All posts tagged: Macrons

Macron’s cheeky 4-word reply after King Charles joked US could be speaking French | World | News

Macron’s cheeky 4-word reply after King Charles joked US could be speaking French | World | News

Published by Sam Flores

French President Emmanuel Macron (Image: Getty) Emmmanuel Macron issued a brisk four-word riposte after King Charles jokingly suggested the United States might be speaking French if history had taken a different turn. The exchange followed a light-hearted moment during a White House dinner, where the King drew laughter with a pointed remark aimed at Donald Trump’s earlier claim that, without American intervention in World War 2, Europeans would now be speaking “German and a little bit of Japanese”. Turning the argument on its head, Charles told assembled guests: “You recently stated, Mr President, that without the United States, European countries would speak German. Dare I say that without us, you would speak French?” The line landed well in the room, prompting laughter among dignitaries and quickly reverberating beyond Washington. Within hours, Mr Macron weighed in on social media, responding in English with a wry: “That would be chic!” Read more: Donald Trump insists King Charles ‘would have helped’ US with Iran Read more: King Charles ‘deeply concerned’ by Golders Green stabbing as statement issued The …

Macron’s inner circle starts heading for the exit – POLITICO

Macron’s inner circle starts heading for the exit – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

“The closer we get to the presidential election, the more there’ll be an atmosphere of winding down, which is very normal, I’m aware of it,” Lecornu said in an interview with Le Figaro last weekend. Deputies depart Two of Moulin’s deputies, Emilie Piette and Constance Bensussan, are among those on their way out. Piette is off to head the RTE electricity network agency and Bensussan is moving to France’s CNAF benefits agency. And shortly before the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran began, Macron’s top Middle East adviser, Anne-Claire Legendre, left in February to head the Arab World Institute, replacing Jack Lang, who had resigned over his ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Legendre has been lauded internally as having led the diplomatic efforts behind France’s push for the recognition of a Palestinian state. An aide to Macron said leading the Bank of France is Moulin’s dream job, but getting the gig will be tough given he’d need approval from parliament, where Macron lacks a majority. A Nuclear Policy Council meeting at the EPR2 …

Far-right leader Bardella criticizes Macron’s pan-European nuclear push – POLITICO

Far-right leader Bardella criticizes Macron’s pan-European nuclear push – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Bardella acknowledged that France’s nuclear doctrine has always foreseen that the country’s vital interests do not stop at the French borders. “When it comes to nuclear power, I defend principles, and those principles are that there can be no sharing, no co-financing, and no co-decision-making on the nuclear button,” Bardella also said. The Elysée Palace has always stressed that any decision to launch a nuclear weapon would remain with the French president. The National Rally, historically skeptical of engagement with both NATO and the EU, is leading early polls for next year’s pivotal presidential election. If longtime leader Marine Le Pen’s appeal to shorten or overturn her five-year election ban related to embezzlement charges is unsuccessful, the 30-year-old Bardella will likely run in her place. Bardella’s remarks come a few days ahead of a landmark speech Macron is set to deliver on how France’s nuclear weapons can contribute to Europe’s security. Paris has been in talks with European capitals such as Berlin, Stockholm and Warsaw over how French nukes could help the continent deter Russian …

Macron’s efforts to make France business friendly ‘wiped out,’ US group says – POLITICO

Macron’s efforts to make France business friendly ‘wiped out,’ US group says – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

“We are back to where we were 10 years ago in terms of France’s attractiveness,” Kamel said while presenting the findings Wednesday. Only 17 percent of respondents said France had a positive economic outlook in the next two to three years, with the top concerns being the high cost of labor and complex French labor law and political instability, while 77 percent believe Macron won’t be able to deliver more reforms before his term ends next year. Since taking office in 2017, Macron, a former investment banker, worked hard to dispel France’s reputation as a stifled, overtaxed bureaucratic abyss by cutting corporate taxes, eliminating red tape and courting major multinationals fleeing post-Brexit Britain. France has regularly topped consultancy EY’s ranking of the EU investment destinations. The French Trade Ministry, expecting the bleak results, tried to get ahead of the curve and play down the findings Tuesday. An official from the minister’s office stressed in a briefing to reporters that the AmCham survey was conducted between December and January, before France had passed a budget and …

Macron’s India charm offensive: Can defence deals draw Delhi closer to Europe? – The Debate

Macron’s India charm offensive: Can defence deals draw Delhi closer to Europe? – The Debate

Published by Sam Flores

There’s trade deals, there’s partnerships and then there’s fighter jets. French President Emmanuel Macron is in Mumbai to put the finishing touches on a €30 billion sale of 114 Rafale jets. This third batch comes as France struggles to convince European neighbours to either buy its warplanes, build one together or – at the very least – get NATO allies to de-risk from relying on US-made F-35s.  On the Indian side, there’s scrutiny over how Rafale sales have gone so far, both with cost and in combat. Then there’s the question of how much Delhi weens itself off historic supplier Russia. And what goes for military hardware goes for oil imports, what with US pressure to stop buying discounted crude from Moscow. On that score, what to make of fast-tracked trade deals with Washington and the European Union? How much strategic autonomy can both India and France afford in a realigning world? Produced by Charles Wente, Aline Bottin, Daniel Whittington and Ilayda Habip Source link

