Amber Rudd is set to dig in her heels and fight for British borders in Calais as she visits France in her first trip as home secretary August 29, 2016 Home secretary Amber Rudd is set to dig her heels in to defend British borders in Calais as senior French politicians call for existing agreements to be reviewed. Rudd will visit Paris tomorrow in her first trip overseas as home secretary, just days after former French President Nicolas Sarkozy questioned the agreement, known as Le Touquet, which allows UK border [...]
Nicolas Sarkozy has confirmed his return to frontline politics with a bid to enter next year’s French presidential election August 22, 2016 Nicolas Sarkozy has confirmed a return to the frontline of French politics with his entry in next year's presidential election. Sarkozy has long been linked with a campaign, but the former President ended speculation with a statement on social media earlier this afternoon. "I have decided to be a candidate for the 2017 presidential election. [...]
George Osborne may earn more talking about the economy on the dinner circuit than he did running it August 17, 2016 Former chancellor George Osborne could start to earn far and above his previous salary after being permission to sign up to the after dinner speaking circuit. Osborne could earn thousands of pounds per speech after being told he was allowed to sign up to the Washington Speakers Bureau, which already has Tony Blair, Nicolas Sarkozy [...]
International Monetary Fund backs chief Christine Lagarde ahead of looming negligence trial July 24, 2016 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has backed its chief ahead of her negligence trial for which she denies any wrongdoing. Lagarde is battling charges of negligence over a €405m (£339m) payment to French businessmen Bernard Tapie while she was the French finance minister. While the IMF also denies any wrongdoing, she could face jail time if she is [...]
French appeals court rules IMF chief Christine Lagarde must face Bernard Tapie payout trial July 22, 2016 The French appeals court ruled today that IMF boss Christine Lagarde must stand trial over allegations that she was negligent in her handling of a controversial payout during her time as French finance minister. The trial relates to a €404m (£340m) payment made to French business tycoon Bernard Tapie in 2008, when Lagarde was finance minister under [...]
France’s strikes show why Europe is in a doleful spiral of absolute decline June 20, 2016 “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold/ Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world… The best lack all conviction, while the worst/ Are full of passionate intensity.” – WB Yeats, The Second Coming, 1920 Last week we looked at a counter-intuitive, but just about possible, positive alternate future for Brussels, with EU elites at last [...]
Sepp Blatter: You cannot buy a World Cup and I have committed nothing criminal, says former Fifa boss February 20, 2016 Disgraced former Fifa president Sepp Blatter has insisted "you cannot buy a World Cup" and claimed the controversial vote to award the 2018 and 2022 tournaments to Russia and Qatar was not fixed. Fifa will elect its new president on Friday after Blatter, along with former Uefa president Michel Platini, was banned from football for [...]
IMF chief Christine Lagarde ordered to face trial over Bernard Tapie affair December 17, 2015 International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief executive Christine Lagarde has been ordered by a French court to face trial for alleged negligence over her handling of a controversial €400m payout to French business tycoon Bernard Tapie during her time as finance minister. The case will be heard by France’s Court of Justice of the Republic, a court spokesperson confirmed, although [...]
As Marine Le Pen secures victory in France’s regional elections, does she have a chance of winning the presidency? December 7, 2015 Dr Paul Smith, associate professor in French and francophone studies at Nottingham University, says Yes We cannot dismiss the possibility of Marine Le Pen winning the 2017 presidential election. The Front National’s national vote on Sunday was a shade under 30 per cent, and this would get her through to the second round of the [...]
Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Front party wins historic victory in French regional elections December 6, 2015 French far-right party the National Front (FN) made significant gains in the first round of regional elections today. The party secured 29.4 per cent of the vote nationally, and came first in six out of 13 regions. Marine Le Pen, leader of FN, said: “We're just in the first round, but we hope to have as [...]