French state

French state doles out millions to newspapers owned by billionaire press barons

Économie et social — Opinion

As a result of the digital revolution, print versions of France's national daily newspapers sell barely more than 150,000 copies a day at kiosks and other outlets. This contrasts with a figure of 1.3 million daily copies back in 1990. Yet the French state  always seems ready to come to the aid of the various billionaires who own France's national titles.  Just a few weeks ago  the government set aside 30 million euros in extra help for the printed press. It is an approach which is both unjust and incoherent, argues Mediapart co-founder Laurent Mauduit in this op-ed article.

How French defence firm Thales placed a mole inside the UN

International — Investigation

From 2016 to 2019 an officer in the French air force reserve worked for the United Nations in New York in a technology and communications department that helped support peacekeeping missions. Officially the French military had seconded his services free of charge to the UN. But in reality the experienced officer was working for and being paid by France's major defence and electronics firm Thales, according to documents seen by Mediapart. As Yann Philippin and Antton Rouget report, senior figures in the French state were aware of what was going on.

Court orders French state to 'fix' consequences of its climate failures

France — Link

Thursday’s ruling gives the French state until 31 December 2022 to find a way to compensate for the extra tonnes of greenhouse gases emitted.

Massive fraud discovered of French state payments to furloughed staff

France — Link

Paris prosecutors have announced the opening of a nationwide investigation into fraudulent claims, amounting to  millions of euros, by organised crime gangs for state payment of salaries for employees furloughed by the Covid-19 epidemic during the two-month lockdown on public movement in France which began mid-March.

Children in France's poorest families go hungry during virus lockdown

France — Report

Families who usually rely on casual work to make ends meet have been unable to earn money since the lockdown began in France on March 17th. As a result their children are starting to go hungry. On May 15th the French state will pay “emergency aid” of an extra 150 euros to families who already receive welfare benefits. But voluntary groups say this is not soon enough and that help is needed now. To fill the gap left by the state, local support groups have meanwhile been springing up across the country, in some cases led by teachers. Faïza Zerouala reports.

France rules out coronavirus aid for tax-haven businesses

France — Link

Finance minister Bruno Le Maire also says companies cannot pay dividends while receiving government money.

French state on trial over murders of woman and parents by partner

France — Link

The sister of a mother of two children who was shot dead with her parents by a partner previously reported to the authorities for domestic violence has brought a court case against the French state for failing to prevent the killings in what her lawyer said was a 'textbook case' of 'neglect at every level'.

More talks due in Renault-Nissan standoff with French government

International — Link

Franco-Japanese carmaking alliance opposes French State's increased stake while driving force Nissan wants bigger share and rights in the group.

Renault-Nissan management 'hatches plan to lower French government control'

International — Link

Japanese media report Renault plans to lower its stake in the alliance to give Nissan voting rights and counter French state's 19.7% shareholding.

France sells minority stake in Toulouse airport to Chinese-led consortium

France — Link

Economy minister insists controversial sale of share in biggest airport in south-west France is not 'privatisation' but 'opening up of capital'.

Lossmaking Peugeot confirms €3bn deal with Dongfeng and France

France — Link

End of an era as Peugeot family loses control of a company it has run since the early days of steam-powered cars in 1889.

Minister says France 'totally bankrupt'

France — Link

French employment minister Michel Sapin has caused his government major embarassment after he described the country as “totally bankrupt”.