Latest news with #RaphaelGlucksmann
Associated Press
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
The European Parliament says China has lifted sanctions it imposed on 5 EU lawmakers in 2021
BRUSSELS (AP) — China has lifted sanctions it imposed on five European Union lawmakers in retaliation against the bloc's defense of Uyghur Muslims in the far western Xinjiang region, the EU parliament said on Wednesday. Beijing imposed a series of measures in March 2021 after the EU, Britain, Canada and the United States launched coordinated sanctions against officials in China over human rights abuses against Uyhgurs in Xinjiang. Five EU lawmakers were targeted as part of China's retaliation: Michael Gahler, Raphael Glucksmann, Ilhan Kyuchyuk and Miriam Lexmann, as well as Reinhard Butikofer, who is no longer a member of the parliament. They were banned from entering Chinese territory and the move led the parliament to halt all official dialogue with China and hold up an investment deal that EU lawmakers had been due to endorse. The sanctions lifting was negotiated by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. It comes amid an easing of tensions between the EU and China since U.S. President Donald Trump hiked tariffs against them on April 2. 'Our relationship with China remains complex and multi-faceted. The best way to approach it is through engagement and dialogue,' Metsola said in a statement after informing senior lawmakers of the breakthrough. But the senior lawmakers insisted that Beijing's move 'does not mean the European Parliament will overlook persistent challenges in EU-China relations,' and they vowed that the assembly will 'remain a strong defender' of human rights. The Uyghurs are a Turkic, majority Muslim ethnicity native to Xinjiang. After decades of conflict over suppression of their cultural identity, Beijing launched a brutal crackdown on the Uyghurs that some Western governments deem a genocide.
Egypt Independent
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
French politician suggests US should give back Statue of Liberty for taking ‘the side of the tyrants'
CNN — A French politician has called on the US to give the Statue of Liberty back after suggesting that some Americans 'have chosen to switch to the side of the tyrants.' Raphael Glucksmann, a member of the European Parliament who represents the small left-wing party Place Publique, made the comments at a rally on Sunday. 'Give us back the Statue of Liberty,' said Glucksmann. 'It was our gift to you. But apparently you despise her.' The Statue of Liberty as it is seen today in New York City. Pamela Smith/AP The statue was a gift of friendship to America from France. Inaugurated in 1886, it represents Libertas, the Roman liberty goddess, bearing a torch in her right hand and a tablet in her left hand with the date of the US Declaration of Independence. Broken shackles lie underneath the statue's drapery, to symbolize the end of all types of servitude and oppression. On Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt fired back at Glucksmann. 'My advice to that unnamed low-level French politician would be to remind them that it's only because of the United States of America that the French are not speaking German right now, so they should be very grateful to our great country,' she said. A photo showing the left hand of the Statue of Liberty under then responded in a series of posts on X and Instagram. He emphasized that his gratitude to the US 'heroes' that fought against the Nazis in WWII is 'eternal,' before making a contrast with US President Donald Trump's recent attempts to negotiate a settlement between Russia and Ukraine, as well as Trump's public spat with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. 'The America of these heroes fought against tyrants, it did not flatter them. It was the enemy of fascism, not the friend of Putin. It helped the resistance and didn't attack Zelensky,' he wrote. 'It is precisely because I am petrified by Trumps (sic) betrayal that I said yesterday in a rally that we could symbolically take back the Statue of Liberty if your government despised everything it symbolizes in your eyes, ours, and those of the world,' said Glucksmann. 'No one, of course, will come and steal the Statue of Liberty. The statue is yours. But what it embodies belongs to everyone,' he said. 'And if the free world no longer interests your government, then we will take up the torch, here in Europe.' Glucksmann is co-president of the Place Publique party, which currently holds three seats in the European Parliament, as well as one in the French parliament and another in the country's senate. Despite his party's small size, Glucksmann has received an increasing amount of attention in the French media, including an in-depth interview in political magazine Le Nouvel Obs published March 5, in which he underlined the importance that European powers step up their defense spending amid a reorienting of US policy priorities. It has also been rumored that Glucksmann is planning to run for president in elections scheduled for early 2027.