Germany and France now publicly display their disagreements over Macron’s proposals

Germany and France now publicly display their disagreements over Macron’s proposals

Published by Sam Flores

Emmanuel Macron at the Elysée, in Paris, on February 9, 2026. KAMIL ZIHNIOGLU FOR LE MONDE The honeymoon between Paris and Berlin has proven brief. Nearly a year after the February 23, 2025, German parliamentary elections brought conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz to power, the atmosphere in both countries has come to resemble the one that prevailed under Merz’s predecessor, the Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, who was in office from 2021 to 2025. Due to the lack of any real rapport between Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron, French-German relations had become frosty at the time. Despite the hopes raised by the election of Merz, who was touted as being committed to Europe and knowledgeable about French-German relations, behind the two leaders’ repeated displays of friendship for the cameras, France and Germany have stopped hiding their disagreements on key issues. The interview that Macron granted to several European newspapers, including Le Monde, on Tuesday, February 10, just two days ahead of an informal European summit and three days before the Munich Security Conference, was received with reservations …

Italy aligns with Germany by cooling on Macron’s joint EU debt plan – POLITICO

Italy aligns with Germany by cooling on Macron’s joint EU debt plan – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

BRUSSELS — Rome is again aligning with Berlin by saying that it’s not the time to discuss European joint debt as proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron — even though it’s an idea Italy has pushed for years. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Wednesday said while the government broadly agrees on the need for shared borrowing to fund investments in strategic sectors it isn’t worth contemplating while France and Germany were at odds over the matter. “I prefer to find solutions on issues that various countries already agree on, rather than opening debates on issues where there is no agreement,” Tajani told Sky TV on Wednesday. “If there is no agreement, there is no point in getting bogged down in a debate, even on issues that we consider positive.” Ahead of Thursday’s meeting of EU leaders, Macron on Tuesday called for a joint borrowing scheme to fund investments in strategic sectors. Germany was quick to shoot down the idea, stressing that it is more pressing to discuss the bloc’s productivity problems. Source link

Macron’s pick to audit the French budget is the person who wrote it – POLITICO

Macron’s pick to audit the French budget is the person who wrote it – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Eric Coquerel, a lawmaker from the hard-left France Unbowed who chairs the National Assembly’s finance committee, said in a post on X that the danger had nothing to do with de Montchalin personally but the serious conflict of interest her nomination represents. “Everyone understands the danger that this institution, one in which the French people have confidence, would face,” Coquerel said. De Montchalin, 40, would also be guaranteed job security until the mandatory retirement age of 68, prompting speculation that her appointment was also a way to prevent a future president from the far-right National Rally, which is the front-runner in next year’s presidential race, from filling the post. Macron faced similar accusations on Monday following the news that Bank of France Governor François Villeroy de Galhau would quit his job in June. Had Villeroy seen out his term, the succession would have been in the gift of whoever follows Macron as president. National Rally heavyweight Jean-Philippe Tanguy suspected as much, saying: “I spend my life telling people that Macronism is illiberal and uses democracy …

Is Macron’s attack on video games targeting the wrong enemy?

Is Macron’s attack on video games targeting the wrong enemy?

Published by Sam Flores

Emmanuel Macron, at the Elysée Palace in Paris, on February 5, 2026. LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP A direct attack on video games: That was President Emmanuel Macron’s approach on Thursday, February 5, in an interview with Brut. “The violence taking root among the youngest people in society is also linked to the fact that children and teenagers are much more exposed to violence in videos they watch on social media or in the video games they play,” said the president. Video games “where you shoot everyone, including Fortnite, that’s not real life, because it distorts the perception of violence,” continued Macron, referencing an online game that is hugely popular among children and teenagers. “When you spend five or six hours a day killing people (…) it conditions young people (…) it will completely disinhibit them and sometimes make them commit the worst acts.” While Macron nevertheless emphasized that not “everything should be lumped together” and that some uses of video games were “good,” he announced that he had tasked “experts and the National Digital Council” with “work” …

Bank of France chief’s surprise exit stokes suspicion among Macron’s opponents – POLITICO

Bank of France chief’s surprise exit stokes suspicion among Macron’s opponents – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Villeroy explained that he had been approached to take over the presidency of the Fondation Apprentis d’Auteuil, a Catholic charity that helps young people from difficult social backgrounds to get into the job market. He said he had taken his decision “in complete personal independence” and added that there would be enough time between now and June to organize a smooth succession. An influential voice on the European Central Bank’s Governing Council, Villeroy is currently serving his second six-year term as governor. He has been at the head of France’s central bank for nearly 11 years and “has been a solid, well-respected governor,” according to Véron. Quick and fulsome praise Villeroy’s colleagues were quick to heap praise on the outgoing governor. “The [ECB’s]Governing Council has benefited enormously from the realism combined with strong European convictions and vision that he always brings to the table,” Lagarde said in a statement, paying tribute to his “friendly, wide-ranging, team-oriented, good-humored and consistently well-articulated contributions.” “His deep engagement with the European cause, tied to his sincere love for France …