France
France: Three die in fire at Roma squat
By Antoine Lerougetel, 16 May 2013
Three Roma, two women and a 12-year-old child, died in a fire in an abandoned factory in Lyon.
Left Front’s offer to serve in France’s pro-austerity government unnerves NPA
By Kumaran Ira, 8 May 2013
The NPA fears that Mélenchon’s willingness to work under Hollande will expose the anti-working class politics of the entire pseudo-left.
French unions back closure of PSA Aulnay auto factory
By Anthony Torres, 7 May 2013
On Monday, auto maker PSA’s central works council authorized a redundancy scheme to close PSA’s plant at Aulnay, near Paris.
France: What is Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s May 5 protest?
By Antoine Lerougetel and Alex Lantier, 4 May 2013
A class gulf separates the explosive anger and opposition to austerity that is building in the working class across Europe from establishment figures like Mélenchon.
French military White Paper plans escalating wars
By Kumaran Ira and Alex Lantier, 3 May 2013
On April 29, France’s Socialist Party government released its White Paper on military strategy.
Amid jobs collapse, French President Hollande backs austerity in Europe
By Alex Lantier, 30 April 2013
With 26 million workers unemployed in Europe, Hollande is signaling that he will keep supporting social cuts that are devastating the French and European economies.
Cahuzac affair exposes bankruptcy of French petty-bourgeois “left”
By Anthony Torres, 16 April 2013
The scandal over tax evasion by former Budget Minister Jérôme Cahuzac, which has destabilised the government of President François Hollande, exposes the entire French political establishment.
French government law increases worker exploitation
By Pierre Mabut, 13 April 2013
With the consent of the trade unions, the French Socialist Party government has enacted a law increasing the exploitation of the working class.
France launches military, propaganda offensive in Mali
By Ernst Wolff, 13 April 2013
Contrary to the French president’s claims that his country made a lightning response to a terrorist threat, the invasion of Mali was prepared long beforehand.
Stalinist daily l’Humanité defends French government in Cahuzac scandal
By Olivier Laurent, 11 April 2013
The Stalinist daily’s April 3 editorial on ex-budget minister Jérôme Cahuzac’s confession to tax evasion defends the Socialist Party government.
Hundreds of workers at Goss International France lose their jobs
By Gustav Kemper, 8 April 2013
Web offset giant Goss International intensifies its redundancy program, laying off 430 workers.
Cahuzac tax scandal, neo-fascist ties stagger France’s ruling Socialist Party
By Alex Lantier, 5 April 2013
The scandal over tax evasion by former Budget Minister Jérôme Cahuzac on bank accounts tied to business activities with neo-fascist groups has shaken the Socialist Party.
French Budget Minister Cahuzac resigns over hidden bank account
By Olivier Laurent and Alex Lantier, 4 April 2013
France’s Socialist Party government in crisis after its former budget minister admitted to lying about a Swiss bank account hidden from tax authorities.
French President Hollande pledges austerity, war in prime time TV interview
By Alex Lantier, 29 March 2013
In an hour-long television interview last night, French President François Hollande sought to outline his policies amid rising popular anger against his government.
Large neo-fascist vote in French by-election: A warning to the working class
By Anthony Torres, 29 March 2013
After 10 months in government, the Socialist Party experienced a serious defeat in the Oise constituency by-election, resulting in a large neo-fascist vote.
Goodyear union in France touts cooperative to “save” Amiens plant
By Antoine Lerougetel, 27 March 2013
The CGT union at the Goodyear Tire plant in Amiens in northern France, has outlined its plans for making the site a workers’ cooperative.
France confirms killing of Al Qaeda leader Abou Zeid in Mali
By Kumaran Ira, 25 March 2013
On Saturday, the French government confirmed the death of Abdelhamid Abou Zeid, the leader of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), in northern Mali.
Unions approve closure of PSA’s Aulnay plant in France
By Antoine Lerougetel, 21 March 2013
On Monday, the unions voted to accept the closure the PSA Peugeot-Citroën factory at Aulnay, cutting 3,000 jobs directly and 11,214 jobs throughout France.
France’s defense minister visits French troops in Mali
By Anthony Torres, 15 March 2013
The situation facing the Malian population is catastrophic. Towns and villages have been largely destroyed.
