The French presidential election will take place on 22 April with a run-off on 6 May were it to be necessary. As in the US there are two main parties contending, in the French case the Socialists and the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP ). Read the rest of this entry »

Today, as every year on July 14, France celebrates Bastille Day also known as Fête Nationale -national holiday. This year the parade in Paris has set the spotlight on the units from overseas which came down the Champs-Elysées in front of some 7,000 soldiers. Read the rest of this entry »

Being so involved on both sides of the Atlantic with the economic woes, some of the many and violent political problems, some of which have been there for years and others surprising the world some months ago, seem almost to be ignored. And yet, they are still there, unresolved. Read the rest of this entry »

If many French were proud of having Christine Lagarde chosen as head of the IMF, today they are feeling specially happy and relieved after Hervé Ghesquière and Stéphane Taponier, the two French television journalists held hostage in Afghanistan since December 2009, were freed unhurt. Read the rest of this entry »

Not everybody is going to be happy with the appointment of the current French Finance and Economics Minister Christine Lagarde as the next leader of the International Monetary Fund. An appointment that it is perceived by some as a loss to the developing world where it was expected the top position at the IMF would not go again to an European as up to now it has always been. Read the rest of this entry »

It seems to be official now: French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde will seek the top job at the International Monetary Fund. The IMF has traditionally been run by a European, while the World Bank has been run by an American. Read the rest of this entry »

As we already reported on May 6, the influx of African migrants trying to reach Europe has created concern in some European countries and has given a reason to others to try to reform the rules of the Schengen accord with the aim to reimpose border control in the EU. On Wednesday, Denmark announced plans to set up customs booths at land border crossings, harbors and airports. Read the rest of this entry »