2 h. ago France’s new prime minister names a government that might not last long

PARIS (AP) — France’s new prime minister named a government Sunday, bringing back former finance minister Bruno Le Maire to serve at the defense ministry, where he’ll help oversee French military support for Ukraine and address threats to European security posed by Russia. Other key positions in the new cabinet, announced by President Emmanuel Macron […]

Politics

2 w. ago Strikes and protests roil France, pitting the streets against Macron and his new prime minister

PARIS — Protesters hit France with transport strikes, notably hobbling the Paris Metro, demonstrations and traffic slowdowns and blockades Thursday, pitting the power of the streets against President Emmanuel Macron ‘s government and its proposals to cut funding for public services that underpin the French way of life. The first whiffs of police teargas came […]

Politics

2 w. ago Day of strikes in France challenges new prime minister’s budget plans

PARIS (AP) — Strikes and street demonstrations called by all major trade unions to denounce budget cuts were expected Thursday across France, as new Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu talks with political opponents about curbing France’s massive deficit and debt. Unions are urging Lecornu to abandon draft budget measures proposed by his predecessor, which include social […]

Politics

2 w. ago France’s new prime minister faces a bumpy ride with budget challenges and nationwide strikes ahead

PARIS (AP) — A ballooning deficit. A fractious Parliament. Unrest on the streets. The challenges facing Sebastien Lecornu, France’s fourth prime minister in a year, are daunting and defeated his immediate predecessors. So he’s trying a different tack. To ease tensions, Lecornu has scrapped proposals to axe two public holidays and trimmed lifetime benefits for […]

Politics

3 w. ago Confidence vote forces Macron to seek fourth prime minister in 12 months

Prime Minister François Bayrou was ousted overwhelmingly in a 364-194 vote against him, forcing President Emmanuel Macron to search for a fourth prime minister in 12 months.

Politics

3 w. ago France’s prime minister pleads for lawmakers’ support to reduce debts before key vote

PARIS (AP) — Prime Minister Francois Bayrou warned that France is risking its future and its influence by racking up trillions in state debts that are “submerging us,” pleading for belt-tightening in a last-ditch effort to save his job from a parliamentary vote expected to oust him later Monday. Bayrou, 74, painted a dramatic picture […]

Politics

3 w. ago French government collapses in a confidence vote, forcing Macron to seek yet another prime minister

PARIS (AP) — Legislators toppled France’s government in a confidence vote on Monday, a new crisis for Europe’s second-largest economy that obliges President Emmanuel Macron to search for a fourth prime minister in 12 months. Prime Minister Francois Bayrou was ousted overwhelmingly in a 364-194 vote against him. Bayrou paid the price for what appeared […]

Politics

4 w. ago Lorne Gunter: Federal Liberals hint at austerity, but don't count on it

For more than a week now, Prime Minister Mark Carney and federal Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne have been preparing Canadians for an “austerity budget,” and perhaps even public-service layoffs. Although while talking to reporters this week, Champagne was less committal. He spoke only of “adjustments” to the 440,000 federal civil service. An adjustment can be […]

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