Questions tagged [france]
Questions about politics and policy of the French Republic.
119
questions
40
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15answers
14k views
Why does the U.S. left-wing party hate being called “socialist”, but in France the left-wing party proudly calls itself “the Socialist Party”?
Why does the main left-wing party in the United States (the Democratic Party) hate being called "socialist", but in France the main left-wing party proudly calls itself "the Socialist Party"?
29
votes
3answers
7k views
Is Le Pen ideologically a French equivalent of Trump?
I've heard some say that Marine Le Pen was like Trump and by voting against her the French have put the brakes on Trump-like populism.
What are the political similarities between Le Pen and Trump?
26
votes
4answers
6k views
What significance does the announcement that Marine Le Pen is momentarily stepping aside as the leader of France's “Front National” have?
I have read that Marine Le Pen has announced that she will momentarily step aside from her role as the leader of France's Front National (FN) political party.
How does this have any relevance for the ...
26
votes
2answers
7k views
Is French Guiana a (hard) EU border?
In the context of Brexit, there has been much discussion that the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland would mark the boundary of the EU. This has had large ramifications due to the length and ...
21
votes
2answers
2k views
What actions have governments critical of Macron's response to the murder of Samuel Paty called for?
Following the murder of Samuel Paty in France two weeks ago, Emmanuel Macron gave a speech [fr] in which he defended freedom of expression and said "we won't give up on caricatures". This ...
19
votes
2answers
9k views
Why isn't mail-in voting allowed in France?
AP news states flatly that:
Mail-in voting isn’t allowed in France.
What's the usual reason invoked by French politicians in making this prohibition?
19
votes
1answer
2k views
Why are Marine Le Pen's possible connections with Steve Bannon something worth investigating?
According to The Telegraph, a French MP demanded an inquiry be made into Steve Bannon's links with Marine Le Pen:
Mr Lefebvre made the demand in an open letter to the heads of the
National ...
19
votes
1answer
6k views
What are the consequences of recalling ambassadors?
Two days ago there were rumors Britain and France may recall their ambassadors from Israel. Why is that a political action? Wouldn’t that rather harm the citizens of these countries in Israel?
19
votes
2answers
4k views
Why is the French democracy not using proportional representation for election of the assembly?
Proportional representation was used during the French Fourth Republic, while other kinds of voting systems were preferred during the French Third Republic and the French Fifth Republic (with an ...
18
votes
2answers
2k views
Why is the drive for undocumented migration so strong between France and the United Kingdom?
Since years, undocumented migrants camp in Calais and try to get to the United Kingdom. In recent days, media have reported this has increased. For example, BBC News.
I can understand why ...
17
votes
3answers
3k views
Why is Macron seemingly opposing an article 50 extension?
Emmanuel Macron seems to be opposing Article 50 extension, according to Bloomberg:
French President Emmanuel Macron blocked the European Union’s attempt to delay Brexit for three months, raising ...
16
votes
2answers
5k views
What do paternity test restriction laws aim to achieve?
I recently learned that genetic paternity tests are being restricted or even banned in Germany and France (and perhaps in other countries as well).
In Germany the law requires consent from both ...
13
votes
3answers
3k views
How would France benefit from a potential “Frexit”?
I was recently seeing this video on the French Presidential Candidate Marine le Pen by Vox, and although the video and creators are slightly biased, they make these points:-
"...She's particularly ...
13
votes
4answers
520 views
Why is the result of Macron's party at the first round of French parlamentary elections “historical”?
"Historical", "a tsunami" -- these are the headlines one can read or hear at all French mainstream media. They are about the victory of La République en Marche at the first round of French ...
13
votes
1answer
922 views
Did most French people change their opinion about who contributed most to the defeat of Nazi Germany?
It seems implausible, but I have found many sources citing this image:
If this is true is it unique to France or do other countries follow a similar pattern in change of opinion?
13
votes
1answer
708 views
Has a French president ever made a ruling in favor of Andorra, at the expense of France?
Considering that the incumbent French president is also Co-Prince of Andorra, have there ever been rulings or actions made by a French president, in his role as an Andorrian monarch, that benefit ...
