Latest news with #JacquesChirac
Local France
a day ago
- Sport
- Local France
Inside France: The huge Seine clean-up, upsetting the British and gassing about Chat GPT
Inside France is our weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in France that you might not have heard about. It's published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox, by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article. Not so in-Seine One hundred and two years ago, the city of Paris banned swimming in the Seine because of the dangerously high levels of pollution in the river. Since then various city officials (including Jacques Chirac during his time as mayor) have tried to bring it back but none succeeded - until now. Three swimming spots will open up in the Seine on Saturday, July 5th, offering locals and tourists alike the chance to take a dip - with the proviso that they will only open if water quality levels are safe. It's likely that the pools may close for a day or so if there are more storms or flash floods in the city. READ ALSO : Where in Paris you can swim the Seine this summer This is the culmination of a massive clean-up effort - and it's important to note that Paris didn't spend €1.5 billion to let people swim. It spent €1.5 billion to make the river clean enough that people could swim. This is an enormous legacy project that will hopefully benefit many generations to come, as well as bringing back to life the river's biodiversity. There have been many people who were apparently keen to see them fail - both during the Olympic challenges that were the first stage of the swimming project and now. 2024 headline from The European Conservative Headline from The Times on the day the Olympic triathlon swimming event was held in the Seine I think that the city deserves immense credit for ignoring the haters and pushing ahead with a project that has been, yes, expensive, complicated and sometimes disappointing but will ultimately benefit billions. I look forward to swimming in it this summer - not just to enjoy a cool dip on a hot day but because this seems to me to be a symbol of 21st century Paris; ambitious, bold, forward-looking, environmentally conscious and working to improve the quality of life for its inhabitants. Advertisement Talking France We discuss swimming in the Seine in this week's Talking France podcast, as well as the landmark legal verdict over Brittany's toxic green algae and how France has, so far, managed to avoid anti-tourism protests of the type seen in Spain, Italy and Portugal. Listen here or on the link below. Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of podcasting I see that the French have been stirring up trouble in the UK again, indirectly anyway. Paris-based journalist Sophie Pedder's question to the British ex-MP and podcast host Rory Stewart was a simple one 'What is it that bugs you so much about the French? Why can you never be positive about any French politician?', but it sparked quite a row between Stewart and his podcast co-host Alistair Campbell. My take is that Sophie is quite right, there is among certain Brits (especially posh older men) a lazy and frankly tedious strain of 'hating the French', based on very little actual knowledge of the country next door. There's plenty to dislike and criticise about French politicians, but doing so simply because they are French is just dull. What prompted all this, incidentally, was ex prime minister Gabriel Attal's trip to London - following in the footsteps of his mentor Emmanuel Macron who made a big effort to court London's French community back when he was launching his presidential ambitions in 2016/7. Advertisement French language observation of the week I will never again be able to hear about Chat GPT without thinking of this In French chat gpt sounds like "chatte j'ai pété" which means "pussy I farted". Every time a French person talks about chat gpt it sounds like they are saying "pussy I farted" We don't talk about this enough — Emily Herring ( @ ) 26 June 2025 at 09:40 Inside France is our weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in France that you might not have heard about. It's published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox, by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article.
