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Local France
2 days ago
- General
- Local France
OPINION: 130 years on, the Dreyfus affair still matters to France and the world
In 1894 an obscure Jewish French army captain was falsely convicted of espionage and treason. Alfred Dreyfus spent five years alone in a cage on Devil's Island in the French Caribbean before he was pardoned and finally rehabilitated in 1906. For many decades 'the Dreyfus case' divided France. To the Catholic fundamentalist, antisemitic and ultra-patriotic Right, his guilt – no matter the lack of evidence - became an article of patriotic faith. To the Left, and not just the Left, the struggle to prove his innocence symbolised the importance and the fragility of the democratic and personal freedoms won by the French Revolution. On Monday, the National Assembly voted unanimously to promote Dreyfus to the rank of brigadier general 90 years after his death. Until relatively recently, any unanimous parliamentary decision on the Dreyfus case in France would have been unthinkable. Advertisement This week's vote managed to be both unanimous and controversial. Of the 577 deputies, only 197 voted. Thirty-eight were from the far-right Rassemblement National, direct descendants of the Vichy regime of 1940-44 which rehabilitated the senior officers who lied and cheated to frame Dreyfus. Forty-one of the pro-Dreyfus votes came from the hard-Left La France Insoumise, which has been accused in recent months of anti-semitism in its unconditional support for the Palestinian cause. The centrist Modem party, the party of the prime minister François Bayrou, refused to take part. They said that the vote, sponsored by their coalition partners, Renaissance, the party of President Emmanuel Macron, gave the far-right and the hard-left a cheap opportunity to white-wash their anti-semitism. There may be some truth in that but it misses a larger point. The Dreyfus case IS partly about anti-semitism. The persecution of Captain Alfred Dreyfus persuaded Theodor Herzl, the father of Zionism, that the future for the Jewish people was the creation of a Jewish state. But 'the case' is also about something broader - something which threatens democratic values in the 2020s as much as it did in the 1890s. The trampling of the rule of law in the name of patriotism? Politics in which facts do not shape political opinions but quasi-religious beliefs establish bogus facts? We are confronted in 2025 with the same issues which the novelist Emile Zola addressed in 1898 in his celebrated front-page article on the Dreyfus case under the banner headline: 'J'accuse'. Twenty-seven years ago, in a speech to mark the centenary of Zola's article, President Jacques Chirac said: 'The Dreyfus Affair…tore French society apart, divided families, split the country into two enemy camps, which attacked each other with exceptional violence ... It was a reminder, that the forces of darkness, intolerance and injustice can penetrate to the highest levels of the state.' The last sentence is prophetic and chilling. Chirac might have been speaking about Donald Trump. Advertisement In that centenary year of the Zola article, I interviewed Nelly Wilson, a British academic who was an expert on both Zola and Dreyfus. Ms Wilson, who died in 2017, came to Britain in 1945 at the age of 15 as one of 150 young concentration camp survivors invited to settle by the UK government. 'It is perhaps not so surprising that the (Dreyfus) affair remains so vivid in the French mind,' she told me in 1998. 'It describes a conflict at the heart of French political psychology which has not changed so very much to this day. On the one hand, a fierce nationalism and a temptation to justify almost anything for raisons d'etat ; on the other hand, a fierce attachment to justice for the individual, for the rights of the individual.' Nelly Wilson believed that the Dreyfus case changed the course of French history. It discredited the forces of extreme nationalism, anti-semitism, clericalism and nostalgic royalism which might otherwise have pushed France into a kind of proto-fascism or Francoism 30 years before Hitler, Mussolini or Franco. That conflict is still with us but is no longer at the centre of French politics alone. It can be seen in the lies and law-trampling of President Trump, in the brutal creed of Vladimir Putin and in the kleptocratic rule of Viktor Orban in Hungary. Advertisement And, yes, the 'temptation to justify almost anything for raisons d'etat ' also describes the murderous and cynical forever war for his own survival waged by Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel. The Dreyfus affair has never had quite the same resonance outside France (Jewish communities apart). In the early 20th century, British newspapers wrote puzzled or mocking articles, demanding to know what all the fuss was about. The parallels are not exact but you can see similar comments today minimising the Trump administration's wrongful arrest and imprisonment in El Salvador of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. We should no longer ask why France is obsessed with Alfred Dreyfus. History has told us, and continues to tell us, that 'the case' was about more than anti-semitism and far more than the persecution of one innocent man.
LeMonde
28-05-2025
- Politics
- LeMonde
French MEP Raphaël Glucksmann: 'I will not take part in a primary' for the 2027 presidential election
As left-wing and Green leaders call for a primary to pick a joint candidate for the 2027 French presidential election, Member of the European Parliament Raphaël Glucksmann rejected this strategy – just like Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of the radical-left party, La France Insoumise (LFI). The founder of the Socialist-allied Place Publique movement, who came in third – and on top on the left – in the 2024 European elections, does not want to suggest that LFI's platform could be reconciled with his own project, which he will begin to present on June 23. He gave Le Monde a preview.
