France
Sections of Paris on lockdown after attack on policeman
By our reporter, 7 June 2017
President Emmanuel Macron’s government seized on an assault in which one policeman was lightly wounded to call for extending France’s state of emergency.
Macron’s En Marche set to win large majority in French legislative elections
By Alex Lantier, 6 June 2017
The newly-elected president intends for the assembly, controlled by his party, to serve as a rubber stamp for unprecedented attacks on social and democratic rights.
In French legislative elections, Mélenchon moves closer to Macron
By Kumaran Ira, 2 June 2017
The perspective for opposition to President Emmanuel Macron’s agenda offered by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of the Unsubmissive France movement, is collapsing.
Green Party mayor demolishes refugee camp in Grenoble, France
By Athiyan Silva, 1 June 2017
More than one hundred CRS police rounded up and forcibly expelled refugees from the Valmy Refugee camp in southeast France.
French media hail Macron’s moves away from US anti-Russian policies
By Alex Lantier, 31 May 2017
French and German newspapers pointed to a “European moment,” in which continental Europe led by Germany and France would unite against the United States and Britain.
In meeting with Putin, Macron distances France from Washington’s anti-Russia policy
By Alex Lantier, 30 May 2017
While advancing an aggressive imperialist intervention in the Syrian and Ukrainian crises, Macron signaled a broad shift in France’s foreign policy.
Gasoline and chemical truck drivers strike in France
By Francis Dubois, 30 May 2017
The unions are insisting that this strike should be limited to action in one industry and are seeking to avoid any serious interruption of industry and transport.
After Manchester attack, France prolongs state of emergency
By Francis Dubois, 25 May 2017
A week after taking office, French President Emmanuel Macron’s government announced that it would prolong the country’s state of emergency to November and seek a law to make it permanent.
Macron prepares enabling act to slash contracts, labor rights in France
By Alex Lantier, 23 May 2017
The newly-elected president is preparing a historic assault on jobs, wages, and labor legislation to be rammed through by presidential decree in the face of public opposition.
Visiting Mali, French President Macron appeals for army’s support
By Francis Dubois, 22 May 2017
Macron hailed the army at a military base in Gao, and confirmed its magnified role via the Socialist Party’s state of emergency laws.
Informant Claude Hermant implicates French state in Charlie Hebdo attacks
By Anthony Torres, 22 May 2017
The case shatters the official narrative that terror attacks in France, Belgium and Germany since 2015 have been the work of isolated Islamists.
French media, political parties hush up PS government’s coup plan
By Alex Lantier, 20 May 2017
Thursday’s edition of L’Obs magazine revealed that the outgoing Socialist Party government planned a coup d’état if National Front candidate Marine Le Pen had won the May 7 presidential elections.
French government prepared coup if Le Pen won presidential election
By Alex Lantier, 19 May 2017
According to L'Obs the plan aimed not to keep Le Pen out of office, but to crush anti-fascist protests, impose martial law, and force Le Pen to work with a social democratic government.
Macron names government to implement social counterrevolution in France
By Francis Dubois, 18 May 2017
Edouard Philippe, named to the post of prime minister May 15 by newly elected President Emmanuel Macron, presented his cabinet yesterday afternoon.
Macron delays announcement of French ministerial cabinet
By Alex Lantier, 17 May 2017
The cabinet is to be announced Wednesday, with a delay of 24 hours, after verification of future ministers’ tax status and potential conflicts of interest.
Mélenchon repeats offer to serve as the prime minister of France under Macron
By Kumaran Ira, 17 May 2017
At a convention to launch a campaign for the upcoming legislative elections, Mélenchon asserted that his Unsubmissive France movement will be able to “govern the country.”
French President Macron names right-wing PM, meets Merkel to plan austerity and war
By Alex Lantier, 16 May 2017
Macron’s friendly meeting with Merkel shows that his election as president is part of a social counterrevolution being waged across Europe.
French auto parts workers at GM&S; threaten to blow up plant to block closure
By Anthony Torres, 16 May 2017
The only way forward is a broad mobilization of workers to defend jobs at GM&S; in a break with the union bureaucracies and in opposition to newly elected President Emmanuel Macron.
Emmanuel Macron inaugurated as president of France
By Alex Lantier, 15 May 2017
In a display of militarism and reaction, the newly elected president pledged to rekindle France’s “spirit of conquest” by expanding the military and waging a full-scale offensive against workers’ living standards.
German enthusiasm for Macron begins to wane
By Peter Schwarz, 15 May 2017
Enthusiasm for Emmanuel Macron has not lasted long in Germany. His calls for more financial leeway from the European Union are meeting fierce opposition in German government and business circles.