Local France
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Local France
Americans in France: Consulate closures, Lady Liberty and US-France emigration
Welcome to The Local's "Americans in France" newsletter for members, featuring all the news and practical information you need as an American resident, visitor or second-home owner in France. You can sign up to receive it directly to your inbox before we publish it online via the link below. Dear Americans in France, Relations between Europe and the United States are tense , to say the least. In France, politicians have become bolder in their critiques of the US government. Last week, a French senator gave a searing speech , which ended up going viral, where he compared Washington to "Nero's court, with an incendiary emperor, submissive courtiers and a buffoon on ketamine in charge of purging the civil service." Another French MP is asking for the Statue of Liberty back . Centre-left politician Raphael Glucksmann said: "We're going to say to the Americans who have chosen to side with the tyrants, to the Americans who fired researchers for demanding scientific freedom: 'Give us back the Statue of Liberty'". Advertisement France does already have at least a dozen Statues of Liberty already, though I don't think this is what Glucksmann was getting at. More seriously, the French government has expressed an interest in coming to the rescue of researchers who have lost funding in the US, and we've put together a guide geared toward American researchers interested in moving to France. As an American in France, I've been asked more questions about my political opinions in the last month (sometimes by perfect strangers) than in the entirety of my almost six years in France. I understand the curiosity, but these conversations can be quite tedious. I've found that turning the question around and asking the inquirer their thoughts can alleviate some of the pressure. It's not just the tedious conversations, Americans in France are still impacted by US policy, despite living abroad. One clear example of this is the (as yet unconfirmed) plan to shrink the State Department and shut down several US consulates around the world - including four that are located in France. Americans in Strasbourg decided to protest the possible closure of the consulate in eastern France, which has stood since 1866. We also reached out to Americans in France to hear about how the planned consulate closures would affect them. And current events have played a role in pushing more Americans to France permanently. According to preliminary immigration data for 2024, 13,000 first-time cartes de séjour were awarded to Americans - an increase of 5.3 percent from 2023 (12,341 first-time cards awarded). We also asked readers who recently moved to France to explain their motivations, and almost half of respondents mentioned President Donald Trump and politics in some capacity. Advertisement Usually, that was not the only reason - other factors included being close to retirement age, seeking a better quality of life and looking to be near friends and family. We also asked readers about some of the challenges they experienced when moving to France - people mentioned struggles with bureaucracy, such as dealing with paperwork and préfecture appointments to renew residency cards, opening bank accounts , finding a doctor , locating housing, and navigating taxes. We always offer the opportunity - via our ongoing survey - to give your tips to other Americans in France and to let us know if you have any questions you need answered. One reader, Louise Burnham, recommends other Americans "Get to know French people! "Don't just associate with other expats. There are many associations or English-speaking groups that can help you meet French people, even if you don't speak French." If making friends with locals sounds daunting, here's how to start off with some basic small-talk. Meanwhile, another reader asked us about the "Legal rules for water damage when renting/owning". We've got a thorough guide on damage and disasters, plus how to make a French home insurance claim (hopefully you don't have to!). Thanks for reading, and as always, you can reach me at
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
French politician suggests US should give back Statue of Liberty for taking ‘the side of the tyrants'
