Weekly Briefs

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief highlights political, economic and cultural news stories related to France and French-American relations as well as trans-Atlantic and European issues.

The French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, September 03, 2010

Le Monde reported that the French government wanted to expand the criteria under which illegal Roma can be sent out of the country, notably in cases of "disturbance to public order." Immigration Minister Eric Besson also announced the impending implementation of a database that will gather the fingerprints of those receiving government money to leave France so as to diminish the number who make multiple trips in and out to collect multiple payments. The Washington Post described the air of controversy swirling around the Roma policy, which has drawn criticism from the UN and the Pope. Meanwhile, Le Télégramme followed a family of Roma living in Rennes as they prepared their children for their first day of school.

The French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, August 27, 2010

The AP suggested that President Sarkozy's return from vacation this week would be "a swift return to reality" as he faces criticism over his recent policies on the Roma and his proposal to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62. L'Express reported that large protests were planned for Sarkozy's "structurally impopular" retirement reform on September 7, when parliament is set to debate the proposal. Among the other "bad news" Sarkozy would confront, Le Figaro noted that the president had reduced France's economic growth forecast to 2 percent, down from 2.5 percent.

The French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, August 20, 2010

After accepting monetary aid of 300 euros each and 100 euros for each child, dozens of Roma in France boarded a flight to Bucharest on Thursday, August 19, in the first round of a controversial plan to send Roma back to Romania. France is currently home to about 15,000 Roma. According to the AFP, Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux announced that 51 illegal Roma camps had been raided, and that about 700 more deportations would follow by the end of the month. Time reported that opposition politicians condemned the deportations, warning of falling back on the Roma as familiar scapegoats in France, while the Financial Times said even some members of Sarkozy's own UMP party were criticizing the policy.

The French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, August 13, 2010

A UN committee said that Nicolas Sarkozy's plan to remove French citizenship from certain foreign-born criminals was not only discriminatory but also constituted an "incitation to hate," according to L'Express. The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) noted a resurgence of "racism and xenophobia" in France and wondered if Sarkozy's proposed nationality measures were compatible with the Constitution. The committee heard from a French delegation about measures taken in France since the last CERD hearing in 2005, and it will submit its conclusions at the end of August. Le Figaro published the results of a survey it conducted showing that the majority of French people approved of Sarkozy's various security measures.

The French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, July 30, 2010

President Sarkozy held a government meeting on Wednesday, July 28, to discuss problems posed by communities of so-called nomadic "traveling people" and Roma immigrants. Sarkozy had promised to crack down on travelers after riots erupted in a Loire Valley town last week over the death of a young man. After the meeting, Sarkozy announced that 300 illegal traveler camps would be dismantled and their residents deported within the next three months, according to Le Parisien. Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux insisted that the decision was not about "stigmatizing a community," but that "there are unacceptable behaviors in this community."

The French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, July 23, 2010

Les Echos reported that a National Assembly committee adopted the government's proposal to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62, with very few amendments. Certain disputed aspects of the proposed legislation, such as a provision allowing for earlier retirement based on the difficulty of labor, will be re-examined when the committee reconvenes in September. The current reform measure proposes maintaining the 60 year retirement age for workers whose work has resulted in "a level of physical incapacity greater than or equal to 20 percent." According to Europe1, unions are planning a protest for September 7, when the committee is scheduled to hold a public meeting to examine the reform.

The French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, July 16, 2010

President Sarkozy appeared on French television station France2 on Monday, July 12 to promote his reform plan and to respond to various accusations that his administration was improperly involved in the finances of L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt. An article in Time Magazine argued that the TV appearance had done little to change the opinion of viewers, and Le Figaro reported that polls showed only 44% of French people found Sarkozy's address convincing. French Labor Minister Eric Woerth, who has been caught up in the Bettencourt scandal, announced on Tuesday that he would accede to Sarkozy's request and step down as treasurer of the president's UMP party.

The French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, July 9, 2010

The online news site Mediapart published an interview with embattled L'Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt's former accountant, Claire Thibout, claiming that as a presidential candidate, President Sarkozy (among others) had received thousands of euros in illegal campaign contributions from Bettencourt.

The French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, July 2, 2010

The French government has persuaded France's elite universities-the Grandes Écoles-to sign on to a charter committing them to increase the number of scholarship students to 30 percent of the student body. If the schools do not reach the goal by 2012, they risk losing state financing. French Higher Education Minister Valérie Pécresse announced that she would be assembling a group of experts to create a "social performance" index on which financial allotments to the schools would be determined.

The French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, June 25, 2010

The AFP reported that Florence Woerth was resigning from the firm managing L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt's fortune amid allegations that Bettencourt hid 80 million Euros in Swiss tax shelters. Woerth is married to French Labor Minister Eric Woerth, who has faced calls for his resignation from Socialist opposition party leaders in light of the scandal. Woerth denied he or his wife had any involvement in the scandal, and claimed he had been made a "target" because of his role in proposed pension reforms.

The French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, June 18, 2010

On Tuesday, June 15, heavy rains led to devastating flash flooding in the Var region of southwestern France, according to the AP . Le Figaro reported that the death toll from the flooding had reached 25 by Thursday, with Var General Council president predicting that more bodies would be found as the flood waters receded.