French President-elect Macron’s legislative slate: Social reaction bares its teeth
By Alex Lantier, 12 May 2017
Over six in 10 voters have said that they do not want Macron to obtain a majority in the National Assembly, due to his warmongering and anti-working class policies.
Guardian journalist Paul Mason calls for a “left” alliance with “free market elite”
By Robert Stevens, 12 May 2017
Mason claims that the former Rothschild banker Emmanuel Macron has given “French democracy, Europeanism and globalism another chance.”
Mélenchon-Communist Party alliance for French legislative elections collapses
By Alex Lantier, 11 May 2017
The two main forces that together supported Mélenchon’s presidential bid will run as opponents in the legislative elections next month.
What way forward in the struggle against Macron?
By Alex Lantier, 9 May 2017
Macron’s actions have rapidly exposed the fraudulent claims of his media and political supporters that he would defend democracy and block the rise of neo-fascism.
Macron wins French presidency
By Alex Lantier, 8 May 2017
Over four million people cast blank or spoiled ballots to express their hostility to both candidates presented by the French political establishment.
On the eve of the French presidential election
By Alex Lantier, 6 May 2017
Class conflict of revolutionary dimensions is being prepared in France as social anger builds against both presidential candidates.
NPA tacitly backs the French ruling elite’s campaign for Macron vote
By Johannes Stern and Alex Lantier, 6 May 2017
Ahead of Sunday’s presidential run-off election, the New Anti-capitalist Party is working to subordinate workers and youth to the candidate of austerity and war, Emmanuel Macron.
Ahead of May 7 runoff, French right-wing Les Républicains on verge of split
By Kumaran Ira, 5 May 2017
Bitter divisions are erupting within Les Républicains over whether to endorse presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron against neo-fascist Marine Le Pen.
French election debate: Macron, Le Pen promote militarism, attacks on immigrants
By Alex Lantier and Johannes Stern, 4 May 2017
Over the course of 150 minutes, the fascist Le Pen and the ex-banker Macron alternated between insulting each other and braying for militarism and state repression.
French warship joins US-UK-Japanese fleet threatening North Korea
By Athiyan Silva, 4 May 2017
Behind the backs of the French people, the Socialist Party government and presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron are joining the US-led war drive against North Korea.
Paris youth speak to WSWS: “I don’t want to vote for the right just because I’m afraid of Le Pen”
By our reporters, 4 May 2017
The comments of two young Parisians express growing opposition to both On the March candidate Emanuel Macron and National Front candidate Marine Le Pen.
Why Emmanuel Macron is no lesser evil compared to Marine Le Pen
By Johannes Stern, 4 May 2017
These remarks were delivered by Johannes Stern, a leading member of the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei, the German section of the ICFI, at the first public meeting of the Parti de l’égalité socialiste on May Day in Paris.
In online poll, Mélenchon supporters reject both candidates in French runoff election
By Alex Lantier, 3 May 2017
Unsubmissive France leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon is seeking to entrap opposition to both presidential candidates in the straitjacket of an alliance with Emmanuel Macron.
PES public meeting in Paris calls for active boycott of French elections
By our reporters, 3 May 2017
The Parti de l'égalité socialiste's meeting, attended by over 60 people, was the first public event of a French section of the International Committee of the Fourth International since 1971.
May Day in France: Trade union calls to support Macron fall flat
By Francis Dubois, 2 May 2017
Workers and youth throughout France sense that the calls to “block” Le Pen from the political establishment are barely disguised appeals to vote for the former banker Macron.
Parti de l'égalité socialiste holds first public meeting on May Day in Paris
By our reporters, 2 May 2017
The first public meeting of the PES, the French section of the ICFI, since its founding last year attracted an audience of more than 60 workers and students from across France.
May Day 2017
The perspective for the working class in the French presidential election
By Alex Lantier, 2 May 2017
The PES' campaign for an active boycott of the election is the revolutionary alternative to the impotent parliamentary maneuvers proposed by Mélenchon.
French right splits as sections back neo-fascist Le Pen
By Kumaran Ira, 1 May 2017
As the French two-party political system collapses, the National Front is developing overt ties with more traditional sections of the French right.
Mélenchon refuses to take a position in French presidential runoff
By Alex Lantier, 29 April 2017
Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s declaration that he will participate in the May 7 vote but keep secret for whom he votes is an admission that he has no independent political line.
French youth protest Le Pen-Macron second round in presidential elections
By Alex Lantier, 28 April 2017
The critical issue facing youth protesting the elections is to turn to the working class, in defiance of the media’s reactionary pro-Macron propaganda.
