climate-neutral by 2050. Left unchecked, a sharp increase in inefficient air conditioners would make that goal impossible. So Brussels isn't opposed to cooling, it just wants the technology to align with climate policy. What the F... gas The centrepiece of this policy adaptation is the recently revised F-gas Regulation, which phases out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), potent greenhouse gases used in many traditional cooling systems, by 2050. Through these rules, manufacturers are being pushed to adopt cleaner alternatives such as carbon dioxide and ammonia. Some industry players argue this has slowed growth in the heat pump market, a technology that provides heating, cooling, and hot water. Brussels counters that falling gas prices, weaker subsidies, and consumer caution are the real reasons, putting its hope on a wave of new, HFC-free models already hitting the market. The Ecodesign Directive, another piece of the puzzle, sets minimum efficiency standards. This effectively bans the least efficient models and nudges manufacturers toward greener designs. The rules tie into the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, which requires upgrades in Europe's ageing housing stock through better insulation and, indeed, greener heating and cooling Both measures reflect the same principle: the EU isn't trying to kill air conditioning, it just wants it done sustainably. National quirks... Much of the practical regulation on air conditioning comes from member states, though. Spain, Italy, and Greece, for example, limit how cold public buildings can be set in summer, often no lower than 27°C. The aim is to conserve energy, especially during supply crises. Some historic city centres restrict the installation of external AC units for aesthetic reasons. There are environmental concerns, too. Studies show that AC units can raise outdoor temperatures in dense urban areas by several degrees, worsening the so-called 'heat island effect.' But these are exceptions, not an explanation for Europe's overall low uptake. ...and cultural resistance The rest of this story lies in history and culture. Southern Europe built its cities to cope with heat: thick walls, shaded windows, and street layouts designed to maximise airflow. That's also why white paint dominates the picturesque skylines of Mediterranean places like Santorini in Greece or Vieste in Italy: The bright surfaces reflect sunlight and radiant heat, helping interiors stay cooler. In northern Europe, on the other hand, summers were once mild enough that cooling was rarely needed. Air conditioning, when it appeared in Europe, was seen as a luxury or even a health risk. Many Europeans still believe exposure to cold air can make you sick, and the stereotype persists that AC is for rich people. The energy question Then there's the money issue. European electricity is far pricier than in the US, and the 2022 energy crisis only reinforced the point. Even though prices have since stabilised, the extra expense of running an air conditioner remains prohibitive for many households. AC still represents only about 0.6% of household electricity use across the EU, but its share is rising quickly. The heatwaves of June and July 2025 pushed daily demand up by as much as 14%. Prices spiked above €400/MWh in Germany and €470/MWh in Poland, even as solar power hit record highs. That surge in demand underscores the challenge. Europe's power grid, already strained, must prepare for hotter summers and higher cooling needs. What comes next So no, Brussels does not hate air conditioning. But it does want to ensure that cooling technology fits within Europe's broader climate and energy goals. The European Commission has always made clear that member states are best placed to decide on specific energy-saving measures. But it is also preparing the EU energy sector for an era of recurring and more intense heatwaves, focusing on storage, interconnections, and grid resilience. This could not exclude a specific intervention in the sector in the medium term, although nothing has been pencilled for the moment. In the end, Europe's low adoption of air conditioning isn't the result of bans or bureaucratic hostility. It's rather a mix of culture, cost, tradition, and policy. And as summers grow hotter and heatwaves become the new normal, that balance will be tested more with every passing year.
