Latest news with #NicolasSarkozy
France 24
18-05-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Interior minister Bruno Retailleau wins vote to lead the conservatives in France
Members of the Republican party ("Les Republicains", or LR) elected Bruno Retailleau, France's interior minister, on Sunday as their party leader. Retailleau won 74.3% of the votes while the party's parliamentary boss, Laurent Wauquiez, won 25.7% of the vote, after members of the LR party casted their ballots all weekend. The campagne saw the two rivals propose new stances on themes ranging from immigration to security to become the new leader of the party founded by former president Nicolas Sarkozy. Two French right-wing heavyweights were competing for their party's leadership on Sunday, with Retailleau taking pole position to lead the conservatives into 2027's presidential campaign. Although LR and its allies hold only 60 seats in France's 577-strong National Assembly and the party's candidate barely registered in the 2022 presidential vote, experts predict a better run in 2027 when President Emmanuel Macron must step down after two terms. With two years still to go in the next race for the Elysee, opinion polls currently point to a strong performance for the far-right National Rally (RN), which has however been shaken by legal woes for former presidential candidate Marine Le Pen. The leadership struggle in the LR comes on the back of a crisis last year when then-party leader Eric Ciotti was ousted for favouring a voting alliance with the RN. While ultimately rejecting such a link-up, the LR has hardened its stance on some of the RN's key topics, notably immigration. 01:17 LR members struggled to find ideological differences between Retailleau and Wauquiez, who are both tough on immigration and crime. Retailleau, in his government post since last year, has emerged as one of the most high-profile ministers in Macron's administration. The LR is the successor of the UMP and RPR, which trace their origins to postwar leader Charles de Gaulle and was the party of former presidents Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy. It sees itself as the natural party of power in France. Other potential challengers to lead France's traditional right into the 2027 presidential polls include former prime minister Edouard Philippe and Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin.
Local France
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Local France
Inside France: Macron's swansong, Sarkozy's tag and a booze ban for Smurfs
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. Macron marathon I spent Tuesday night channel hopping between the semi final of the Eurovision Song Contest and Emmanuel Macron's three-hour TV interview - a slight change of pace but both had an overly complicated format and at least one man in a muscle vest (in Paris that was the fitness influencer Tibo InShape, not Macron). One other thing that they have in common is that both are unlikely to have any significant impact on French domestic politics. Macron's performance was, as ever, impressive - eloquent, assured and thoroughly across the details of a wide range of policies. But will it save him from two years as a lame duck president? It seems unlikely, with the parliament as deadlocked as ever. Our politics expert John Lichfield described it as "a premature political obituary". Talking France We discuss Macron's attempted reset, and the political landscape between now and 2027, in the latest episode of the Talking France podcast. We also talked about 'urban rodeos' and French bureaucracy, as well as a move by MPs to promote to late Captain Alfred Dreyfus, and why the Dreyfus Affair is still relevant to modern politics, despite happening 130 years ago. I find this topic fascinating and although I was only able to give a very brief summary of it on the podcast, I have included some suggestions for books, films and podcasts about the case if anyone is inspired to find out more. Listen here or on the link below. Tag team In December 2024 France's ex president Nicolas Sarkozy was sentenced - after more than a decade of trials and appeals - to wear an electronic tag for one year. The tag was fitted in February (after Sarko enjoyed a nice holiday somewhere sunny) and then on Thursday - May 15th - it was removed . It turns out that the 70-year-old was entitled to apply for an early parole on the grounds of his age, which was approved. Advertisement As you can imagine, this sparked a certain anger at the apparent leniency of his punishment (although he has other ongoing legal matters which could result in stiffer penalties). Why is it so hard to send French politicians to jail? One commentator jokingly suggested donating it to a museum of political scandals at his Les Républicains party headquarters, along with François Fillon's suit and Jean-François Copé's pain au chocolat (you may remember that Fillon accepted 'gifts' of suits worth €48,000 while Copé attracted mockery by estimating the cost of a pain au chocolat at "10 or 15 centimes"). 🔴 URGENT : le bracelet électronique de Nicolas Sarkozy sera installé dans une vitrine à l'entrée du siège du parti LR, en compagnie des plus grandes reliques qui ont fait l'histoire du parti (les costumes de François Fillon, le pain au chocolat de Jean-François Copé, etc.). [image or embed] — Olivier Varlan ( @ ) 15 May 2025 at 12:01 Smurfew My favourite story of the week is undoubtedly this one - French mayor bans sale of alcohol to Smurfs . The thing about this municipal decree (which just to be clear is a joke, it's timed for Saturday when the Brittany town attempts to break the world record for the largest gathering of people dressed as Smurfs) is that it's far from the first bizarre mayoral decree. Recent examples include the mayors who ordered the rain to stop , and the mayor who banned mosquitoes . Advertisement Which just goes to show that not only do some French mayors have a good sense of humour, they also have a surprising degree of power . They can and frequently do enact local bylaws that are both real and far-reaching. Astérix And if you are looking for more French humour, I really recommend the new Astérix & Obélix series which is delightful - sweet, funny and with a great soundtrack and lots of topical French jokes (like the clan using ' le quarante-neuf trois ' to replace their chief with Obélix in order to win a fight). Considering all the Gauls have names ending in 'ix', I thought the writers showed heroic restraint by waiting until the end to introduce a character named after the streaming service the show appears on. 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.