British ruling elite regard Macron victory in France as a “mixed blessing”
By Julie Hyland, 27 April 2017
Britain’s right-wing media are concerned that Macron will be unable to enforce his agenda under conditions of widespread political alienation and hostility to the ruling elite.
No to Macron and Le Pen! For an active boycott of the French election!
By Political Committee of the Parti de l'égalité socialiste, 27 April 2017
The arguments put forward to try to blackmail the French people into voting for Macron, the preferred candidate of finance capital, against the neo-fascist Le Pen are a combination of sophistries and lies.
Hollande invites Le Pen, Macron to funeral of slain Champs-Élysées officer
By Alex Lantier, 26 April 2017
After Macron and Le Pen advanced to the second round, the French president's gesture was intended to delegitimize opposition to Le Pen's neo-fascist National Front.
What lies behind the German elite’s celebration of Macron?
By Johannes Stern, 26 April 2017
All the major parties have hailed the results of the first round of the French presidential election.
French ruling elite rallies around Macron
By Anthony Torres and Alex Lantier, 25 April 2017
Despite claims that Emmanuel Macron represents a “democratic” alternative to the fascistic Marine Le Pen, the former banker seeks to extend France's anti-democratic state of emergency, impose drastic austerity and re-establish the draft.
Macron and neo-fascist Le Pen advance to run-off in French presidential elections
By Alex Lantier, 24 April 2017
As France’s traditional two-party system collapses, neo-fascist candidate Marine Le Pen has emerged as a contender for state power.
France’s election at gunpoint
By Alex Lantier, 22 April 2017
As tens of millions of voters prepare to go to the polls Sunday, an intervention by elements in the French state machine is underway to swing the elections to the right.
Sections of Paris on lockdown after pre-election shooting
By Johannes Stern and Alex Lantier, 21 April 2017
The day before Thursday's attack, French authorities said they planned to put 50,000 troops in the streets on Election Day, effectively holding the election at gunpoint.
NPA candidate Philippe Poutou holds pro-war campaign meeting in Paris
By Alex Lantier, 21 April 2017
On Wednesday night, the New Anti-capitalist Party held the final campaign meeting of its presidential candidate, Philippe Poutou, in the north suburbs of Paris.
France announces major military deployment on presidential election day
By Johannes Stern and Alex Lantier, 20 April 2017
After the arrest of two suspected Islamic State sympathizers, authorities plan to deploy 50,000 soldiers and policemen on Sunday for the first round of presidential elections.
No to war and nationalism! Build the PES!
Parti de l’égalité socialiste statement on the French presidential election
19 April 2017
Growing demands for peace and an end to austerity herald decisive class struggles, for which the working class urgently needs a new revolutionary leadership.
Fire hits Grande-Synthe refugee camp in France
By Stéphane Hugues, 14 April 2017
French officials are seizing on the fire to justify rapidly shutting down a camp they have publicly been calling to dismantle for months.
Mélenchon gains in French presidential polls after Trump’s strike on Syria
By Alex Lantier, 11 April 2017
Mélenchon is seeking to speak to a growing left-wing and anti-war sentiment in the French population, but he will only disappoint the hopes he is awakening.
French NPA candidate Philippe Poutou defends Trump’s bombing of Syria
By Alex Lantier, 11 April 2017
The NPA is defending the war, shamelessly denouncing any opposition to the reckless US military escalation as support for mass murder by the Syrian regime.
France: Libération makes “humanitarian” case for imperialist war in Syria
By Anthony Torres, 8 April 2017
The French “left” daily published front-page pictures of gassed Syrian children in an odious attempt to stampede public opinion into accepting an imperialist intervention in Syria.
French presidential candidates feign opposition in 11-party debate
By Alex Lantier, 6 April 2017
The fractious debate between all 11 French presidential candidates reflected the fear of growing social opposition by the French ruling class.
A reply to a reader’s comment on a WSWS article on Jean-Luc Mélenchon
By Alex Lantier, 5 April 2017
The WSWS evaluation of Mélenchon as a pro-war, nationalist politician whose call for restoring the draft underscores the growing danger of war is correct.
Thousands protest police murder of Liu Shaoyo in Paris
By Alex Lantier, 4 April 2017
French intelligence has launched a reactionary media campaign, insinuating that protesters are agents of Beijing or of the Chinese mafia.
French presidential candidate Mélenchon calls for bringing back the draft
By Kumaran Ira, 3 April 2017
Mélenchon, an ally of Greece’s Syriza government, is carrying out a campaign to support policies of war and police-state rule.
French police murder Chinese immigrant Liu Shaoyo in Paris
By Alex Lantier, 29 March 2017
According to Liu’s family, police battered down the door of his apartment and immediately shot him in cold blood.