The French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, June 11, 2010

RFI reported that French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel signed a joint letter urging the European Union to accelerate EU-wide financial regulations, including bans on short selling and credit default swaps of certain kinds of bonds and stocks. This after a "working dinner" scheduled for Monday to smooth over apparent tensions between the two leaders was pushed back by a week, according to Boursier. According to Business Week, Merkel surprised EU leaders last month by unilaterally banning naked sovereign credit-default swaps in Germany, placing blame on "speculators" for market volatility and the recent fall of the Euro.

The French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, June 4, 2010

At the 25th France-Africa summit held in Nice this week, President Nicolas Sarkozy called for an African spot on the UN Security Council, saying that African countries should have a bigger role in world politics. Reform proposed in 2005 would have added two permanent spots on the council to the three non-permanent seats already held by the continent.

The French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, May 28, 2010

French police arrested Rwandan doctor Eugene Rwamucyo in the Val-d'Oise region near Paris on Wednesday, May 26, according to the AFP. Kigali has called for his extradition for his alleged involvement in the 1994 massacre of Rwanda's Tutsis and moderate Hutus. His arrest came nearly three months after police detained Agathe Habyarimana, the widow of Rwanda's ex-president, and one of the alleged masterminds of the genocide. It also follows President Nicolas Sarkozy's landmark trip to Kigali in March during which he said France would do everything possible to ensure that all those responsible for the genocide are arrested and brought to justice.

The French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, May 21, 2010

On Tuesday, May 18, a French court released the man convicted of assassinating former Iranian Prime Minister Shahpour Bakhtiar at his home outside Paris in 1991. The liberation just two days earlier of Clotilde Reiss, a young French woman held in Iran since July 2009 on charges of espionage, has brought speculations of a prisoner swap.

The French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, May 14, 2010

Monday, May 10 marked the 162nd anniversary of the abolishment of slavery in France and its colonies. According to Radio France International, in a statement read by Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux, President Nicolas Sarkozy said, "France, the country of enlightenment and liberty, is today at the forefront of the fight against modern slavery, a scourge that we are determined to combat relentlessly."

The French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, April 30, 2010

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni arrived in China on Wednesday, April 28 as part of a state visit aimed at repairing French-Chinese relations, Le Figaro reports. While in the Asian nation, the couple attended the opening of the France pavilion at this year's World Expo in Shanghai. Sarkozy also sought Chinese support for sanctions against Iran. Relations hit a low between France and China in 2008 after France granted Tibetan spiritual leader and China critic, the Dalai Lama honorary citizenship.

The French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, April 23, 2010

A draft bill being discussed by the French cabinet on Wednesday, April 21, would authorize a maximum French contribution of €6.3 billion to Greece as part of a bailout deal agreed on by euro-zone ministers earlier this month. According to French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde, "It's not a gift, it's a bilateral loan." The New York Times reports that France's aid to Greece will equal 21 percent of its capital share of the European Central Bank. Greece has been struggling this year with a massive budget deficit.

The French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, April 16, 2010

On Sunday, April 11, the Taliban in Afghanistan released new footage of kidnapped French hostages, according to Agence France Presse. The two reporters, Stephane Taponnier and Herve Ghesquiere from France 3 television, were captured by the group in December 2009. In the video Taliban spokesman, Abdullah al-Wazir, demands French President Nicolas Sarkozy release Taliban prisoners in exchange for the journalists, or they will be killed. The two reporters are also forced to read statements on camera saying if the Taliban's ultimatum is not met, they will soon be executed.

The French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, April 9, 2010

On Sunday, April 4, Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade announcedthe takeover of French military bases in his country. The announcement came on the 50th Anniversary of Senegal's independence from France. The two countries had negotiatedan agreement regarding the transition in February. According to the BBC, France has been reducingits military presence in Africa in recent years.

The French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, April 2, 2010

Following major political setbacks at home, French President Nicolas Sarkozy made his first visit to the White House in more than a year on Tuesday, March 30. The two leaders discussed sanctions against Iran, and sat down on Tuesday night for dinner with their wives and interpreters. Other topics discussed included the financial regulatory overhaul and Middle East peace talks. The visit was described as "chummy" by Reuters, following earlier speculations that relations had cooled between the two leaders. On the subject of Iran, Obama said he and Sarkozy are "inseparable", according to the Associated Press.

The French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, March 26, 2010

French President Nicolas Sarkozy's Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) suffered a major defeat in the recent regional elections. The Socialist-led opposition took roughly 54 percent of the vote, with 36 percent going to the UMP. Only 51 percent of voters participated, according to the Washington Post, a sign of the public's disappointment with both the right and the left. The results leave the president's party with control of only Alsace, one of 22 regions in France. The elections are the last before 2012's presidential race, giving Sarkozy two years to reflect on and address what went wrong in Sunday's voting. On Monday, Labor Minister Xavier Darcos was replaced by Budget Minister Eric Woerth, and François Baroin replaced Woerth as Budget Minister.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, March 19, 2010

Simone Veil, a Holocaust survivor, fierce campaigner for women's rights, and the first woman to be elected president of the European Parliament, reached another milestone on Thursday, March 17, when she became the sixth woman to enter the Académie Française. As Health Minister, Veil was behind the 1975 legalization of abortion in France, overcoming opposition from the male dominated National Assembly. "Immortals", as members of the academy are known, oversee French language and usage. The ceremony will be broadcast live and attended by President Nicolas Sarkozy.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, March 12, 2010

On Sunday, March 7, French President Nicolas Sarkozy promised that "should Greece need financial help, the eurozone will stand by it," according to the Guardian. Sarkozy also pledged to crackdown on financial speculators, a group on which Greece, plagued by huge debt, partially blames its situation. No specific details regarding potential figures have been given. On Thursday, Greece was paralyzed as thousands of workers went on strike to protest their government's austerity measures, halting most public services and travel in and out of the country.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, March 5, 2010

