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INSIDE FRANCE

Inside France: Political bonding, croissants and social spending

From the budget deficit to yet another Macron 'bromance', via croissants, social spending and a very unfortunate diving board fail, our weekly newsletter Inside France looks at what we have been talking about in France this week.

Published: 6 April 2024 07:40 CEST
Inside France: Political bonding, croissants and social spending
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva (L) and French President Emmanuel Macron in a series of 'romantic' photos. Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP

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.

Crunch the numbers

It’s been a numbers-heavy week in France – after the news that the country’s deficit has gone ‘wild’ comes the inevitable plans to cut public spending with a detailed programme of cuts expected the week after next.

Also inevitable is the chat about whether France’s generous social model is sustainable – I have my own views on this but it was very interesting to hear from our readers on how they see France’s ‘high tax – big spend’ model and how it compares to their own countries. The questionnaire is still open if you want to share your opinions.

This was also the main talking point in this week’s Talking France where I appear to have gone off on a bit of a rant about my love for the French social contract . . . There’s much more on offer in the episode though, from big changes in Paris and Champagne to threats to French regional airports and whether you really need to worry about wolves and bears when hiking in France. Listen here or on the link below.

Taking the plunge

You can’t help but feel for this poor kid – it’s bad enough to fall off a diving board but to do it in front of your country’s president and the assembled national media . . .

Fortunately he seems to have a sense of humour about it. The occasion was the formal opening of the new aquatics centres, one of just two new-builds constructed for the Paris Olympics (the other being the athletes’ village). I had a nosy at the centre last time I was up at Stade de France and it does look very impressive – let’s hope the diving board fail is not an omen. 

La La Love

Talking of the president, it’s good to see that either Emmanuel Macron or the staffer who deals with his social media has a sense of humour about all those memes of his ‘wedding’ photos with Brazilian president Lula. 

We’ve become used to headlines about a ‘bromance’ whenever Macron meets foreign leaders but I’m always struck by how happy he is to plunge into crowds here in France to meet and greet, pose for selfies and share hugs and kisses with members of the public.

I imagine his security detail absolutely hates him.

Pastry pride

And finally, please enjoy the determinedly unimpressed reaction of this Paris pâtissier on learning that his new pastry creation has sparked a TikTok craze: “It’s just some cookie in a croissant, it’s not some revolutionary invention.”

Asked whether he intended to patent his new invention he replied: “What for? To find myself in court with half the planet?”

Call me a grumpy old traditionalist but I’m not sure I will be rushing out to try his cookie dough and croissant combo. In fact, as something of a fundamentalist, I believe that there is nothing better than a plain well-made, buttery, flaky croissant au beurre (accompanied by good coffee) – adding anything at all to the croissant only diminishes it. 

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.

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INSIDE FRANCE

Inside France: Violence, QR codes and stuffed animals

From violent unrest in a French territory to the QR codes required at the Paris Olympics, via D-Day and weird taxidermy, our weekly newsletter Inside France looks at what we have been talking about in France this week.

Published: 18 May 2024 07:38 CEST
Inside France: Violence, QR codes and stuffed animals

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.

High tension

After a relaxed week with a double holiday and most of the country taking a break, it seems that the news has come roaring back this week – first a highly dramatic jailbreak that left two prison officers dead and a fugitive at large, then the worst rioting in 30 years on the French island of Nouvelle Calédonie which left five people dead, and finally a man shot dead by police while apparently trying to set fire to a synagogue in northern France. It seems that there’s barely been time to breathe. 

These three things are, of course, not connected and in the case of Nouvelle Calédonie have followed years of political and ethnic tensions on the Pacific islands.

But it’s not surprising that people feel a bit punch-drunk at this series of events. Already right-wing parties are attempting to make capital out of this ahead of the European elections – a favourite tactic of the far-right in recent years has been trying to portray France as in the grip of an uncontrolled wave of crime and violence.

While no-one would deny that France has crime and that there are problems with violence, the statistics do not bear out this image of a ‘lawless’ country’. 

QR codes

Talking of security, the big topic in Paris this week has been whether we need QR codes to get around the city during the Olympics, after the security plan for the Games was unveiled in detail.

For many people this will bring back bad memories of Covid restrictions, attestations and health passes – although once you dig into the detail of the Games QR codes you realise that they won’t actually affect all that many people.

The areas that they cover are limited and the most onerous restrictions are only in place for the week leading up to the Opening Ceremony. You can find a complete guide to whether you need a code, and how to get one if you do, HERE.

Talking France

We look at the QR code situation on this week’s Talking France podcast, as well as France’s economic reality, the quirks of the French health system and the new ‘drive like a woman’ campaign.

Plus John Lichfield talks about his involvement in projects to commemorate D-Day in his Normandy home, and why the 1944 landings still hold such a special place in French hearts. Listen here or on the link below. 

Get stuffed

But my biggest question about France remains unanswered – why is weird taxidermy furniture so popular? If you’ve spent time at a French brocante you will likely have come across stuffed animal parts made into a variety of items from coathooks and ashtrays to – as below – chairs or stools.

Answers on a postcard, please.  

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.

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