Growing divisions, war threats loom over EU summit in Rome
By Alex Lantier, 27 March 2017
The European Union is responding to Britain’s exit by seeking to convert itself into an aggressive military bloc rivaling the United States.
French presidential debate: Political establishment shifts far to the right
By Alex Lantier, 22 March 2017
On Monday night, 9.8 million people watched a three-hour television debate between the five leading candidates in the French presidential elections.
Presidential front-runner Macron pledges to bring back the draft in France
By Alex Lantier, 21 March 2017
Macron’s statement is a warning for the population of France and the world of the advanced state of planning for wider wars.
French police fire tear gas at protesters amid clampdown over Orly airport shooting
By our reporters, 20 March 2017
Social tensions are rising in the run-up to the April-May elections, amid a relentlessly right-wing, law-and-order atmosphere whipped up by all factions of the ruling elite.
Fillon survives challenge as French right’s presidential candidate
By Alex Lantier and Stéphane Hugues, 10 March 2017
Growing sections of Fillon’s own Les Républicains party fear that the candidate will be unable to defeat neo-fascist Marine Le Pen in this year’s presidential election.
French air traffic controllers strike against work restructuring
By Anthony Torres, 10 March 2017
Amidst growing opposition among workers, the trade unions are calling strikes against contracts that the unions themselves have already signed.
Warning of neo-fascist victory in France, Hollande promotes EU militarism
By Alex Lantier, 7 March 2017
The danger of an FN victory in the French elections is the product of the reactionary social and war policy pursued by the EU, and by Hollande in France.
In northern France, Calais mayor bans distribution of meals to migrants
By Antoine Lerougetel, 7 March 2017
Extreme right-wing positions that would have been identified with the neo-fascist National Front in another era have become commonplace in French bourgeois politics.
Fillon to continue his French presidential bid despite indictment
By Alex Lantier, 3 March 2017
It is not the French political elite’s undeniable corruption, but deep geo-strategic conflicts among the NATO powers, that are driving the scandal around Fillon.
Protests spread against sexual assault by French police at Aulnay-sous-Bois
By Anthony Torres, 28 February 2017
The protests point to the gulf between popular sentiment and the field of presidential candidates, all of whom support stepped-up powers and staffing levels for police.
Far-right Front National surges in French presidential election polls
By Kumaran Ira and Alex Lantier, 25 February 2017
The neo-fascist party’s emergence as a contender for power points to the deep crisis of bourgeois rule in France and across Europe.
Left Front, Socialist Party pursue alliance in French presidential elections
By Anthony Torres, 21 February 2017
With the Socialist Party deeply unpopular under President François Hollande, the Left Front is seeking an alliance with it without daring to endorse its policies.
French neo-fascists present anti-EU, anti-immigrant program in 2017 elections
By Alice Laurençon, 18 February 2017
The National Front opponents in the French ruling elite are increasingly anxious about the growing possibility of an FN victory in the presidential elections.
French authorities step up financial probe of conservative presidential candidate François Fillon
By Stéphane Hugues and Alex Lantier, 17 February 2017
A vicious faction fight has erupted inside the French ruling elite, after Fillon proposed to reorient French and European foreign policy towards Russia.
2017 French elections: Why is the NPA criticizing the Left Front’s populism?
By Kumaran Ira, 16 February 2017
Jean-Luc Mélenchon's repudiation of the working class as a political force exposes the entire nationalist, pseudo-left milieu to which the New Anti-capitalist Party belongs.
Munich Security Conference chairman advocates European rearmament
By Peter Schwarz, 16 February 2017
Wolfgang Ischinger, the Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, proposed defending the “Western order of values” by means of a massive increase in military spending.
French police mobilize against protests by youth in Aulnay
By Anthony Torres, 14 February 2017
The Socialist Party deployed large numbers of police under the state of emergency against youth protesting a sexual assault by police in a poor suburb of Paris.
Conservative Fillon campaign faces collapse in French presidential elections
By Alex Lantier, 14 February 2017
The wife of François Fillon, the right wing Les Républicains’ candidate, received about €900,000 at no-show government jobs.
German Left Party leader demands tougher deportation policy
By Johannes Stern, 11 February 2017
In an interview with the conservative daily Die Welt, Left Party founder Oscar Lafontaine spoke out in favour of a stricter deportation policy.
Flamanville nuclear plant explosion exposes crisis in French nuclear industry
By Anthony Torres, 10 February 2017
Thursday morning an explosion in the machine shop of the Flamanville nuclear plant started a fire that was only brought under control after midday.