A storm battered France's Atlantic coast last weekend, killing 52 people. The storm, called Xynthia, blew into France early Sunday, February 28, smashing sea walls and destroying homes. The storm also battered Belgium, Portugal, Spain and parts of Germany. Regional officials clamored for France to quickly reinforce its aging sea walls. Another debate has focused on whether local officials allowed too much construction in zones susceptible to floods.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, February 26, 2010

President Nicolas Sarkozy visited Haiti on Wednesday, February 17, thus becoming the first French President to visit the country since it gained independence and became the first black republic in 1804. Sarkozy presented a plan to help rebuild the former French colony that included the cancellation of €56 million ($76 million) in debt owed by Haiti, €100 million ($136 million) of funds to be provided over two years and €65 million ($89 million) to be channeled through the European Union. France will also provide ten experts to work with Haiti's Prime Minister and his staff on the recovery effort during these two years.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, February 19, 2010

Weekly Brief February 12, 2010

A report released on Friday, February 5, recommends that the French census should henceforth include a question on the nationality or place of birth of the respondent's parents, thus encouraging an ease on the taboo over ethnic statistics in the country, the AFP reported. This occurs as France is exploring new avenues to fight discrimination compatible with its constitutional framework that does not allow data collection of the ethnic make-up of the population. The report was written by a committee of 27 experts at the request of "commissaire à la diversité et à l'égalité des chances" Yazid Sabeg, a businessman of Algerian origin appointed by French President Sarkozy to advise him on anti-discrimination strategies.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, February 5, 2010

France German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met on Thursday, February 4 in Paris and demonstrated their shared ambition in several area of cooperation, according to Reuters. Notably, France will support Germany in its efforts to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Paris and Berlin put together a list of 80 measures for “ambitious and concrete” projects to reinforce the French-German relationship over the next ten years.

Weekly Brief, January 29, 2010

President Nicolas Sarkozy went on national television on Monday, January 25 as his ratings have been going down. France has come out of recession but is still struggling with rising unemployment, which is eroding his support levels. Sarkozy addressed several key issues such as unemployment and retirement pensions, but remained very cautious and did not make any concrete commitments, according to Le Nouvel Observateur. Still the AFP said that a large majority of the French people found him convincing according to a poll conducted by the CSA, the French equivalent of the FCC.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, January 22, 2010

The Iranian revolutionary court is expected to rule on Clotilde Reiss’s fate this week, according to the AP. The 24- year-old French scholar who was arrested on espionage charges in Iran at the height of the anti-government protests is among more than a hundred people who have been brought to trial for allegedly seeking to overthrow the government. Reiss was released on bail after a month and a half in custody but only under the condition that she remains at the French Embassy in Tehran until her trial is over. According to RFI, Reiss’ lawyer is confident that she will be acquitted.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, January 15, 2010

President Nicolas Sarkozy asked France's most prestigious schools - the grandes écoles - to raise their share of students from low-income backgrounds to 30 percent, according to Le Monde. The Conférence des Grandes écoles rejected the new admission target, arguing that it would simply lower their standards. Their intransigence

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, December 11, 2009

According to Tuesday's New York Times, the Senate voted down the health bill's abortion amendment, known as the Stupak amendment, by a vote of 54 to 45. The amendment was meant to make abortion coverage illegal for health plans that "[get] taxpayer dollars." In addition, CBS News covered the debate over the health bill's public option. According to a report on Wednesday, a Senate committee reached a "broad agreement" that the government-run, public option feature should be replaced by a program that is managed by a non-profit, private insurance company. However, the agreement only represents a group of 10 senators, and does not necessarily reflect how the Senate, as a whole, will vote on the bill.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, October 9, 2009

Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand faced calls to resign, after his defense of Roman Polanksi caused his 2005 memoir to resurface, in which he admitted to previous sexual misconduct. President Nicholas Sarkozy, who had read the memoir and was not shocked by the recent attention to it, had previously praised the book as “courageous and talented,” according to Le Nouvel Observateur.

French-American Foundation, Weekly Brief October 2, 2009

Le Figaro described the courtroom scene, as former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin defended his innocence against his involvement in attempting to ruin Sarkozy’s bid for President from 2003 to 2004. He stated that he was happy to “contribute to bringing truth” to the accusations by taking part in the trial, according to tf1.ici.fr. Le Nouvel Observateur reported that former presidential candidate Ségolène Royal expressed that President Sarkozy should not take part of the trial as a civilian, stating that there are others that can be involved and that “the presence of the President of the Republic, who is the head of state, is not needed.”

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, September 18, 2009

The Connexion reported that the tax on carbon will increase to 17 euros a ton starting in 2010, while the tax on electricity will remain the same, causing former Socialist Party presidential candidate Ségolène Royal to describe the tax as “ineffective, unjust and vicious.” The Economist pointed out that while it may be tough to pass, if approved, France would be the largest economy to adopt a carbon tax and that President Sarkozy would use revenue from the tax to reduce income tax.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, September 11, 2009

French Budget Minister Eric Woerth has obtained information for the first time on about 3,000 French citizens with offshore bank accounts and estimates that the government is owed between 50 and 100 billion euros in undeclared taxes. The Connexion reported that Woerth will bring justice to those who have not come clean by the end of the year.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, September 4, 2009

Le Monde outlined Martine Aubry‘s five reforms for the Socialist Party, and the Le Nouvel Observateur cited Socialist Party member Pierre Moscovici’s assertion that the party elections should be held between June and September 2011, allowing Dominique Strauss-Kahn, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, to participate. A Sofres-Logica survey showed that the head of the IMF is the preferred Socialist Party candidate among young people.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, August 28, 2009

Le Figaro outlined the nine policy priorities for the French government as it returns from its summer recess, including reform of France’s electoral districts and preparation of a “carbon tax.”