13
votes
1answer
599 views
Why does the French election have a runoff election instead of preferential voting
In the recent French election, there will now be another vote between Macron and La Pen to determine a winner. A lot of other countries seem to have this system. Elections are not cheap and having ...
13
votes
2answers
1k views
When and why did the President of the French Republic inherit the titles of the King of France?
The President of the French Republic is also co-Prince of Andorra and canon priest of St. John Lateran, amongst other titles. He has also the right to hunt in the domain of the castle of Chambord.
...
12
votes
1answer
2k views
Why exactly is Laïcité (the law on separation of church and state) not valid in Alsace?
I've read that
Due to the special historical situation (Laïcité is not valid in Alsace), there is a university with a theology faculty (Catholic and Protestant). In 2009 a Master's degree in ...
12
votes
3answers
895 views
Why is France involved in Mali?
This month France has sent ground troops to and bombed northern Mali. This feels like the first time in a while that a country besides the US has stuck its neck out to fight violent Islamist groups ...
12
votes
3answers
1k views
Can Macron legally reform Islam in France?
In February 2018, french president Emmanuel Macron said :
"I want to lay the foundations for the whole organization of Islam in
France"
He plans to do this to diminish the number of young ...
12
votes
1answer
441 views
Why won't the two main French far-left parties unite and present a single candidate?
Lutte ouvrière (LO) and Nouveau Parti Anticapitaliste (NPA) are both French far-left communist parties and they are both represented by a candidate during the French 2017 presidential elections, why ...
11
votes
1answer
700 views
Why is France cutting nuclear power policy so different than Germany's?
According to this article France postpones nuclear power reduction:
The French government has postponed a long-held target to reduce the
share of nuclear energy in the country’s power production ...
11
votes
1answer
309 views
What is the meaning of the obligation by French Presidents that nuncios wear the biretta?
The King of France, and the French Presidents after them, had been given by the Pope, the privilege to impose to the nuncio, the ambassador of Vatican, in France to wear the biretta.
What are the ...
10
votes
1answer
1k views
Why have markets reacted well to the first round of the French presidential election?
I've heard that markets have reacted well to the first round of the French presidential election, in which the National Front candidate and a centrist, mainstream candidate got through to the second ...
10
votes
3answers
987 views
Why does France have systematic difficulties in obtaining a budget deficit below 3%?
According to this article France plans for a budget deficit slightly over the EU allowed limit of 3%:
France's budget deficit is likely to overshoot the European Union's
limit of 3 percent of GDP ...
10
votes
3answers
1k views
How much money does France get from its former colonies?
There are various stories in the internet about how France gets billions from its former colonies. These figures are often inconsistent. Does France benefit from its former colonies?
9
votes
1answer
483 views
What is the significance of Macron's proposed status change to the European Flag, and what steps would be needed to make this a reality?
President Macron said he wants to officially recognize the status of flag of Europe (my translation).
Does this mean that the flag has been decorative only up until now? What would officially ...
9
votes
3answers
595 views
Why does Paris draw its city limits so tightly?
On Feb. 1st 2020, Berlin become the largest city of the EU, with a population of approximately. 3,75 million inside the city limits.
Except that Paris is a much larger city by almost any other ...
9
votes
1answer
469 views
How does France's electoral system work
With the elections across the EU likely to have significant consequences for the future fate of Europe, I'd like to try to understand the electoral systems of each state a little more. I'm ...
9
votes
2answers
1k views
What is the French support for Frexit (France leaving EU) and why?
But the french also hate the EU. No more than 25% of them still supports it. If such a referendum were to happen in france, the result for leave would probably be much higher - comment on another ...
9
votes
1answer
387 views
What were the positive and negative effects of the French ISF?
The Impôt de Solidarité sur la Fortune (ISF, or wealth solidarity tax), is easily the most controversial part of French tax policy, and its removal by Emmanuel Macron was probably the most ...
8
votes
3answers
862 views
Why is there so much worry about France potentially leaving the EU?
I've kept reading and listening on information and opinions about the upcoming French election and one of the main issues that keep coming up is the future of France in the EU. I know that many of the ...
