Latest news with #JournalduDimanche
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
France to build jungle prison to hold drug kingpins
France is to build a high-security prison in the South American jungle for its most 'dangerous' criminals, including drug kingpins. Gerald Darmanin, the country's hardline justice minister, said the facility will open in 2028 in Saint-Laurent du Maroni in French Guiana, an overseas territory situated north of Brazil. 'I have decided to establish France's third high-security prison in Guiana,' Mr Darmanin told the Journal du Dimanche. 'Sixty places, an extremely strict prison regime and one goal – to remove the most dangerous profiles involved in drug trafficking,' he said during a trip to Guiana. 'My strategy is simple – hit organised crime at all levels – here in Guiana, at the start of the drug trafficking route and in mainland France, by neutralising the network leaders, and all the way to consumers. 'This prison will be a safeguard in the war against narco-trafficking,' he added. Crucially, the prison's location 'will serve to permanently isolate the heads of drug trafficking networks' since 'they will no longer be able to contact their criminal networks'. Justice ministry officials also said that 15 places at the prison would be reserved for convicted Islamist radicals. Saint-Laurent du Maroni is a strategic hub for so-called drug mules, mainly from Brazil, who attempt to board flights to Paris carrying cocaine originating in neighbouring Suriname. Mr Darmanin had already said in January he wanted to isolate 'the 100 biggest drug traffickers' in a dedicated facility designed to stop them from pursuing their illegal business from their prison cells. Guiana is the most crime-ridden French department relative to the size of its population, with a record 20.6 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023, nearly 14 times the national average. Saint-Laurent was the location of France's notorious Transportation Camp – a brutal penal colony that operated from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century. The structure remains largely intact. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Euronews
08-05-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Can France's prime minister call a referendum on the budget?
ADVERTISEMENT French Prime Minister François Bayrou has floated the idea of holding a referendum on France's 2026 budget to slash the country's ailing public deficit. Bayrou said in an interview with the Journal du Dimanche that the gravity of the situation meant that it needed the express approval of the French. "I believe the question is serious enough, with far-reaching consequences for the country's future, that it should be put directly to the people," he said. "I'm not ruling out any possibility." "It's a comprehensive plan I want to submit. It will demand efforts from everybody, and given its scale, it cannot succeed unless the French people support it," he added. "Without that approval, it won't succeed." The French government hopes to reduce its 2026 budget by €40 billion, mostly by curbing public spending rather than bringing in new taxes. It hopes that doing so will help to bring France's public deficit to under 3% of its GDP, in accordance with European fiscal rules. Opposition parties have already threatened to hold a vote of no-confidence against Bayrou's government over next year's potential budget plans, against a backdrop of successive prime ministers who have faced serious backlash and anger over their own budgets in recent years. Politicians across the political spectrum have voiced their disdain over Bayrou's hypothetical referendum. Laurent Wauquiez, of the right-wing Les Républicains, accused the prime minister of "procrastinating", while Eric Coquerel, an MP from the left-wing La France Insoumise party, called the plan "a technically absurd and politically questionable idea". "The executive cannot bypass national representation any longer," he added. Is it feasible for Bayrou to hold a referendum on France's finances? Article 11 of France's constitution states that only the president can call a referendum on laws related to the economy, social policy, and public services if it's suggested by the government or both houses of parliament. So technically, it's not something that the prime minister can do themselves. Bayrou is aware of this, as he told the Journal du Dimanche: "The government proposes, the president decides." "But the key issue is whether the French support the reforms," he added. "We have in front of us a question of huge importance, one which is not only for the technocrats and experts but which needs to be examined by each citizen." A source close to President Emmanuel Macron reportedly told AFP that he can't make a decision on whether to call a referendum until a full plan is on the table. ADVERTISEMENT "The prime minister mentions a plan for reforms and savings, and it's difficult to say anything until this plan is presented," the source reportedly said. Nevertheless, Macron is scheduled to appear on TF1 on 13 May, with French media speculating that he might announce a referendum of some kind. France's Prime Minister Francois Bayrou leaves the weekly cabinet meeting, Wednesday 19 March 2025 at the Élysée Palace in Paris. Thibault Camus/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved. The French president previously hinted that he may call a referendum this year during his traditional New Year's Eve speech on 31 December, in which he said he would ask citizens to decide on "decisive" topics, without specifying which ones. Related French PM Bayrou survives third no-confidence vote after 2025 budget rift Bayrou's plan would become France's first major referendum since 2005, when the French voted against ratifying the European Constitution. ADVERTISEMENT However, Article 47 of the constitution also explicitly lays out the process for adopting France's budget. Specifically, it says that both the National Assembly and the Senate need to examine and vote on the Finance Bill within a strict timeline, usually of 70 days. If this deadline isn't met, the government can force through the budget using its controversial Article 49.3 powers. Bayrou used these powers in February to push through his 2025 budget, which aims to reduce the public deficit to 5.4% this year, surviving two no-confidence votes in the process. ADVERTISEMENT It came after his predecessor, Michel Barnier, also used Article 49.3 to bypass parliament when trying to ratify his cost-cutting budget in December, although he wasn't as fortunate as Bayrou, and his government was toppled. As the budget procedure is enshrined by the constitution, any attempts to hold a referendum on it would likely be met with legal challenges.