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, August 21, 2009

Fadela Amara, France's minister for urban policy, has called for a ban on the wearing of the burqa, arguing that it represents "the oppression of women, their enslavement, their humiliation." The BBC noted that in 2004, France controversially banned the wearing of Islamic headscarves and other "conspicuous" religious symbols in state schools and by public employees. According to Der Spiegel, conservative parties in Denmark are echoing the call for a similar ban in their country, calling the garment "un-Danish."

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, August 14, 2009

The New York Times reported that a new round of suburban riots has broken out in the Parisian suburb of Bagnolet, and Al Jazeera noted that the unrest was sparked by the death of an 18-year-old pizza delivery man who was fleeing police. The BBC reported that Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux has called for an internal police investigation into the death. The French-American Foundation has published a policy brief on the issue of youth violence in Parisian suburbs.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, August 7, 2009

French doctors treating a 62-year-old Cameroonian woman living in Paris have identified a new strain of HIV that appears to have originated in gorillas instead of chimpanzees, according to the BBC. France24 cited researchers who said that "the discovery of this new family of HIV-1 highlights the need to closely monitor the emergence of new HIV strains."

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, July 31, 2009

The New York Daily News described the last stages of the Tour de France as Lance Armstrong, a seven-time Tour winner, took third place. ESPN provided a retrospective of its favorite moments from this year's competition. The New York Times said that some Frenchmen are "seeing red" because a French rider hasn't won the tour since 1985.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, July 24, 2009

The Elysée palace has been accused by opposition leaders of financing public opinion polls that were eventually presented as independent in the media, according to Research magazine. Le Monde explained how the implicated research company, OpinionWay, is being accused of "collusion with the government, questionable methodology, and bias." At his media blog at the Nouvel Observateur, Claude Soula cited specific examples of irregularities of OpinionWay's reported polls.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, July 17, 2009

France celebrated Bastille Day, its national holiday, and France Soir interviewed Bruno Dary, military governor of Paris, who organized the capital's celebration. Le Figaro provided a slideshow of images from the parade, and Agence France Presse noted that Indian soldiers were invited for the first time to take part in the Bastille Day march. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was the guest of honor at the celebrations, the first Indian leader to receive such an invitation, according to the Indian Express. Additionally, Deutsche-Welle reported that Horst Koehler was the first German president to take part in the annual military parade.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, July 10, 2009

Agence France Presse reported that France's far-right National Front party was defeated in a critical town council election, which would have been its first victory in such a contest in over ten years. The New York Times described the strange bedfellows created during the election, as the center-right urged voters to support the left against a far-right party.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, June 26, 2009

French President Nicolas Sarkozy delivered an address to a joint session of parliament at the palace of Versailles, which the Washington Post noted was the first speech of its kind in 136 years. Libération outlined the main points of the speech, including his desire for a proscription of the wearing of the burqa in France, and his insistence that affirmative action programs be based on social instead of race-based factors. In the New York Times, John Vinocur argued that the speech may indicate a personal "rebranding" on the part of the president.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, June 19, 2009

Le Monde said that in the wake of his party's success in the European elections, French President Nicolas Sarkozy would lay out plans for the "second phase" of his five-year mandate, speaking to a joint session of the parliament at Versailles. The Connexion noted that a recent change in the French constitution gives the president the opportunity to address both houses of congress in a speech similar to the American "State of the Union" address. Le Nouvel Observateur pointed out that different parties on the left are divided on whether to boycott the speech or attend it and have their say.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, June 12, 2009

U.S. President Barack Obama traveled to France to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, and the White House provided the president's official remarks in which he noted that "so much of the progress that would define the 20th century, on both sides of the Atlantic, came down to the battle for a slice of beach only six miles long and two miles wide." The Elysée provided French President Nicolas Sarkozy's remarks: "Those who defeated Nazism and fascism did so in the vision of a better world where law would replace brute force." The BBC provided a slideshow of photographs from the day's ceremonies.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, June 5, 2009

Libération reported that an Air France flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean Sunday evening. The Wall Street Journal reported that the Brazilian military located a trail of debris thought to be from the downed Airbus A330 and that authorities were beginning a search for the aircraft's flight recorders. However, CNN noted that authorities eventually concluded that the debris was not from the flight. The Irish Times provided a timeline of the plane's last moments. Le Point described the memorial service given at the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, May 29, 2009

The Financial Times reported that Claude Allègre, former socialist education minister and climate change skeptic, may be offered a position related to innovation and industry in the French government following the upcoming European elections. Environmentalists criticized the hypothetical appointment, including Nicolas Hulot, who told Le Journal du Dimanche that it would be difficult to reconcile Allègre's views with the recommendations of the Grenelle de l'environnement. L'Express provided reactions to the rumor from across the political spectrum. Les Echos reported Allègre's harsh words for his critics, saying that certain environmentalists were afraid of losing their state subsidies, and Le Figaro reported that the would-be minister has "no qualms" about voting for a UMP candidate in the European elections.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, May 22, 2009

Le Monde described the strategy of the Socialist Party in the approaching European elections as it trails in the polls against the UMP. Libération noted that Ségolène Royal and Martine Aubry, who battled for leadership of the party earlier this year, will make a joint appearance at a meeting in late May to “demonstrate the unity of the party.”