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Ex-French PM Dominique de Villepin launches party with view to 2027 presidential run
The former French prime minister and foreign policy chief Dominique de Villepin has launched a political party called Humanist France, with a view to a possible bid for the French presidency in 2027. De Villepin, who was prime minister under the rightwing president Jacques Chirac from 2005 to 2007, is best known for his dramatic speech to the United Nations in 2003, setting out France's opposition to a US-led Iraq war and warning of the 'incalculable consequences' of military action in the region. Despite leaving French politics over a decade ago, de Villepin has enjoyed a significant increase in popularity after recent media appearances criticising Israel's war in Gaza. He has said the west is 'closing its eyes' to what he called a scandalous 'spiral of violence' and rising civilian deaths. Recent polls showed de Villepin's stance on the Middle East crisis has made him the most popular politician in France – and that he is particularly liked by leftwing voters, despite having led a rightwing government. De Villepin, 71, told Le Parisien on Tuesday that too many parties in France were 'tempted by populism, one-upmanship and stigmatisation' and France needed to move away from the identity politics polarising the country. He said his party, La France humaniste, was free to join and open to anyone from any political stance. It was a movement aimed at bringing together citizens and coming up with ideas, he said. Asked about running in the 2027 presidential election, de Villepin said it was not the moment to 'enter the presidential debate'. But he left the way open for consideration of a possible bid. De Villepin told France Inter radio on Tuesday that the world was becoming a more dangerous place 'because we're now in a world without rules, without international law, where the law of the jungle, the law of the strongest prevails'. A gaullist who historically positioned himself on the centre-right, de Villepin's term as prime minister under Chirac was marred by the biggest street protests in decades, which forced him to scrap a controversial youth employment law. Christelle Craplet, director of opinion at BVA pollsters, said de Villepin's high popularity was not the same as a firm intention to vote for him. She said his popularity was greatest not among his traditional centre-right, but among supporters of Jean-Luc Mélenchon's leftwing party, La France Insoumise, for whom Gaza was a key issue. A recent BVA poll asking French voters a more specific question on who they would like to have an influence on French politics in the future, found de Villepin came relatively low down, in 17th position, far behind the far-right's Jordan Bardella and Marine Le Pen, and the centre-right former prime minister, Édouard Philippe. Craplet said: 'Dominique de Villepin made an impression 20 years ago with his refusal of the Iraq war, and today his strong position on Gaza is also making an impression. He is popular because he has a strong voice on the Middle East conflict and part of the French electorate feel not enough is being said about Gaza. This is particularly true among those who sympathise with La France Insoumise.' She said: 'But I think that if tomorrow de Villepin had to set out his position on domestic French politics – the economy and social measures – support from left voters wouldn't last. So I think it's very paradoxical, and today it seems to me like a bit of a bubble.' The 2027 French presidential race remains open. Emmanuel Macron, who has served two successive terms, cannot run again and it is uncertain who will represent his centrist party. The far-right leader Marine Le Pen was this year banned from running for public office after she was found guilty of embezzlement of European parliament funds. She is waiting for an appeals trial next year to see if she could run, or would be replaced by Jordan Bardella.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Paris unveils a memorial to LGBTQ+ victims of Nazi regime and other persecutions
PARIS (AP) — A memorial to the long-ignored gay victims of the Nazi regime and to all LGBTQ+ people persecuted throughout history has been unveiled in Paris on Saturday. The monument, a massive steel star designed by French artist Jean-Luc Verna, is located at the heart of Paris, in public gardens close to the Bastille Plaza. It aims to fulfill a duty to remember and to fight discrimination, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said. 'Historical recognition means saying 'this happened' and 'we don't want it to happen again,'' Hidalgo said. Describing the sculpture that looks like a big star wand lying on the ground, Verna, a visual artist who also is a LGBTQ+ rights activist, said : 'There's a black side in front of us, forcing us to remember. ... At certain times of the day, it casts a long shadow on the ground, evoking the dangers looming over, sadly.' The other side of the star, silvery, reflects the sky. It represents 'the color of time passing, with the Paris sky moving as quickly as public opinion, which can change at any moment," Verna said. Historians estimate between 5,000 and 15,000 people were deported throughout Europe by the Nazi regime during World War II because they were gay. Jacques Chirac in 2005 was the first president in France to recognize these crimes, acknowledging LGBTQ+ people have been 'hunted down, arrested and deported.' Jean-Luc Roméro, deputy mayor of Paris and a longtime LGBTQ+ rights activist, said 'we didn't know, unfortunately, that this monument would be inaugurated at one of the worst moments we're going through right now." Referring to policies of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, Romero said 'we've never experienced such setback in the United States, with what's happening to trans people.' Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has issued orders to recognize people as being only man or woman, keep transgender girls and women out of sports competitions for women, oust transgender military troops, restrict federal funding for gender-affirming care for transgender people under age 19 and threaten research funding for institutions that provide the care. All the efforts are being challenged in court. In Europe, Hungary's parliament passed this year an amendment to the constitution that allows the government to ban public events by LGBTQ+ communities, a decision that legal scholars and critics have called another step toward authoritarianism by the populist government.