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First Post
22-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Over a dozen governments slam Israel for firing towards diplomats in West Bank's Jenin
Over a dozen governments condemned Israel after the country's military fired towards diplomats in West Bank's Jenin read more Over a dozen governments around the world condemned Israel after its forces fired towards a diplomatic delegation near the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank. Following the incident, the Israeli army said that its soldiers fired 'warning shots' after the foreign diplomats, who included representatives of the European Union, the United Kingdom, Russia and China, deviated from a previously agreed-on route. '[Israeli] soldiers operating in the area fired warning shots to distance them away,' Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Thursday. While no one was injured, the firing garnered condemnation from all around the world. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How the world reacted Canada Shortly after the incident, the Israeli ambassador was summoned by the Canadian foreign ministry, which also demanded an explanation. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the situation 'totally unacceptable' and said Canada expects an explanation of what happened. 'It's some of many things that are totally unacceptable that's going on in the region,' Carney said at a press conference on Parliament Hill Wednesday. UK UK Under-Secretary of State Hamish Falconer said that he has spoken to diplomats affected by the incident. " Civilians must always be protected, and diplomats allowed to do their jobs. There must be a full investigation, and those responsible should be held accountable." France Meanwhile, an opposition lawmaker in France called on the government to expel Israel's ambassador and close the Israeli embassy in Paris, asserting that summoning him is not enough. Thomas Porte, a member of the left-wing La France Insoumise party, issued a statement condemning the incident. 'Israeli war criminals shoot diplomats, including a Frenchman… and France summons the Israeli ambassador,' Porte wrote on X, criticising the decision to limit the response to a diplomatic summons. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot also stated the matter. 'A visit to Jenin, in which one of our diplomats was participating, was fired upon by Israeli soldiers. This is unacceptable. The Israeli ambassador will be summoned to explain. Full support to our agents on site and their remarkable work in trying conditions,' he said in the statement. Italy Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said: 'We ask the government of Israel to immediately clarify what happened. The threats against diplomats are unacceptable.' Germany The Federal Foreign Office strongly condemned the 'unprovoked fire' towards the diplomats. 'The group was travelling in the West Bank in the course of its diplomatic work and coordination with the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli army. The role of diplomats as independent observers on the ground is indispensable and in no way represents a threat to Israeli security interests,' the office said in the statement following the attack. Qatar The Qatari foreign minister also demanded answers from Israel. 'The state of Qatar strongly condemns the Israeli occupation forces for opening fire on an international diplomatic delegation during its visit to the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, and considers as a violation of international laws, conventions, and diplomatic norms,' the ministry said in a statement. Mexico The Mexican Foreign Ministry rejected the Israeli military's claim that the diplomatic delegation had invaded an 'unauthorised area'. 'What happened violates the provisions of Article 29 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which establishes the inviolability of diplomatic agents. All States Parties to the aforementioned Convention, including Israel, are obliged to respect it,' the ministry said in a statement. The Mexican ministry also demanded clarification on the matter from the Israeli embassy in the country. With inputs from agencies.
Local France
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Local France
French PM strikes defiant note on child abuse scandal
The 73-year-old politician faced one of the most delicate moments of his five months in office as he responded to questions from a committee investigating claims of sexual abuse at a Catholic school. Bayrou has faced opposition claims that as education minister between 1993 and 1997 he knew of widespread physical and sexual abuse at the Notre-Dame de Betharram school in southwestern France over many decades. But on Wednesday he stuck by his previous statements and said that during his time as education minister he had "not received any information other than what was reported in the press". "I had nothing to hide," he said. He signalled his desire to cooperate, saying the inquiry into what he called the "MeToo for children" was finally taking place. "For me, this hearing is very important. It is very important for the boys and girls who have been victims of violence, particularly sexual violence, for decades," he added. But tensions were on full display as the two co-rapporteurs of the commission, Paul Vannier and Violette Spillebout, questioned Bayrou about what he knew about alleged violence, sexual assault and rape committed at the school near the southwestern town of Pau where Bayrou has been mayor since 2014. During the hearing Bayrou accused Vannier, a lawmaker with the hard-left La France Insoumise (LFI), of seeking to "fuel a scandal". Advertisement The French prime minister also said he did not feel that the commission was "completely objective". Several of Bayrou's children attended the school, and his wife taught religious studies there. Bayrou has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and denounced what he calls a campaign of "destruction" against him. 'I have confidence in him' Centrist Bayrou, the sixth prime minister of President Emmanuel Macron's mandate, was named head of government last December. He has been given the daunting task of hauling France out of months of political crisis. Until now Bayrou has managed to survive a no-confidence vote in a divided parliament but the Betharram affair has damaged his credibility and his approval rating has been declining in recent weeks. Bayrou's popularity rating has dropped below that of Macron, according to a poll published last week, with only 27 percent of French people approving of his work. Advertisement Analysts have said Bayrou could face further pressure depending on his performance during the hearing. "The Betharram school scandal may not be sufficient in itself to bring down Bayrou but could embolden his parliamentary enemies, and supposed friends, to pull the plug on the government for other reasons," said the Eurasia Group. "Reasons for dissatisfaction abound," the political risk consultancy added, pointing to France's budgetary crisis. Macron threw his support behind the embattled prime minister. "We have talked about it a lot and I know that I have confidence in him," he told TF1 television Tuesday evening, referring to the Betharram affair. Bayrou's statements have been contradicted by a number of people including his own daughter. In April, Bayrou's eldest daughter accused the clergy running the school of systemic abuse, saying a priest beat her during summer camp when she was 14. Helene Perlant, who is now 53 and uses her mother's name, said however that her father did not know about the incident. 'If he lies, he's dead' Few in Bayrou's team believe that he will be brought down over the scandal. But "if he lies before parliament, he's dead", said a supporter of Macron, asking not to be named. A Bayrou associate stressed that the prime minister was not the subject of the inquiry. The inquiry focuses on "the methods used by the state to monitor and prevent violence in schools". After hearing witnesses, victims and former ministers, the two rapporteurs plan to deliver their conclusions in June. Around 200 legal complaints have been filed since February last year accusing priests and staff at Betharram of physical or sexual abuse from 1957 to 2004. Some of the boarders said the experience had scarred them for life, recounting how some priests visited boys at night. "The state has failed and has not protected the children of Betharram," said Alain Esquerre, who represents a collective of school survivors.
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.