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, May 15, 2009

The HALDE, France's high anti-discrimination authority, presented a report to the French government concluding that more than one in four employees in the private sector has been a victim of discrimination, according to the Connexion. Le Figaro described the body's increasing use of fines and civil court action in fighting discrimination, and the paper cited a new French-American Foundation report on American anti-discrimination strategies that could be applied in France. The full report is available for download here at the website of the French-American Foundation. In Le Monde, an op-ed argued that France doesn't need new measures to fight discrimination but simply more robust application of current law.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, May 8, 2009

Euronews described the transfer of 430 inmates from a crumbling prison in Lyon to a new, state-of-the-art facility in the nearby city of Corbas, in an operation that involved more than 1,000 police and security personnel. Meanwhile, prison guards at Fleury-Mérogis, Europe's largest prison, set up barricades to protest overcrowding and violence against guards, according to the Connexion. Ouest-France described the violent clashes that occurred as gendarmes were called in to remove the barricades and allow the entry of 35 new inmates. The Telegraph describes the overcrowding and deterioration of French prison facilities, as well as what the latest unrest could mean for Justice Minister Rachida Dati.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, May 1, 2009
La Presse Canadienne reported that France has raised its health alert level in the midst of a worldwide outbreak of swine flu. Agence France Presse noted that several people in the Lille area with flu-like symptoms tested negative for the pig flu virus but that authorities continue to test patients across France. The head of Roche Laboratories, makers of anti-flu drugs Tamiflu and Relenza, insisted to Le Figaro that France is "well-protected" against the virus, with medicine available for 50 percent of the French population. The French Ministry of Health has set up a web portal with the latest information on the emergency measures being taken.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, April 24, 2009
Libération reported candid comments and criticisms allegedly made by President Nicolas Sarkozy about various world leaders at a parliamentary luncheon. The leaders mentioned included President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, according to the Associated Press. TIME described the reactions of the Anglophone press and the effect that the comments could have on the French president's influence in diplomatic circles.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, April 17, 2009
Ioanna Kohler, director of the Equality of Opportunity program at the French-American Foundation, was interviewed by Respect magazine in an issue comparing France and the United States on questions of rights and equality. An article in the New York Times explored prospects for minority participation in French politics and highlights a recent workshop during which three members of President Barack Obama's campaign team spoke to 60 emerging French leaders from minority backgrounds in a program sponsored by the French-American Foundation - France.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, April 10, 2009
Historian Robert Paxton , known for his groundbreaking research on the Vichy Regime and occupied France, received the Légion d'honneur from former Minister of Culture Jack Lang in New York, as a result of a special request by President Sarkozy, according to Nonfiction.fr. While Lang was in New York for the presentation of the award, France-Amérique took the opportunity to interview him on French domestic issues. As part of its Tuck Speakers Series, the French-American Foundation is hosting Professor Monique Saigal on April 27th for a reception and discussion of her new book, Héroïnes Françaises, 1940-1945: Courage, Force et Ingéniosité, a collection of interviews with women who served in the French Resistance.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, April 3, 2009
The small Indian Ocean island of Mayotte voted overwhelmingly to become France's 101st département, according to the Telegraph. Ivan Rioufol's blog at Le Figaro asked how French law might be applied to the mostly Muslim island, raising the minimum marriage age, outlawing polygamy, and imposing French-style separation of church and state. France24 explained that some Imams appealed for a "no" vote, and Mayotte Hebdo provided reactions of French politicians from the left and the right.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, March 27, 2009
France will compensate civilians and members of the military suffering from illnesses linked to radiation from nuclear weapons tests, according to the New York Times. Connexion noted that €10 million has been earmarked for victims and no minimum exposure level will be required to receive compensation.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, March 20, 2009
CNN reported that workers from multiple sectors walked off the job, calling for the government to do more to assuage the effects of the economic downturn. Le Point explained which unions were striking and how the stoppage will affect different areas of the economy. Bernard Thibault, secretary general of the CGT, one of France's largest unions, explained the goals of the strike in an interview with Le Monde. Laurence Parisot, president of France's employers union, called the strike an "easy answer that isn't really a response" to the crisis, according to Challenges.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, March 13, 2009
Le Monde examined the mindset of French 16-25 year-olds, calling them a generation that has "lost faith in the future" and who are the most pessimistic in Europe. Youth Minister Martin Hirsch has launched a commission on youth politics, which will be tasked with identifying specific reforms for improving youth access to job training, employment, housing, and culture. Le Monde noted that the commission will include representatives from unions, business leaders, regional governments, and youth associations.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, March 6, 2009
Despite recent reconciliation among party leaders and an agreement on candidates for the upcoming European elections, there is still “grumbling” behind the unified façade, according to Libération. Among the disagreements: the nomination of former Socialist deputy Vincent Peillon to head the Socialist list for the Southwest region of France. Peillon reportedly called his placement “heartbreaking,” according to Rue89, though Libération pointed out that he later said that it was “the only region in which I wanted to run.” Euronews analyzed the state of the Socialist Party in the run-up to European elections.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, February 27, 2009
Le Point reported the rapprochement in the Socialist leadership following the extremely close intraparty elections and disagreements at the Congress of Reims. Ségolène Royal and Martine Aubry have “buried the hatchet,” according to La Presse Canadienne, and about a dozen “Royalists” will become part of the party’s national leadership, said TF1. L’Express reported that Royal said she was “willing” to take an official leadership position in the party: “If one is given to me, that’s fine. If it’s not, that’s fine as well.”