Associated Press
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Paris unveils a memorial to LGBTQ+ victims of Nazi regime and other persecutions
PARIS (AP) — A memorial to the long-ignored gay victims of the Nazi regime and to all LGBTQ+ people persecuted throughout history has been unveiled in Paris on Saturday. The monument, a massive steel star designed by French artist Jean-Luc Verna, is located at the heart of Paris, in public gardens close to the Bastille Plaza. It aims to fulfill a duty to remember and to fight discrimination, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said. 'Historical recognition means saying 'this happened' and 'we don't want it to happen again,'' Hidalgo said. Describing the sculpture that looks like a big star wand lying on the ground, Verna, a visual artist who also is a LGBTQ+ rights activist, said : 'There's a black side in front of us, forcing us to remember. ... At certain times of the day, it casts a long shadow on the ground, evoking the dangers looming over, sadly.' The other side of the star, silvery, reflects the sky. It represents 'the color of time passing, with the Paris sky moving as quickly as public opinion, which can change at any moment,' Verna said. Historians estimate between 5,000 and 15,000 people were deported throughout Europe by the Nazi regime during World War II because they were gay. Jacques Chirac in 2005 was the first president in France to recognize these crimes, acknowledging LGBTQ+ people have been 'hunted down, arrested and deported.' Jean-Luc Roméro, deputy mayor of Paris and a longtime LGBTQ+ rights activist, said 'we didn't know, unfortunately, that this monument would be inaugurated at one of the worst moments we're going through right now.' Referring to policies of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, Romero said 'we've never experienced such setback in the United States, with what's happening to trans people.' Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has issued orders to recognize people as being only man or woman, keep transgender girls and women out of sports competitions for women, oust transgender military troops, restrict federal funding for gender-affirming care for transgender people under age 19 and threaten research funding for institutions that provide the care. All the efforts are being challenged in court. In Europe, Hungary's parliament passed this year an amendment to the constitution that allows the government to ban public events by LGBTQ+ communities, a decision that legal scholars and critics have called another step toward authoritarianism by the populist government.
Irish Times
17-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Irish officials step up backroom plans for influential deal-making role for EU presidency
It was a balmy day in May when the then French president Jacques Chirac , UK prime minister Tony Blair and Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi were ushered on to a coach in Phoenix Park in Dublin . The year was 2004 and they were making the short trip between Farmleigh House and Áras an Uachtaráin, for a flag-raising ceremony with other leaders, to mark the entry of 10 new (mostly central and eastern) states to the European Union . The event was the highlight of the Republic's six-month stint holding the presidency of the Council of the European Union . A crucial cog in the labyrinthian EU policymaking machine, the council presidency rotates between member states and involves brokering compromises, to get the 27 national governments on the same page. READ MORE The State is due to take over the role again in the second half of next year. Officials in Dublin and Brussels have been laying the groundwork for what will be a major diplomatic and political undertaking. Running a successful presidency can boost a member sate's standing and influence inside the EU. A poor one can leave a black mark that takes years to erase. Irish ministers will chair EU meetings on foreign affairs, finance, justice, agriculture and other policy areas, where they and their counterparts from the other 26 member states will trash out decisions. You have to be an 'honest broker' between the other capitals, one EU source said. The country running the presidency often acts as the 'engine', keeping legislation moving through the system and unjamming blockages, they added. The last time the Republic took on the EU council presidency was in 2013. The State was about to come out from the shadow of the bailout, which staved off financial ruin but brought years of painful austerity. The presidency offered an opportunity for Enda Kenny's government to restore its reputation on the European stage. 'We were trying to turn a tanker around, to say 'we are still a player at the table',' one source involved behind the scenes back then said. There was a huge focus on avoiding excessive spending. Tap water rather than bottled water was served at meetings. Cars ferrying visiting politicians around Dublin were kept to a minimum. Running an effective presidency 'will be essential for Ireland's future position and influence in the EU', an internal December 2024 briefing stated. The briefing, drawn up by Department of Foreign Affairs officials, stated that 'significant preparatory' was needed to make sure the Republic did a decent job. More than 230 meetings will be held in the State over the six months, including up to 20 gatherings of EU ministers and a large number of lower-level working groups involving officials and diplomats. The State will also host a summit of the EU's 27 national leaders and a meeting of the European Political Community (EPC), a wider forum of leaders set up after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. [ Republic eyes chance to host grand summit on future of Europe Opens in new window ] Some 47 European heads of state and government will potentially attend the EPC, making it the biggest international meeting hosted in the history of the State. Discussions are ongoing about where to stage the event. Holding it in Dublin is one option, in which case the Convention Centre could be in the frame, several sources said. That would necessitate shutting down large parts of the city centre for security reasons, causing major disruption. The alternative would be to hold the summit on the site of a stately-home style hotel outside of the capital, with temporary infrastructure built for the 5,000 travelling diplomats, officials and journalists. That option poses difficulties getting people to the venue and accommodating them nearby, one Irish official involved in the planning said. The Government has dodged questions about how much it expects holding the EU council presidency will cost. 