Britain and France seek end to arms embargo on Syria
By Chris Marsden, 14 March 2013
The UK, France and various regional powers such as the Gulf monarchies and Turkey are taking their cue from Washington, which has worked behind the scenes for months to channel weapons into Syria
France: PSA car workers’ strike at an impasse
By Pierre Mabut, 14 March 2013
Some 100 PSA Citroën car workers from the Aulnay plant near Paris occupied the Engineering Employers Federation’s Paris offices to protest plans to close their plant.
French army suppresses reporting of Mali war
By Ernst Wolff, 13 March 2013
The French army has systematically blocked journalists from conducting objective reporting of the war in Mali.
Police clash with workers fighting closure of Goodyear Amiens-Nord plant
By Antoine Lerougetel, 9 March 2013
Riot police sprayed tear-gas and fired pepper spray at hundreds of workers from the Goodyear Tire Amiens-Nord site in northern France Thursday.
Unions sign French automaker Renault’s plan to slash jobs, wages
By Kumaran Ira, 8 March 2013
Unions at Renault approved a cost-cutting plan allowing the carmaker to cut jobs, lengthen working hours and freeze wages in factories across France.
Struggle against closure of Goodyear plant in Amiens, France at a crossroads
By Antoine Lerougetel, 7 March 2013
The six-year struggle of workers at Goodyear’s Amiens-Nord tyre plant against company threats of a plant closure and mass sackings is at a crossroads.
French government promotes pseudo-left opposition parties in Tunisia
By Kumaran Ira, 7 March 2013
After Chokri Belaïd’s assassination, Paris is seeking to advance the petty-bourgeois Popular Front to advance its imperialist interests in Tunisia.
France-Qatar tensions rise over Mali war, Tunisia
By Jean Shaoul, 28 February 2013
Tensions between France and its Qatari ally are rising amid accusations that Qatar is funding Al Qaeda-linked militants fighting France in Mali.
CEO of US tire firm denounces French Goodyear workers
By Pierre Mabut and Antoine Lerougetel, 27 February 2013
In a letter pledging to exploit underpaid Asian workers, the CEO of Titan denounced workers at Goodyear’s embattled plant in Amiens-Nord, France.
French President Hollande presses for major arms deals in India
By Kumaran Ira, 19 February 2013
French President François Hollande made a two-day visit to India last week to promote large-scale military deals amid a growing arms race in Asia.
France: Unemployed worker sets himself on fire outside job centre
By Antoine Lerougetel, 16 February 2013
An unemployed Algerian worker died by self-immolation in front of the state employment agency in Nantes following cancellation of his unemployment benefits.
French Goodyear workers protest against closure of Amiens Nord plant
By Antoine Lerougetel and Pierre Mabut, 14 February 2013
Some 800 workers from the Goodyear Tire plant in Amiens Nord, supported by more than 1,000 workers from other parts of France, protested outside the company’s French headquarters in Paris.
French government prepares repression against workers
By Pierre Mabut and Antoine Lerougetel, 9 February 2013
Interior Minister Valls has given instructions for the police to monitor companies where workers are in struggle to keep their jobs.
Goodyear France announces closure of its Amiens-Nord site
By Pierre Mabut and Antoine Lerougetel, 6 February 2013
French unions have rejected industrial action to unite Goodyear workers with their colleagues in France, Europe and internationally .
French military oversees power-sharing deal in Central African Republic
By Patrick O’Connor, 31 January 2013
The political realignment underway is being driven by France, which aims to reassert control over its former resource-rich colony and counter China’s growing influence.
French Renault and PSA unions try to block fight against plant closures
By Antoine Lerougetel, 31 January 2013
The CGT and other unions are negotiating with PSA and Peugeot-Citroen on arrangements for plant closures and new competitiveness deals.
Britain, US escalate war aid as France advances into northern Mali
By Alex Lantier, 29 January 2013
Britain has pledged to deploy troops to Mali and the US is planning a base for drones as the imperialist intervention in the Sahara escalates.
Renault and PSA Peugeot-Citroën workers in joint protest against factory closures
By Antoine Lerougetel and Pierre Mabut, 29 January 2013
Striking workers from the PSA car factory in Aulnay near Paris—which have been occupying the plant slated to be shut in 2014—joined workers at the Renault plant in Flins that is also threatened with closure
Reports of atrocities emerge as France escalates Mali war
By Ernst Wolff, 24 January 2013
Thirteen days after starting a war in Mali, France is boosting its military presence amid reports of civilian and ethnic-based killings by French and allied forces.