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, February 20, 2009
Representatives from France’s labor unions and employer federations met with the French government this week to discuss policy initiatives to help French workers suffering from the financial crisis, according to the Connexion. President Nicolas Sarkozy pledged €2.6 billion in new aid, according to the International Herald Tribune, including tax breaks for low-income families and new benefits for young workers.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, February 13, 2009
USA Today reported on the creation of the New Anticapitalist Party following the dissolution of the Communist Revolutionary League. The new party will be led by the former leader of the LCR, Olivier Besancenot, whom Le Télégramme called an “ideal opponent.” Socialist politician David Lebon explained to Le Journal du Dimanche that although the new party expressed legitimate grievances, its existence will help the right more than it will help the left.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, February 6, 2009
President Nicolas Sarkozy made a television appearance to explain the state response to the continuing economic crisis, reported TF1. Le Journal du Dimanche noted that the president was adamant about maintaining the schedule of institutional reforms in spite of reduced economic growth.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, January 30, 2009
Hundreds of thousands of French workers walked off the job on Thursday for a 36-hour general strike, reported the International Herald Tribune. Most unions were expressing continuing frustration over the economic crisis, but Reuters explained the specific grievances of different sectors. CNN reported that the turnout was less than expected, turning “Black Thursday” into “Gray Thursday.” Le Journal du Dimanche noted that 69 percent of French people expressed sympathy with the striking workers. Rue89 put the walkout in the historical context of previous general strikes in 1936 and 1968.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, January 23, 2009
Socialist deputies in the French National Assembly are planning for a motion of no-confidence in the government for its handling of the economic crisis, according to Le Nouvel Observateur. Rue89 noted that the Socialist Party has released the details of its own €50 billion economic recovery plan, which would be financed in part by rolling back tax cuts.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, January 16, 2009
The expected changes to the composition of the French government were announced this week, and the Wall Street Journal explained that President Nicolas Sarkozy made “limited” modifications, only shifting the portfolios of some junior ministers. One notable change was the assignment of Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet to development of the digital economy and strategic studies, according to Le Figaro. Rue89 noted that Martin Hirsch, previously the government’s “anti-poverty” minister, was made high commissioner for youth issues. Agence France Presse reported that an additional €150 million will be earmarked for aid to young people in the areas of housing, employment, health care, and job training. 20minutes asked whether the task before Hirsch is an “impossible mission.”

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, January 9, 2009
The Independent reported the long-awaited end of prime-time advertising on French public television stations, in what President Nicolas Sarkozy called an attempt to “rival the quality of the BBC.” Le Figaro described the legislative battle that preceded the decision. Rue89 analyzed the economic impact of the change, as well as the difficulties posed by the plan of running commercials during the day while remaining ad-free at night.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, December 19, 2008
French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced several initiatives to encourage equality of opportunity in higher education, said Le Monde. Libération outlined the proposals, which included reserving 30 percent of places in Grande Ecole preparatory classes for students receiving need-based scholarships, as well as appointing Yazid Sabeg as commissioner for diversity and equality. The Herald Sun noted President Sarkozy’s encouragement of French businesses to begin using anonymous resumes to combat discrimination in hiring. Patrick Weil, director of research at the CNRS and participant on a French-American Foundation Study Tour on percentage plans, discussed the new anti-discrimination measures in an interview with Le Monde.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, December 12, 2008
Connexion France reported that supporters of Ségolène Royal remain devoted to the prospect of her presidential candidacy, despite her loss to Martine Aubry in the race for first secretary of the party. In an interview with RTL, Royal told listeners that “reconciliation is necessary” and that “more than ever before, France needs a united Left.” At Telos, Laurent Bouvet argued that the current reform is merely window dressing and doesn’t represent a true change of course. Le Point said that, meanwhile, the French Communist Party is “searching for its future.”

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, December 5, 2008
Flucuat.net reported that Lille Mayor Martine Aubry was elected first secretary of the Socialist Party following a protracted electoral contest. The Economist described the thin margin—102 votes out of 134,800 cast—by which Aubry defeated former presidential candidate Ségolène Royal. Le Figaro asked whether the party could heal its internal divisions and analyzed Royal’s prospects for a presidential run in 2012. The Why It Matters blog from Newsweek noted that the continuing divisions could be an opportunity “for reshaping France’s political landscape.”

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, November 21, 2008
The New York Times reported that last weekend’s Socialist Party congress in Reims failed to produce a clear choice for the position of first secretary. Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoë withdrew his candidacy, according to the Financial Times, and La Libre Belgique reported his endorsement of Martine Aubry, mayor of Lille and architect of the 35-hour work week. Fluctuat.net cited a survey noting that 54 percent of French people think that the party “lacks a leader,” and Le Parisien provided reactions from French voters. Telos analyzed Delanoë’s run for party leadership, noting his capacity to appear both as a fresh face and an experienced party leader. After the first round of voting, Ségolène Royal and Martine Aubry led with 42.5 percent and 34.7 percent respectively, according to Le Monde.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, November 14, 2008
French President Nicolas Sarkozy gave an address in remembrance of those who died during World War I. The BBC described the Armistice Day ceremonies in France and across Europe. According to the Connexion, the president took the additional step of pardoning French soldiers executed for desertion during the war, honoring “all the dead without exception.”