French ex-president Sarkozy indicted over 2012 campaign finances
By Stéphane Hugues, 10 February 2017
The indictment of Sarkozy is part of the escalating wave of scandals and legal infighting engulfing his party in the 2017 French presidential campaign.
Macron advocates austerity, law-and-order and militarism in French elections
By Kumaran Ira, 8 February 2017
Calling himself “neither left nor right,” Macron is running a presidential campaign proposing deep austerity to restore French business competitiveness.
French presidential elections too close to call after weekend campaign launch
By Alex Lantier, 7 February 2017
After a weekend in which several leading candidates gave major speeches to launch their campaign, there is enormous uncertainty over the French presidential election.
Riots erupt after youth sexually assaulted by French police at Aulnay
By Kumaran Ira, 7 February 2017
Four police officers have been charged with assaulting an innocent 22-year-old in a working-class suburb of Paris.
Corruption allegations undermine French presidential candidate François Fillon
By Alice Laurençon, 4 February 2017
While demanding that the working class endure draconian austerity measures, the ruling elite is able to procure hundreds of thousands of euros of public funds for their own benefit.
Trump’s nationalist threats and the response of the European ruling class
By Alex Lantier, 2 February 2017
In response to Trump’s protectionist threats against Europe and criticisms of the euro, Germany and its closest allies are preparing a major military and police buildup.
Germany, France criticize Trump’s immigration ban
By Alex Lantier, 31 January 2017
Official criticisms of Trump aim to shield the European Union from rising anger at the persecution of migrants, and assert European imperialist interests against Washington.
Benoît Hamon wins Socialist Party presidential primary in France
By Alice Laurençon, 30 January 2017
With broad sections of the PS moving to endorse right-wing banker Emmanuel Macron, the party is threatened with political collapse after Hamon’s victory.
Corruption allegations hit conservative French presidential candidate Fillon
By Alex Lantier, 28 January 2017
Charges that François Fillon’s wife received €600,000 for jobs where she did no work, which were made just after Fillon called for closer ties to Moscow, could end his campaign.
Hamon presents pro-war, law-and-order program in French elections
By Anthony Torres, 27 January 2017
Popular opposition to President Hollande’s policies of war, austerity, and police state rule cannot find any expression through PS “rebel” candidate Benoît Hamon.
French presidential candidate François Fillon calls for alliance with Germany against US
By Alice Laurençon, 25 January 2017
The purpose of Fillon’s meetings in Berlin was to prepare a policy of countering, with military power if necessary, hostile moves from Washington.
Allegations of manipulation in French Socialist Party’s presidential primary
By Alex Lantier, 24 January 2017
The apparent manipulation of the voter turnout by Socialist Party officials highlighted sharp conflicts in the PS as it faces disaster in the 2017 elections.
French prime minister beaten into second place in Socialist Party presidential primary
By Alex Lantier, 23 January 2017
French President François Hollande’s government suffered another humiliating setback last night in the presidential primary of his Socialist Party.
Socialist Party officials back banker Macron in French presidential elections
By Alice Laurençon, 23 January 2017
Forty-six PS officials in the Lyon region signed a manifesto on January 17 calling for a boycott of the presidential primaries of their own party.
Paris conference pleads with Trump to continue Middle East “peace process”
By Jean Shaoul, 17 January 2017
The Paris meeting demonstrates the futility of seeking a way forward for for the Palestinian people through a filthy deal between the Palestinian bourgeoisie, the Israeli government and the reactionary Arab states.
PS candidates signal continuity with French President Hollande’s policies
By Alex Lantier, 14 January 2017
Despite fears of a Socialist Party electoral collapse, not a single candidate forthrightly criticized Hollande or called for a shift in policy in the interests of working people.
French defence minister whips up hysteria over Russian hacking of elections
By Anthony Torres, 13 January 2017
Despite anti-Russian hysteria in the media, no concrete evidence has been produced to show that Moscow hacked election results either in the United States or France.
President Hollande gives French army, intelligence “green light to kill”
By Kumaran Ira, 11 January 2017
According to recent investigative reports, the Socialist Party has massively stepped up the French state’s extrajudicial murder program, assassinating at least 40 people.
US politicians, intelligence move to cut French neo-fascists’ ties to Russia
By Alex Lantier, 7 January 2017
Conflicts between US intelligence, Donald Trump and France’s National Front point to geopolitical tensions underlying anti-Russian hysteria in America and Europe.
French army chief demands large defence budget increases
By Anthony Torres, 31 December 2016
Pierre de Villiers, the chief of staff of the French armed forces, is calling for an increase in military spending to 2 percent of France’s gross domestic product.
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