Imperialist powers escalate war in Mali
By Ernst Wolff, 22 January 2013
Amid the French offensive in Mali, the imperialist powers are laying out plans for a lasting neo-colonial intervention in all of Western Africa.
French Left Front promotes war in Mali
By Kumaran Ira, 22 January 2013
France’s Left Front is supporting President François Hollande’s decision to launch a war in Mali, while issuing tactical criticisms of his policies.
France escalates Mali war amid Algerian hostage crisis
By Kumaran Ira, 18 January 2013
France has increased its troop deployment in Mali to 1,400, amid a hostage crisis after Islamist militants seized an Algerian natural gas complex to protest the war.
Renault announces 7,500 job cuts in France
By Antoine Lerougetel, 17 January 2013
On Tuesday French carmaker Renault announced large-scale job and pay cuts, as the auto industry slashes production.
French unions agree to pro-corporate labor “reforms”
By Pierre Mabut, 16 January 2013
The proposals pushed by the Socialist Party government of President François Hollande will undermine workers’ legal protections against arbitrary wage cuts, extensions of work hours and dismissals.
Hands off Mali!
By Alex Lantier, 15 January 2013
For the fourth time in two years, France has launched a major neo-colonial war against a Third World country.
Three Kurdish nationalist activists assassinated in Paris
By Kumaran Ira, 11 January 2013
Three Kurdish nationalist activists were found early Thursday morning, shot execution-style in the Kurdistan Information Centre in Paris.
French auto industry prepares assault on jobs, working conditions
By Pierre Mabut, 7 January 2013
Auto job cuts in 2013 threaten the 10 percent of France’s workforce employed, directly or indirectly, in the industry.
French Constitutional Council strikes down Hollande’s 75 percent tax on the rich
By Kumaran Ira, 3 January 2013
The ruling exploited the fact that the PS’s tax increase was itself a political fraud.
Florange steelworkers betrayed by French government, unions
By Pierre Mabut, 4 December 2012
The Socialist Party (PS) government capitulated to steelmaker ArcelorMittal, putting the 629 jobs at the blast furnaces at Florange in eastern France in the balance.
France: Gaullist Union for a Popular Movement on verge of split
By Antoine Lerougetel, 1 December 2012
The Gaullist Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) moved toward a split last week when François Fillon announced the formation of a separate parliamentary group in the National Assembly.
Moody’s downgrades French debt rating, presses for austerity in Europe
By Alex Lantier, 23 November 2012
On November 19, the credit rating agency Moody’s downgraded France’s sovereign debt by one notch from Aaa, the top rating, to Aa1.
Former leading member of Tamil nationalist LTTE assassinated in Paris
By K. Nesan, 22 November 2012
On November 8 a leader of the pro-LTTE Tamil Coordinating Committee was assassinated in Paris.
France’s conservative UMP faces split after leadership race
By Alex Lantier, 22 November 2012
The UMP faces a possible split after a contested vote Sunday for the party presidency and rising tensions over its ties to neo-fascist forces.
French President Hollande’s prime-time speech promises austerity, war
By Antoine Lerougetel and Alex Lantier, 22 November 2012
On November 13 the French president gave a televised address and interview to some 400 journalists assembled at the Elysée palace.
French Socialist Party’s Aubry charged over asbestos poisoning
By Pierre Mabut, 17 November 2012
Former French cabinet minister Martine Aubry was charged with manslaughter November 6 in the public health scandal over the use of asbestos by French industry.
French Greens, Stalinists staggered by President Hollande’s unpopularity
By Kumaran Ira, 14 November 2012
France’s Stalinists and Greens are issuing criticisms of their ally, the ruling Socialist Party, as it collapses in the polls due to its austerity policies.
French NPA offers “anti-imperialist” rationale for imperialist intervention in Syria
By Johannes Stern, 10 November 2012
The NPA’s cynical “anti-imperialist” criticisms of Le Monde’s calls for war with Syria show that it shares the pro-war views of figures that the NPA itself calls imperialists.
French CGT union chooses new leader
By Anthony Torres, 9 November 2012
On November 6 the CGT's national “parliament” accepted the candidacy of Thierry Lepaon to replace Bernard Thibault at the head of the CGT.
France’s Merah affair: New questions emerge on Toulouse killings
By Francis Dubois, 8 November 2012
Statements by intelligence officials in Toulouse raise new questions about the French government’s responsibility in killings committed by Mohamed Merah.