A French politician has called on the US to give the Statue of Liberty back after suggesting that some Americans 'have chosen to switch to the side of the tyrants.' Raphael Glucksmann, a member of the European Parliament who represents the small left-wing party Place Publique, made the comments at a rally on Sunday. 'Give us back the Statue of Liberty,' said Glucksmann. 'It was our gift to you. But apparently you despise her.' The statue was a gift of friendship to America from France. Inaugurated in 1886, it represents Libertas, the Roman liberty goddess, bearing a torch in her right hand and a tablet in her left hand with the date of the US Declaration of Independence. Broken shackles lie underneath the statue's drapery, to symbolize the end of all types of servitude and oppression. On Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt fired back at Glucksmann. 'My advice to that unnamed low-level French politician would be to remind them that it's only because of the United States of America that the French are not speaking German right now, so they should be very grateful to our great country,' she said. Glucksmann then responded in a series of posts on X and Instagram. He emphasized that his gratitude to the US 'heroes' that fought against the Nazis in WWII is 'eternal,' before making a contrast with US President Donald Trump's recent attempts to negotiate a settlement between Russia and Ukraine, as well as Trump's public spat with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. 'The America of these heroes fought against tyrants, it did not flatter them. It was the enemy of fascism, not the friend of Putin. It helped the resistance and didn't attack Zelensky,' he wrote. 'It is precisely because I am petrified by Trumps (sic) betrayal that I said yesterday in a rally that we could symbolically take back the Statue of Liberty if your government despised everything it symbolizes in your eyes, ours, and those of the world,' said Glucksmann. 'No one, of course, will come and steal the Statue of Liberty. The statue is yours. But what it embodies belongs to everyone,' he said. 'And if the free world no longer interests your government, then we will take up the torch, here in Europe.' Glucksmann is co-president of the Place Publique party, which currently holds three seats in the European Parliament, as well as one in the French parliament and another in the country's senate. Despite his party's small size, Glucksmann has received an increasing amount of attention in the French media, including an in-depth interview in political magazine Le Nouvel Obs published March 5, in which he underlined the importance that European powers step up their defense spending amid a reorienting of US policy priorities. It has also been rumored that Glucksmann is planning to run for president in elections scheduled for early 2027.
CNN
18-03-2025
- Politics
- CNN
French politician suggests US should give back Statue of Liberty for taking ‘the side of tyrants'
A French politician has called on the US to give the Statue of Liberty back after suggesting that some Americans 'have chosen to switch to the side of the tyrants.' Raphael Glucksmann, a member of the European Parliament who represents the small left-wing party Place Publique, made the comments at a rally on Sunday. 'Give us back the Statue of Liberty,' said Glucksmann. 'It was our gift to you. But apparently you despise her.' The statue was a gift of friendship to America from France. Inaugurated in 1886, it represents Libertas, the Roman liberty goddess, bearing a torch in her right hand and a tablet in her left hand with the date of the US Declaration of Independence. Broken shackles lie underneath the statue's drapery, to symbolize the end of all types of servitude and oppression. On Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt fired back at Glucksmann. 'My advice to that unnamed low-level French politician would be to remind them that it's only because of the United States of America that the French are not speaking German right now, so they should be very grateful to our great country,' she said. Glucksmann then responded in a series of posts on X and Instagram. He emphasized that his gratitude to the US 'heroes' that fought against the Nazis in WWII is 'eternal,' before making a contrast with US President Donald Trump's recent attempts to negotiate a settlement between Russia and Ukraine, as well as Trump's public spat with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. 'The America of these heroes fought against tyrants, it did not flatter them. It was the enemy of fascism, not the friend of Putin. It helped the resistance and didn't attack Zelensky,' he wrote. 'It is precisely because I am petrified by Trumps (sic) betrayal that I said yesterday in a rally that we could symbolically take back the Statue of Liberty if your government despised everything it symbolizes in your eyes, ours, and those of the world,' said Glucksmann. 'No one, of course, will come and steal the Statue of Liberty. The statue is yours. But what it embodies belongs to everyone,' he said. 'And if the free world no longer interests your government, then we will take up the torch, here in Europe.' Glucksmann is co-president of the Place Publique party, which currently holds three seats in the European Parliament, as well as one in the French parliament and another in the country's senate. Despite his party's small size, Glucksmann has received an increasing amount of attention in the French media, including an in-depth interview in political magazine Le Nouvel Obs published March 5, in which he underlined the importance that European powers step up their defense spending amid a reorienting of US policy priorities. It has also been rumored that Glucksmann is planning to run for president in elections scheduled for early 2027.