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, November 7, 2008
Senator Barack Obama became the 44th president-elect of the United States, capturing a majority of the country’s 538 electoral votes. L’Express explained that the result represented a number of “firsts,” including the election of the first African-American president. The Christian Science Monitor described the international attention that the election has received as well as “what Obama’s election means abroad.”

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, October 31, 2008
French President Nicolas Sarkozy took new steps to boost employment in the face of the financial crisis, increasing the number of subsidized job contracts by 100,000, according to Le Figaro. Capital.fr noted that other reforms include expanding unemployment benefits to young workers and short-term contract workers. Labor expert Jacques Freyssinet spoke to Le Monde and put the recent government measures in historical context.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, October 24, 2008
French Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot presented a new law for the organization of French hospitals, which was approved this week by the Council of Ministers, according to Agence France Presse. The Connexion explained the specific measures of the law, including the appointment of new hospital managers and the creation of Agences Régionales de Santé (ARS) that will oversee a large number of health services previously run by several agencies. Le Monde described the experience of French doctors who practice in rural areas and noted the pressing shortage of these médecins de campagne.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, October 17, 2008
The National Assembly approved the French bank bailout plan in a vote of 224-23, with the Socialist Party abstaining. Bakchich provided video interviews with Socialist deputies who abstained and Communist deputies who voted against the plan. Speaking on RTL, Prime Minister François Fillon explained why the plan wouldn’t be a financial burden to taxpayers in the long run.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, October 10, 2008
The Christian Science Monitor reported that the world economy may be slipping into a global recession. Marianne asked whether the current crisis represents the “end of short-termism.” A statement from the U.S. Federal Reserve explained the coordinated action by central banks around the world to cut interest rates, and the White House scheduled global economic crisis talks with finance ministers from G7 nations, according to Agence France Presse. In the Financial Times, Martin Wolf reminded readers that “things that can’t go on forever, don’t.”