French social democrats adopt new cuts after accepting pro-austerity Gallois report
By Antoine Lerougetel, 7 November 2012
The Socialist Party (PS) government of President François Hollande announced tens of billions of new budget cuts yesterday.
French conservatives propose right-wing protests against social-democratic government
By Kumaran Ira, 5 November 2012
Leading conservatives are responding to the growing unpopularity of the French social-democrats’ austerity policies by calling for right-wing protests against it.
France: Socialist Party government bows to business demands for social cuts
By Antoine Lerougetel, 1 November 2012
In an interview Monday, French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault proposed to lengthen the work week.
Former finance minister confirms France considered leaving euro zone
By Alex Lantier, 1 November 2012
During last November’s European financial crisis, which brought down the Greek and Italian governments, France prepared to abandon the euro currency.
The New Anti-capitalist Party and the expulsion of the Roma from France
By Anthony Torres and Alex Lantier, 31 October 2012
The NPA attempts to hide its political culpability in the persecution of the Roma by maintaining a virtual silence on the subject.
France’s New Anti-capitalist Party conceals plans for historic attack on European auto workers
By Alex Lantier, 30 October 2012
As European automakers and trade unions prepare job and wage cuts, the NPA is advancing justifications for their reactionary policies.
French president Hollande acknowledges 1961 massacre of Algerians in Paris
By Antoine Lerougetel and Alex Lantier, 29 October 2012
On the 51st anniversary of the killing of hundreds of unarmed Algerian protesters by Paris police, François Hollande offered the first official recognition that the event actually occurred.
French government bails out automaker PSA
By Antoine Lerougetel and Alex Lantier, 27 October 2012
On Thursday the French government announced a €5 to 7 billion bailout of carmaker PSA Peugeot-Citroën.
French Socialist Party government endorses austerity in debate over Gallois report
By Alex Lantier, 25 October 2012
The French government is stressing its plans for austerity, after the press pushed for it to endorse a pro-austerity report by ex-EADS chief executive officer Louis Gallois.
French government opens up public bank for small businesses
By Pierre Mabut, 25 October 2012
France’s Socialist Party (PS) government has announced the launching of its Public Investment Bank (PIB) targeting small and medium-sized companies.
German-French tensions dominate European Union summit
By Peter Schwarz, 20 October 2012
The public clash between Merkel and Hollande is symptomatic of growing tensions within the European Union.
France ratifies European Stability and Growth Pact
By Antoine Lerougetel, 17 October 2012
On October 9 the French National Assembly ratified the European Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) that dictates sharp budget cuts and austerity.
French police kill one, arrest 11 in raid on alleged terror cell
By Pierre Mabut, 12 October 2012
Last Saturday, French anti-terrorist police raided addresses in Paris, Cannes and Strasbourg.
French Socialist Party’s austerity program expose bankruptcy of petty-bourgeois “left”
By Kumaran Ira, 12 October 2012
Hollande’s right-wing policies are an indictment of France’s petty-bourgeois “left” parties, who supported his election in May.
French government accused of ordering Libyan leader Gaddafi’s assassination
By Antoine Lerougetel, 10 October 2012
Libyan officials are alleging that former French President Nicolas Sarkozy ordered the assassination of Gaddafi.
Mass layoffs mount under Socialist Party government in France
By Pierre Mabut, 5 October 2012
Steelmaker ArcelorMittal announced on October 1 the definitive closure of its two blast furnaces at Florange in the Moselle area of eastern France.
Protests greet French government debate on pro-austerity European treaty
By Antoine Lerougetel, 3 October 2012
An estimated 50,000 people marched through Paris on Sunday against the European Stability Treaty being debated by France’s social democratic government.
Vigilante mobs, right-wing protests target Roma in France
By Antoine Lerougetel and Alex Lantier, 2 October 2012
A vigilante mob in Marseille and a right-wing protest in Lille targeted Roma camps, while France’s Socialist Party government continued to persecute the Roma.
France, US step up pressure for military intervention in Mali
By Kumaran Ira, 2 October 2012
France and the United States are urging UN Security Council to approve a West African-manned military intervention in Northern Mali.
Workers at French auto plant speak out against job cuts
By Antoine Lerougetel, 26 September 2012
PSA workers oppose management plans, backed by the government and the union bureaucracy, for job cuts and the closure of the Aulnay plant.
France’s Socialist Party government bans protests against anti-Muhammad cartoons
By Kumaran Ira, 24 September 2012
The ban on protests against anti-Muhammad cartoons is a frontal attack on democratic rights in France.