'The actual costs arise next year and they will be significant,' said Minister of State for European affairs Thomas Byrne. Documents seen by The Irish Times show officials estimate the costs will be in the region of €120 million to €170 million. A Department of Foreign Affairs briefing released in response to a Freedom of Information Act request stated that hosting the EPC would be an 'unprecedented' undertaking that threw up 'significant logistical and security implications'. One department source said they expected the Irish presidency would cost between €150 million and €180 million all in. The bailout presidency of 2013 cost €42 million mainly because most meetings were held in Brussels. Those that took place in Ireland were limited to Dublin Castle. A temporary media centre constructed for journalists covering a meeting of EU finance ministers at Dublin Castle went through more than 1,000 litres of tea and coffee. The 2004 presidency cost €110 million and had the feel of a travelling road show, sources said. 'It was certainly plentiful; it was the Celtic Tiger, all was good,' one said. Meetings were held across the State, on more than one occasion in or very near the constituency of the relevant Irish minister chairing them. The Office of Public Works were like 'roadies' building and taking down infrastructure for events. 'They could have done Taylor Swift's world tour after the six months,' a source who worked on the 2004 presidency said. Department officials initially seemed to envisage that the Republic's 2026 turn in the EU hot seat would mainly be run in Dublin. Now the plan is for a greater regional mix, though Dublin Castle will still feature. The deal underpinning the Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael Coalition contains a commitment that some of the high-level EU meetings would be brought 'to cities and counties across Ireland'. Big EU policy debates that the Government will be expected to steer include a drive to increase defence spending and improve the bloc's economic competitiveness. Discussions about once more enlarging the 27-state club will feature. Ukraine, Montenegro and Albania are hopeful of being in a position to join the EU by the end of this decade. Irish ministers and diplomats will spend a lot of time in the weeds of negotiations on the size and scope of the EU's next budget, to replace the existing €1.2 trillion one that runs out in 2027. The budget is always the result of an intense arm wrestle between national capitals and the European Commission, the EU's executive body that proposes laws. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has privately told Cabinet members to start making more of an effort to travel to EU meetings that cross their brief, to get to know their counterparts in other governments. 'You will see a stepping-up of that this year,' one Minister said. Mr Martin is planning to arrange individual sit downs with many other EU leaders over the next year as well. Some ministers – finance, foreign affairs and agriculture – are already travelling to Brussels several times a year, as the EU has more decision-making power in those areas. Others are less frequent visitors. Much of the legwork will be done by the State's corps of diplomats and officials based in Brussels, who make up its permanent representation to the EU. The size of the State's 'perm rep', as it is known in EU-speak, will more than double, up from the 100 officials who usually working there. The department has rented a second office down the road from the commission's Berlaymont headquarters to accommodate the increase on a three-year lease at a cost of €2.3 million. What makes a good council presidency? The Republic's presidency will be watched closely for how the Government approaches debates on defence and security given how its policy of military neutrality puts it out of step with most other member states. One rough yardstick for success is the number of compromises agreed. However, for all the careful plotting Irish diplomats are doing to gauge what EU legislation might come to the boil later next year, some unforeseen political crisis could grip Europe and dominate the agenda. Catherine Day, a former secretary general of the commission, said a successful presidency was one that 'helps the system work towards consensus'. Catherine Day, former secretary general of the European Commission. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw The time in the chair was not an opportunity to 'call the shots', but about listening to what was being said around the table and proposing a way forward, she said. 'The big countries will listen if Ireland has done its homework and brings forward a well-crafted compromise,' the commission's former top civil servant said. The average person on the street may only take notice when delegations of European leaders start touching down on the tarmac. For Irish officials and diplomats in Brussels, and many in Dublin, the EU council presidency will have taken over their day-to-day working life long before that.
