English

PM Bayrou calls for national debate on immigration

France — Link

His call comes days after he stirred controversy with comments about immigrants 'flooding' France.

First high-end French fighter jets arrive in Ukraine

International — Link

The Mirage fighters will help defend Ukraine against Russian attacks.

Libyan funding trial: Sarkozy on back foot over two key aspects of the case

France — Chronicle

Nicolas Sarkozy and three former ministers are standing trial in Paris over claims that the former president's successful 2007 election campaign was part-funded by the Libyan regime of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. And that the North African country – whose leader was one of the most notorious dictators on the planet – received favours in exchange. There are 13 defendants in all. In Wednesday's court hearing Nicolas Sarkozy appeared to be in difficulty when questioned on two issues in the case. One was the nuclear power plant that France wanted to sell to the Libyan dictator in 2007. The other was the exfiltration in 2011 – first from Libya, later from France - of Gaddafi's former chief of staff Bashir Saleh when the latter was the object of an Interpol arrest warrant. Fabrice Arfi reports on Wednesday's hearing.

French PM François Bayrou survives confidence vote

France — Link

The far-right and Socialists did not back no-confidence motion tabled by radical-left La France Insoumise.

French government under fire over Nestlé revelations

France — Link

According to an investigation the government allowed food and beverage giant Nestlé to continue selling mineral water that did not comply with health regulations. President Macron has denied claims of a wide-ranging cover-up.

France’s PM faces confidence vote after forcing through budget

France — Link

Decision to use executive measure known as ‘49.3’ was also taken in December, toppling the previous administration, but government under François Bayrou is expected to survive a confidence vote this Wednesday. 

Director Christophe Ruggia convicted of sexually assaulting actor Adèle Haenel when she was a minor

France

Five years after Mediapart's revelations on the case, actor Adèle Haenel has been vindicated in court. On February 3rd filmmaker Christophe Ruggia was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, two of which are suspended, with the other two to be served wearing an electronic bracelet, for sexually assaulting her when she was a minor. The court said that the director had “taken advantage of the power” which he had over the young actor at the time. After the verdict – in what has widely been seen as a landmark case for the #MeToo movement in France - Adèle Haenel told supporters: “Thank you for being here to advance human rights.” Marine Turchi reports.

Christophe Ruggia found guilty of assaulting actress Adèle Haenel

France — Link

A French court on Monday found the filmmaker guilty of sexually assaulting actress Adéle Haenel when she was a child in what is seen as a #MeToo landmark trial in France.

Gendarmes' removal of girl from school to deport her revives debate over treatment of migrants

France — Report

Last month gendarmes in north-east France arrived at a school during morning break in order to escort a 14-year-old pupil off the premises and deport her and her family to Belgium. Since then, both the local state prefecture and the gendarmes have been forced to admit that in doing so they committed “errors”.  And despite the toxic political climate in France, the immediate reaction from teachers, parents and some local politicians to the “scandalous” incident has managed to transform the debate on how migrants - and especially migrant children - are treated in the country. Mathilde Goanec reports.

New French PM Bayrou will seek to force budget through

Politique — Link

Political uncertainty is again looming in France after prime minister François Bayrou warned that he would use special executive powers this week to get his budget approved without a vote by lawmakers.

France’s richest tycoon goes full Maga

Économie et social — Link

Bernard Arnault is wading into politics in an effort to avoid being hit by Donald Trump’s promised tariffs.

Activists take to treetops to oppose huge canal scheme linking Paris to Belgium and Netherlands

Écologie — Report

The planned Seine-Nord Europe Canal will be 107 kilometres or 66 miles long, and will link the Paris region with the waterway network in northern France, ultimately ensuring navigation between the French capital and the inland waters of Belgium and the Netherlands. This new canal will start at Compiègne north of Paris and end near Cambrai in the north of the country. Mediapart's Margaux Houcine met opponents of the scheme who took to the treetops at Compiègne – before being removed by the police - to highlight what they see as both a pointless and environmentally-unfriendly project.  

France to EU: concede nothing yet to Trump in trade war

France — Link

Paris is joining a growing chorus of countries casting doubt on an EU push to buy more gas from the US.

France hands over last military base in Chad

International — Link

But Paris denies end to military ties as its forces leave Chad after 65 years.

'I told them to beware the middlemen': ex-intelligence agent gives evidence in Sarkozy-Libya funding trial

France — Chronicle

Nicolas Sarkozy and three former ministers are standing trial in Paris over claims that the former president's successful 2007 election campaign was part-funded by the Libyan regime of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. And that the North African country – whose leader was one of the most notorious dictators on the planet – received favours in exchange. There are 13 defendants in all. Wednesday's court hearing featured evidence from the former director of intelligence at France's overseas intelligence agency, the DGSE. Alain Juillet said that he had warned the former president's key allies and fellow defendants Brice Hortefeux and Claude Guéant of the risks they were taking by having contact with intermediaries – and also co-defendants - Ziad Takieddine and Alexandre Djouhri. Karl Laske reports