Economic Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Electronic tag removed from France's Nicolas Sarkozy: prosecutor
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy (File Photo) Synopsis Nicolas Sarkozy, the former French president, no longer has to wear an electronic tag. He was convicted of graft and ordered to wear the tag. Sarkozy served just over three months of his one-year sentence. He was granted early parole. However, he must report any travel abroad. He also needs to comply with summonses. French authorities have removed the electronic tag that former president Nicolas Sarkozy was ordered to wear following his conviction for graft, Paris prosecutors said Thursday. ADVERTISEMENT Sarkozy was fitted with the tag in February instead of going to jail to serve a one-year sentence for corruption, a first for a former French head of state. But given his age, the 70-year-old could apply for early parole, which was granted Wednesday after serving just over three months, the prosecutor's office told AFP. France's highest appeals court in December 2024 ordered Sarkozy to wear the tag for a year after finding him guilty of illegal attempts to secure favours from a judge. Nicolas Sarkozy, who has been beset by legal problems since leaving office in 2012 following a bruising presidential election defeat, has said he is innocent and is taking the case to the European Court of Human Rights. The tag's removal comes with conditions, the prosecutor's office said, including the obligation to report any travel abroad, comply with summonses and receive visits from probation officers. ADVERTISEMENT "I can confirm that Nicolas Sarkozy was granted conditional release on May 14," his lawyer Jacqueline Laffont-Haik told AFP. A French court will rule in September in a trial on separate charges that Sarkozy accepted illegal campaign financing from the late Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi. ADVERTISEMENT (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily International News Updates. NEXT STORY
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Electronic tag removed from France's Nicolas Sarkozy: prosecutor
French authorities have removed the electronic tag that former president Nicolas Sarkozy was ordered to wear following his conviction for graft, Paris prosecutors said Thursday. Sarkozy was fitted with the tag in February instead of going to jail to serve a one-year sentence for corruption, a first for a former French head of state. But given his age, the 70-year-old could apply for early parole, which was granted Wednesday after serving just over three months, the prosecutor's office told AFP. GIF89a����!�,D; Continue to video 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like ¿Cuánto vale su coche? Compruébelo aquí Autos | Anuncios de búsqueda Leer más Undo France 's highest appeals court in December 2024 ordered Sarkozy to wear the tag for a year after finding him guilty of illegal attempts to secure favours from a judge. Nicolas Sarkozy, who has been beset by legal problems since leaving office in 2012 following a bruising presidential election defeat, has said he is innocent and is taking the case to the European Court of Human Rights . Live Events The tag's removal comes with conditions, the prosecutor's office said, including the obligation to report any travel abroad, comply with summonses and receive visits from probation officers. "I can confirm that Nicolas Sarkozy was granted conditional release on May 14," his lawyer Jacqueline Laffont-Haik told AFP. A French court will rule in September in a trial on separate charges that Sarkozy accepted illegal campaign financing from the late Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi.
The Independent
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Macron ‘beats Trump to UK state visit' as King Charles prepares to welcome French president in July
King Charles III is to host French President Emmanuel Macron on a state visit to the UK from July 8-10, Buckingham Palace has announced. The French leader and his wife Brigitte Macron will stay at Windsor Castle and will be feted with a state banquet at the historic Berkshire royal residence. Buckingham Palace said: "The President of the French Republic, His Excellency Emmanuel Macron, accompanied by Mrs Brigitte Macron, has accepted an invitation from His Majesty The King to pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom from Tuesday 8th July to Thursday 10th July 2025. "The President and Mrs Macron will stay at Windsor Castle." While a date has not yet been announced for President Donald Trump 's second state visit, he is widely expected to travel to the UK in September after Sir Keir Starmer extended an invitation at the White House earlier this year. The King and Queen paid a state visit to France in September 2023. The last state visit to the UK from France was in March 2008 when President Nicolas Sarkozy also stayed at Windsor as the late Queen Elizabeth II's guests.