Ya Biladi
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
French PM François Bayrou calls for recognizing Islamophobia after mosque attack
Following the April 25 attack at the Grand-Combe mosque, French Prime Minister François Bayrou questioned the widespread reluctance to use «the right words» and the discomfort surrounding the term Islamophobia. «We cannot fight what we refuse to name», he said. In an interview published Saturday evening on the Journal du Dimanche (JDD) website, Bayrou endorsed a label that had previously been dismissed by his Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau. He argued it was essential to «have the courage to call things what they are». Speaking in the pages of the weekly publication owned by Vincent Bolloré, Bayrou did not mince his words. «Refusing a term because one doesn't want to confront reality is something I've seen before in politics. In this case, the facts are clear: a 22-year-old man was murdered while praying in a mosque. His killer filmed the attack while shouting insults at Allah. So I ask: if that isn't hatred toward Islam, then what is?» Bayrou went on to denounce «hatred of Muslims and Islam, hatred of Jews and Judaism, and hatred of Christians»—noting that «crimes have been committed in all three cases». After the murder of Aboubakar Cissé, who suffered 57 stab wounds, the Prime Minister had already described the act as an «Islamophobic atrocity». On the political right, however, the term Islamophobia is not only avoided, but often disputed or outright rejected. In a follow-up interview, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau responded to Bayrou on Sunday in La Tribune, arguing that the term Islamophobia carries «a strong ideological connotation associated with the Muslim Brotherhood». Meanwhile, leaders of France's Muslim community continue to express concern over «a sense of unequal treatment and a troubling double standard». Last week, President Emmanuel Macron met with Chems-eddine Hafiz, rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, and Najat Benali, president of the Coordination of Muslim Associations of Paris and rector of the Javel mosque. Both figures emphasized that «the failure to label Aboubakar Cissé's murder as a terrorist attack» is contributing to a growing sense of injustice.
Straits Times
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
French PM: considering referendum proposal on budget
PARIS - French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said on Saturday he was considering proposing a national referendum over the country's budget, given concerns that big cost-cutting plans could result in widespread protests. "I think the subject is so serious, and it carries such major consequences for the future of the country, that it should be put directly to our citizens. Therefore, I am not ruling out any option," Bayrou told the Journal du Dimanche paper in an interview published on Saturday. The French government is trying to balance how to cut the country's debt burden while trying to avoid stirring up anger from trade unions and workers who fear big public sector job cuts. According to the French constitution, the president can call for a referendum after a proposal by the government. "It is up to the government to propose, and for the president to have in front of us a question of huge importance, one which is not only for the technocrats and experts but which needs to be examined by each citizen," added Bayrou. During his traditional New Year's Eve speech on December 31 last year, Macron opened the door to use referendums this year, saying he would ask the French to decide on "decisive" issues, without elaborating on which ones. Macron's Elysee office did not immediately return a request for a comment on Bayrou's interview. French opposition parties have already threatened to bring down Bayrou's government with a no-confidence motion, after his finance minister said next year's budget would require billions of euros in savings. Bayrou is keen to avoid the fate of his predecessor Michel Barnier, whose short-lived tenure as Prime Minister was ended after Barnier was toppled due to widespread anger over the cost-cutting plans in his budget. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Reuters
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
French PM: considering referendum proposal on budget
PARIS, May 3 (Reuters) - French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said on Saturday he was considering proposing a national referendum over the country's budget, given concerns that big cost-cutting plans could result in widespread protests. "I think the subject is so serious, and it carries such major consequences for the future of the country, that it should be put directly to our citizens. Therefore, I am not ruling out any option," Bayrou told the Journal du Dimanche paper in an interview published on Saturday. The French government is trying to balance how to cut the country's debt burden while trying to avoid stirring up anger from trade unions and workers who fear big public sector job cuts. According to the French constitution, the president can call for a referendum after a proposal by the government. "It is up to the government to propose, and for the president to have in front of us a question of huge importance, one which is not only for the technocrats and experts but which needs to be examined by each citizen," added Bayrou. During his traditional New Year's Eve speech on December 31 last year, Macron opened the door to use referendums this year, saying he would ask the French to decide on "decisive" issues, without elaborating on which ones. Macron's Elysee office did not immediately return a request for a comment on Bayrou's interview. French opposition parties have already threatened to bring down Bayrou's government with a no-confidence motion, after his finance minister said next year's budget would require billions of euros in savings. Bayrou is keen to avoid the fate of his predecessor Michel Barnier, whose short-lived tenure as Prime Minister was ended after Barnier was toppled due to widespread anger over the cost-cutting plans in his budget.
