15 h. ago French parliament strikes down wealth tax demanded by Socialists

Move spells more political chaos ahead for embattled Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu

Politics

62 h. ago French parliament votes to add consent to rape law after Gisèle Pelicot case

A historic move to change French criminal law would bring its legislation in line with many other European countriesThe French parliament has voted to add consent to the country’s rape law in a historic move sparked by the mass rape of Gisèle Pelicot.The change, which will still need to be signed off by President Emmanuel Macron, will bring French legislation in line with many other European countries. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Lecornu addresses French parliament in bid to win over Socialists – Europe live

PM will be hoping to win over enough Socialists to stave off losing a no-confidence vote that would deepen France’s political crisisThe Kremlin said on Tuesday it welcomed US president Donald Trump’s desire to focus on the search for a peace deal to end the fighting in Ukraine after achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and hoped he would be able to push Kyiv towards a settlement.Addressing the Israeli Knesset a day earlier after brokering a deal between Israel and Hamas, Trump spoke of wanting to get a deal done with Iran over its nuclear programme, but said he would turn his attention to trying to end the war in Ukraine first.We are already well acquainted with Mr Witkoff; he is effective, has proven his effectiveness now in the Middle East, and we hope that his talents will continue to contribute to the work already under way in Ukraine.The Russian side remains open and ready for peaceful dialogue, and we hope that the influence of the United States and the diplomatic skills of President...

Politics

2 w. ago Lecornu attempts to rally French cabinet before addressing parliament – Europe live

PM will be hoping to win over enough Socialists to stave off losing a no-confidence vote that would deepen France’s political crisisThe Kremlin said on Tuesday it welcomed US president Donald Trump’s desire to focus on the search for a peace deal to end the fighting in Ukraine after achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and hoped he would be able to push Kyiv towards a settlement.Addressing the Israeli Knesset a day earlier after brokering a deal between Israel and Hamas, Trump spoke of wanting to get a deal done with Iran over its nuclear programme, but said he would turn his attention to trying to end the war in Ukraine first.We are already well acquainted with Mr Witkoff; he is effective, has proven his effectiveness now in the Middle East, and we hope that his talents will continue to contribute to the work already under way in Ukraine.The Russian side remains open and ready for peaceful dialogue, and we hope that the influence of the United States and the diplomatic skills of President...

Politics

3 w. ago Don’t fall for the authoritarian hype – Reform and the hard right can be stopped in their tracks | Gordon Brown

From the US to Europe and Asia, grievances are being exploited to gain power. But moderate voices are still in tune with the majorityGordon Brown was UK prime minister from 2007 to 2010Nigel Farage portrays his Reform UK party as a unique phenomenon that has burst on to the global stage, its meteoric rise an exceptional epochal event. But this week, in every one of Europe’s major countries and from India and Thailand to the US and Argentina, hard-right, anti-immigrant, anti-globalisation parties like his are also ahead in the opinion polls.In last Saturday’s Czech elections, the rightwing, pro-Putin populist Andrej Babiš toppled prime minister Petr Fiala. National Rally, which has just brought down yet another French prime minister, is leading the polls for both the French presidency and parliament. In Germany, the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is currently the most popular party. Hungary’s Fidesz party, Robert Fico’s pro-Russian Slovakian coalition and the Brothers of...

Culture

3 w. ago Gisèle Pelicot tells appeal trial she never gave consent to man convicted of rape

Woman says at retrial of Husamettin Dogan that ‘no victim should feel shame’ as court shown video evidenceGisèle Pelicot, who survived almost a decade of rape by dozens of men after she was drugged by her ex-husband, has told a French court that she never gave consent for anyone to abuse her while she was in a comatose state and that no victim should ever feel shame.Addressing the appeal trial on Wednesday of an unemployed builder who has contested his conviction for raping her, she said: “For me, the harm has been done – I will need to rebuild from these ruins and I think I’m on the right road – but what I want to say to others is that I never regretted my decisions, from filing a legal complaint until today. I want to say to victims to never be ashamed of what was imposed on them, because they’re never responsible.” Continue reading...

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