#french-municipal-elections-2026

#french-municipal-elections-2026

Christophe Barthes, the mayor of Carcassonne, stated, 'Out with the European flags at the town hall! Make way for the French flags,' as he shared footage of removing the EU flag.

Leftist mayors have transformed Paris over the past 25 years to include countless cycling lanes, a cleaner Seine river, and even fresher air. But concerns over safety and rubbish collection could usher in a return of the right in local polls starting on Sunday.

Photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson (19082004) travelled all over the world and extensively throughout Europe. After producing numerous series of photographs for magazines in Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, Switzerland and France, Cartier-Bresson wanted to bring them together in a book and in 1955, he published Les Europeens (The Europeans). This book of photographs aims to show what makes each of the peoples of this geographical area unique while highlighting their similarities. This exhibition brings together some of the most important photographs from the book.

In a Paris courtroom, the first act of the 2027 French presidential election is already under way. On Tuesday Marine Le Pen began to answer judges' questions in her appeal against a conviction relating to the embezzlement of European parliament funds. If she wins, the far-right leader will be free to run for the presidency for a fourth time. If the sentence is upheld, her 30-year-old protege, Jordan Bardella, is almost certain to take her place in the race.

Budget negotiations have consumed the French political class for nearly two years, after President Emmanuel Macron's 2024 snap election delivered a hung parliament just as a massive hole in public finances made belt-tightening more urgent. The budget talks have cost two prime ministers their jobs, unsettled debt markets and alarmed France's European partners. However, Lecornu whose chaotic two-stage nomination in October drew derision around the world managed to secure the support of Socialist lawmakers through costly but targeted concessions.