8
votes
1answer
495 views
Time Limits on, and Purpose of State of Emergency in France?
It was reported in the
Independent that France ended the state of emergency on 1 November of this year (2017).
Is there a time limit to which an emergency can be imposed in the country? Why do ...
8
votes
1answer
3k views
Why does the economist label France a flawed democracy?
The Economist's Democracy Index lists France as a flawed democracy. Why doesn't the Economist see France as a full democracy?
8
votes
2answers
360 views
Why did France stop its uranium extraction activities?
According to the French Wikipedia article, France had these going from 1953 to 2002, but no mention of the reason of the cessation.
Now most of the material comes from the outside of the country, ...
8
votes
2answers
843 views
What limitations to freedom of speech are there in France?
The question is similar to this one:
Freedom of speech is understood to be fundamental in a democracy. What limitations to freedom of speech are there in France? Is holocaust denial an example? can ...
8
votes
3answers
606 views
Is there evidence of on-going legislation specifically targeting Muslims in France?
In 2004, France banned wearing conspicuous religious symbols in schools. In particular, this bans the Muslim headscarf, the Jewish kippah, and the Sikh turban. The turban has now been exempted as ...
8
votes
2answers
596 views
Why is Marine Le Pen ordered to undergo psychiatric testing instead of being fined?
According to BBC, Marine Le Pen was ordered by a French court to undergo psychiatric testing:
A French court has ordered far-right leader Marine Le Pen to undergo
psychiatric tests as part of an ...
7
votes
3answers
320 views
The Gilets Jaunes protest started in response to fuel prices - which has been reversed - so why do they continue?
The Gilets Jaunes (yellow vests) protest started in response to fuel prices, which, as I understand it, were reversed in December?
So why do they continue?
7
votes
3answers
1k views
How much is the USA dependent on British and French support in international relations?
I know the relationship is mutually beneficial. But, I am trying to understand the depth of relations between the UK-France with the USA.
Can the USA function as smoothly as it is functioning in the ...
7
votes
2answers
612 views
What is the position of the main Spanish Catalonia independence movements on French Catalonia?
The geographic area of Catalonia is not limited to Spain but extends to France, corresponding roughly to the French department of Pyrénées-Orientales. This area is referred as Northern Catalonia.
...
7
votes
2answers
277 views
Is there debate on keeping the French nuclear deterrent, like there is in the UK?
In the UK, there has been a lot of debate recently about whether to renew Trident, their nuclear deterrent. Most arguments are based on cost, usefulness in the modern world, and nuclear disarmament ...
7
votes
1answer
256 views
Which countries have largely copied article 49 para 3 of the French constitution?
Roughly speaking, article 49.3 of the French constitution allows the government to pass a law without an explicit vote in the legislative assembly by "committing government's responsibility"....
6
votes
4answers
2k views
Why was the voter turnout so low in the second round of French elections?
According to French election: Turnout sharply down in Le Pen-Macron battle, voter turnout in the second round of French presidential election was the lowest since 1981:
The participation rate ...
6
votes
2answers
2k views
Why did France not sign the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties?
It looks like France is the only Security Council permanent member that did not sign the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. (The US signed in 1970, but has yet to ratify, although successive US ...
6
votes
1answer
284 views
What is the political proposal of Emmanuel Macron?
I have to admit that not being French, I have not paid too close attention to the various proposals of the different presidential candidates. Now that the second turn draws near, I'd like to ...
6
votes
1answer
137 views
To which extent can the French president bypass the parliament using decrees?
I am interested in the actual power the French president has to bypass the parliament to issue a decree. Which control mechanisms do exist on parliament side? And what is the possible content of such ...
6
votes
1answer
336 views
Looking for French Media Bias Chart
Can anyone point me to a reliable French Media Bias Chart, please? I am looking for an equivalent of adfontes media bias chart for French media.
6
votes
2answers
376 views
Macron's “lead climbers” (vs. trickle down)
Are there more details on Macron's vision of how tax cuts will positively affect (French) society? I found a story from last year his rejection of the well-known “trickle-down” economics narrative, ...