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, October 3, 2008
Angus Reid Global Monitor reported that the French are worried about the financial crisis, as 73 percent of respondents think that the credit crisis will have an impact on their daily lives. France-info took a second look at the Livret A, the most popular savings account in France, after its interest rate was raised to 4 percent.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, September 26, 2008
French Senate elections took place this week, and Le Monde reported the 21-seat gain by the Socialist Party. Les Echos provided a list of the results of major races. Rue89 analyzed the demographics of the new Senate, in which the average age dropped to 62 from 64.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, September 19, 2008
U.S. and global stocks rallied this week following the announcement of what The Wall Street Journal called the most extensive market intervention since the 1930s. Interactive Investor described the government plan to create a federal “bad bank” that would relieve U.S. banks of toxic, mortgage-related debt. La Tribune estimated the cost of the bailout plan to be in excess of $1 trillion.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, September 12, 2008
Ars technica explained growing opposition to the Exploitation documentaire et valorisation de l’information générale, or EDVIGE, meant to be used by French intelligence and police services to centralize information on individuals who would be likely to disturb public order. Opposition came from many quarters, including associations, civil liberties groups and unions. There seemed to be division within the government, as Defense Minister Hervé Morin expressed his reservations about the program publicly, according to Le Point. Libération pointed out Prime Minister François Fillon’s insistence, however, that Morin’s words were not indicative of any substantive disagreement on the database. The Luxembourg’s Le Quotidien argued that the program needs additional review.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, September 5, 2008
As France returns from its estival caesura, Le Monde ran a photo essay on la rentrée with French students coming back to school. This year’s return comes amid a spate of reforms launched by Education Minister Xavier Darcos—including added emphasis on French and mathematics as well as a new push to increase English competency among French students, reported France24. LCI reported the minister’s laudatory words for France’s national school system as he promised to lay out before October 15th general principles for reforming French lycées. Agence France Presse reported a study—Health Behaviour in School-aged Children—which reported that French youth rate their lives at 7.5 on a scale of 10.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, August 8, 2008
The Times of London argued that despite initial difficulties at the beginning of his term, President Nicolas Sarkozy ended up making the most of his first year in office. The Christian Science Monitor said that the president’s record is worth a look, especially by Americans eager for a fresh start in political leadership.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, August 1, 2008
Reuters summarized the spate of reforms pushed through by President Nicolas Sarkozy before the government begins winding down for its summer holiday. Le Figaro noted that this government has adopted more laws in the first year of a presidency than any other within the past 30 years. The BBC provided an “end-of-term report” for President Sarkozy’s first year.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, July 25, 2008
Two sweeping reforms were adopted by French lawmakers this week. A plenary session of the National Assembly and Senate at Versailles adopted the latest round of constitutional changes—539 to 357—in an extremely close vote just one ballot over the 3/5 threshold required for passage, according to Le Nouvel Observateur. Socialist Jack Lang, who sat on the commission that drafted the changes, was the only member of his party to vote yes, said the Guardian. The International Herald Tribune quoted Prime Minister François Fillon: “Our Constitution is neither of the right nor the left; it is our basic law, which governs the functioning of our democracy,” The BBC provided a summary of the changes. French Morning pointed out the addition of representatives for French citizens living overseas. Law professor Guy Carcassonne answered Le Monde’s questions about the new relationship between the president and parliament.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, July 18, 2008
France celebrated Bastille Day this week with the traditional military parade on the Champs-Elysées, and Le Monde reported that President Nicolas Sarkozy reiterated his confidence in France’s military forces with his yearly message aux armées. Le Figaro noted the decidedly international character of this year’s celebration, and Libération’s defense blog provided a history of the July 14 celebration. L’Express described the awarding of the Légion d’honneur to Ingrid Betancourt, who was recently rescued from Colombian terrorists.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, July 11, 2008
Reuters published a “fact-box” outlining France’s priorities as it steps into the presidency of the Council of the European Union. The Financial Times argued that it will be important for President Sarkozy to build a consensus after the Irish “no” vote and that a definitive answer on the Lisbon Treaty may not even be possible until a summit of EU leaders scheduled for December in Brussels. TIME quoted experts who said that the president should concentrate on key policy areas, such as climate change, and not try to solve the problem of the Lisbon Treaty. Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said that despite the Irish rejection, France will continue to build European defense capabilities to complement NATO.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, June 27, 2008
A proposal from the French national health insurance system suggested reducing coverage of certain prescription drugs for chronic illnesses from 100 percent to 35 percent, according to Le Figaro. TF1 noted the expected outcry from opposition leaders, who described the proposal, along with the introduction of copays earlier this year—as a “dismantling” of the national health insurance system. Budget Minister Eric Woerth pointed out that the patient would not have to pay 100 percent of the cost, as the 65 percent difference would be paid by other forms of public and private insurance, said La Tribune.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, June 20, 2008
Citing a speech given by President Nicholas Sarkozy on the occasion of the release of a new French white paper on defense and national security, CNN reported that after 40 years of absence, France intends to rejoin NATO’s integrated military command. A full version of the paper is available at the Defense Ministry’s website. Libération’s Secret Défense blog analyzed several of the changes, including the elimination of 54,000 military and civilian positions and an increased focus on military intelligence and counterterrorism. The reduction in manpower will be counterbalanced by increased funding to replace aging equipment, according to Le Figaro.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, June 13, 2008
20minutes.fr reported that three French firms—Accor Jobs, Crédit Agricole and Mercuri Urval—have been accused of discriminatory hiring practices by the Haute Autorité de lutte contre les discriminations et pour l’égalité. Fifteen CAC 40 companies were tested, said the Nouvel Observateur, and the test showed that candidates of African origin were 23 percent less likely to receive invitations to interviews, and older candidates were 42 percent less likely. La Tribune discussed the controversy of the method of blind testing used to measure discrimination, and the topic was touched on in a recent French-American Foundation policy brief on the collection of ethnic statistics to fight discrimination.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, June 6, 2008
This week CNN launched its series “Eye on France,” including a story on the country’s ever-changing experience with immigration, focusing on the southern port city of Marseille. Le Journal de Dimanche reported that Martine Aubry, mayor of Lille, is emerging as the “unofficial” alternative for Socialist faithful looking for a third way between party heavyweights Ségolène Royal and Bertrand Delanoë. Libération described her warm reception at a party meeting in Paris where, in front of about 800 applauding party members and leaders, Aubry expressed her Socialist pride, with a call to “put aside its old quarrels.” Politique.net provided background on the reconstructeurs.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, May 30, 2008
French President Nicolas Sarkozy spoke to RTL this week to explain how current reforms are showing results and to lay out new changes for the coming months. Charles Bremner summarized the interview for The Times of London. EUBusiness focused on the president’s idea for a Europe-wide suspension of the VAT on oil to combat rising gas prices, and Reuters noted the president’s pledge not to impose budget austerity. Le Monde reported the reaction of the Socialist Party, whose first secretary said that it seemed that President Sarkozy was “still campaigning.”

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, May 23, 2008
According to Le Figaro, a retired high-level French diplomat met with Hamas last month, and Deutsche-Welle noted that French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner confirmed the meeting. The Sydney Morning Herald said that revelation of the contact comes as Israel is “inching closer” to a ceasefire agreement with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, May 16, 2008
Frenchmorning.com reported that French Consul-General of New York François Delattre will soon be named ambassador to Canada, replacing Daniel Jouanneau who has held the post since 2004. A procedural vote adopted by a margin of 136-135 seemed to derail a bill on limiting genetically modified crops in France, said Agence France Presse. But the measure has been given a reprieve after examination by a commission mixte paritaire, according to Le Monde. Rue89 audio commentary by deputies on the parliamentary maneuvering, and TF1 explained the procedural move and the process of lawmaking in France.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, May 9, 2008
President Nicolas Sarkozy hailed the “moral victory” over Nazi Germany, said France24, in a commemorative ceremony held in Ouistreham, where a French commando force led by Commandant Philippe Kieffer landed in June 1944. Kieffer’s name will be honored as the code name of a new commando unit, according to Le Point. Reuters reported that President Sarkozy will decide next month whether France should acquire a second aircraft carrier. Der Spiegel noted that France is pushing to expand its coastal “Exclusive Economic Zones” (EEZ), enlarging its claims on the world’s oceans, now at more than 11 million square kilometers.

French-American Foundation Weekly Brief, May 2, 2008
Labor Minister Xavier Bertrand presented to French unions a plan to reform French retirement schemes, according to 20minutes.fr. Le Monde provided the document outlining the new plan, which would increase the mandatory paying-in period to 41 years. The major unions have rejected the new set of measures, and La Tribune reported that they are planning a “day of action” to resist the changes. Les Echos outlined the history of retirement reform in France. France2.fr reported that Laurence Parisot, head of France’s largest employers’ union, said that the legal retirement age ought to be raised to 62.