FRANCE: National Assembly approves bill to raise retirement age

France’s National Assembly has approved President Nicolas Sarkozy’s controversial pension reform, which will raise the legal retirement age from 60 to 62. Socialists and unions fiercely oppose the bill. Read More

Sarkozy down but far from out after French vote

As expected, French voters gave Nicolas Sarkozy’s UMP party a hammering in the run-off elections for regional councils. The left opposition won everywhere except Alsace and two overseas regions. The revived Socialists are jubilant and dreaming of national power while… Read More

FRENCH REGIONAL ELECTIONS: Left-wing alliance trumps Sarkozy’s party in regional polls

The ruling UMP party of President Nicolas Sarkozy experienced a wipeout in the second round of France’s regional elections, with the Socialists and their left-wing allies winning in all but one of mainland France’s 22 regions. Read More

FRENCH REGIONAL ELECTIONS: Left-leaning parties form alliance to keep lead in second round

Ahead of a March 21 runoff vote, France’s Socialists allied with the Greens and other left leaning parties in a deal struck Tuesday following the Socialists’ first-place showing in round one of regional elections. Read More

FRENCH REGIONAL ELECTIONS: Socialists triumph while National Front makes headway

Amid record voter apathy, France’s Socialist Party have triumphed over the ruling right-wing UMP party in regional elections. The far-right National Front made significant headway while the centrist MoDem party suffered a spectacular defeat. Read More

FRANCE: Socialists triumph over Sarkozy’s party in regional elections

France’s Socialist-led left has defeated Nicolas Sarkozy’s UMP party and its allies in the first round of regional elections this Sunday after garnering 53.46% of the vote. Read More