Marikana massacre: France’s NPA sows illusions in South African government, unions
By Anthony Torres and Alex Lantier, 21 September 2012
It took three weeks for France’s New Anti-capitalist Party to write on the massacre of 34 South African miners on August 16 at the Marikana mine.
Sartorius report: French government backs mass layoffs at auto maker PSA
By Pierre Mabut, 15 September 2012
The Socialist Party government accepted a report backing PSA’s plans for mass layoffs and factory closures.
French President Hollande outlines budget cuts, law-and-order policies in TV interview
By Alex Lantier, 10 September 2012
In a prime-time interview last night, Hollande pledged to press forward with austerity measures and sought to win back the confidence of the ruling class.
French trade unions urge spending cuts, labour market deregulation
By Kumaran Ira, 7 September 2012
France’s French Democratic Labour Confederation (CFDT) is pressing President François Hollande to accelerate his social cuts.
French President Hollande calls for formation of Syrian opposition government
By Alex Lantier, 28 August 2012
Hollande’s comments are an official declaration by the French government, backed by Washington, that it is pursuing regime-change by military force in Syria.
French President Hollande meets US-backed Syrian “opposition”
By Antoine Lerougetel, 24 August 2012
On Tuesday French President François Hollande met with officials of the Syrian National Council (SNC).
Pilots union pushes through restructuring plan at Air France
By Francis Dubois, 24 August 2012
The National Airline Pilots Union has pushed through an agreement supporting management’s objectives at Air France.
French Communist Party backs killing of South African miners
By Alex Lantier, 21 August 2012
The World Socialist Web Site notes with contempt the French Communist Party’s defense of the massacre of 34 striking South African miners by police at Marikana.
French ex-left parties support state persecution of the Roma
By Anthony Torres, 21 August 2012
The petty-bourgeois parties are maintaining a deafening silence over President François Hollande’s decision to destroy the Roma camps.
French youth riot against police brutality in Amiens-Nord
By Antoine Lerougetel, 16 August 2012
Violent clashes youth and police took place on Sunday and Monday nights in the Amiens-Nord council estate.
France: The NPA and LO defend CIA operations in Syria
By Anthony Torres, 14 August 2012
By defending the anti-Assad forces guided by the CIA, the petty-bourgeois “left” parties in France are acting as tools of imperialism.
France’s Socialist Party government launches mass expulsions of Roma
By Antoine Lerougetel, 10 August 2012
France’s new Socialist Party government is forcibly dismantling Roma camps and deporting their inhabitants.
France’s Socialist Party government plans to force Roma into ghettos
By Kumaran Ira, 3 August 2012
The new social-democratic government is threatening to dismantle Roma encampments and force the Roma into “integration villages.”
Hollande backs the destruction of auto jobs in the name of French competitiveness
By Anthony Torres, 1 August 2012
A plan to support the French auto industry, announced by President François Hollande on July 25, officially confirms the anti-working class industrial policy of the country’s new Socialist Party government.
French unions sign concession deal with automaker PSA
By Kumaran Ira, 30 July 2012
On July 26 trade unions accepted sweeping concessions proposed by the French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroën at its Sevelnord plant.
Popular confidence in new French president already falling
By Pierre Mabut, 20 July 2012
A prominent pollster recently found that 50 percent of the French population do not believe that new Socialist Party president François Hollande will keep to his election promises.
France’s Socialist Party government backs job cuts at automaker PSA
By Kumaran Ira, 17 July 2012
France’s Socialist Party (PS) government is tacitly backing PSA Peugeot-Citroën’s plans to shut down the Aulnay auto plant and to cut 8,000 jobs across France.
LO, NPA block struggle against PSA job cuts in France
By Kumaran Ira, 14 July 2012
The New Anti-capitalist Party (NPA) and the Workers Struggle (LO) group have reacted to the announcement of 8,000 job cuts at French auto firm PSA by trying to block a working-class struggle against the cuts.
French automaker PSA to cut 8,000 jobs, close Aulnay plant
By Kumaran Ira, 13 July 2012
On July 12, automaker PSA Peugeot-Citroën formally announced plans to cut 8,000 jobs throughout France and close its plant at Aulnay-sous-Bois.
France: Social Conference outlines massive attacks on the working class
By Antoine Lerougetel, 12 July 2012
France’s “Social Conference” convened by President Hollande and the union bureaucracy outlined a series of deep attacks on the working class.
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