29-05-2025
France and Indonesia enhance cultural ties with new partnership deal
France has signed a cultural partnership with Indonesia, with an emphasis on preserving cultural heritage and the development of human resources.
The new pact also includes promotion of cultural products such as films, music and textiles and encourages collaboration between cultural institutions in both countries.
"We aim to enhance cultural dialogue between the two nations, particularly by engaging younger generations and contemporary cultural practitioners," said Indonesia's Minister of Culture Fadli Zon.
The agreement also covers museum development and archival digitisation and serves as "an operational framework to implement the cultural vision" of both countries' leaders, the culture ministry said.
Initiatives set to be launched under the agreement include the Indonesia–France Film Lab and the Borobudur Cultural Centre. "Through an inclusive approach, we hope to generate both cultural and economic added value for our nations," Fadli said.
The deal was signed as French President Emmanuel Macron wrapped up his state visit to Indonesia, which ended with a tour of Borobudur Temple, one of the world's largest Buddhist monuments, alongside President Prabowo Subianto.
Macron, currently on a week-long diplomatic tour of Southeast Asia, arrived in Indonesia with First Lady Brigitte Macron on Tuesday evening, the second stop of his tour after Vietnam.
On arrival, Macron had warm words for Indonesia's leader, describing him as a brother and "a great friend of mine".
Military cooperation between Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest economy, and France has grown in recent years, starting in 2019 when Subianto became defence minister.
Indonesia finalised an order for 42 French Dassault Rafale fighter jets in January 2024, with the first delivery expected in early 2026.
The Asian nation also announced the purchase of two French Scorpene Evolved submarines and 13 Thales ground control interception radars.
Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin told reporters after welcoming Macron that the visit was aimed at strengthening "defence cooperation between Indonesia and France."
Macron ends his tour in Singapore where he's expected to speak at Asia's top defence conference, the annual Shangri-La Dialogue.
Far-right Chega party has become Portugal's main opposition party, following a final tally of votes from the 18 May election.
After the initial round of counting, the party was tied on 58 seats with the Socialist Party (PS), which received a slightly higher share of the vote.
However, Chega — which means "Enough" in Portuguese — secured two more seats after overseas voting was taken into account, while the PS stayed on 58.
'This is a profound change in the Portuguese political system," Chega leader André Ventura told supporters after his party had overtaken the PS.
The election results broke with the country's political status quo, as centre-right and centre-left parties have typically alternated between government and opposition.
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro's centre-right Democratic Alliance secured 91 seats of the National Assembly's 230 seats, making it the largest bloc in parliament.
Montenegro, who has ruled out working with Chega, said he would form a new minority government.
The mid-May election — the third national vote in as many years — was called after Montenegro lost a confidence vote in parliament, following concerns about the prime minister's business dealings. He denies any wrongdoing.
Chega's rise coincides with far-right gains across Europe, with parties including Alternative for Germany (AfD) now in the political mainstream.
The former fringe party, which campaigned under the slogan 'Save Portugal', took only one seat when it first competed in elections in 2019. Since then, its hardline stance against immigration has seen it surge in popularity.
