France, in Western Europe, encompasses medieval cities, alpine villages and Mediterranean beaches. Paris, its capital, is famed for its fashion houses, classical art museums including the Louvre and monuments like the Eiffel Tower.
With a charismatic blend of youthful vigour and strategic communication, far-right leader Jordan Bardella has captivated millions on social media, a sign of the "Bardella mania" that has swept through France’s younger demographic. At just 28, Bardella's ascent to the top of the National Rally party formerly led by Marine Le Pen and Macron's call for snap legislative elections may well pave the road to the prime minister's office.
French Sports Minister Amelie Oudéa-Castéra on Monday hailed a statement by football superstar Kylian Mbappé urging voters not to back political extremes in the upcoming snap elections as exemplary. The backing came as Spain's goalkeeper suggested Monday that it was not the French captain's place to speak up "against extremes and divisive ideas" ahead of general elections.
A Paris court ruled on Friday to overturn an earlier decision by France's conservative Republicans party to expel Eric Ciotti as the party chief, said Ciotti, in a move that could boost the far-right National Rally party ahead of parliament elections.
The decision to call snap elections might backfire as polls show Marine Le Pen’s party winning the most seats in the National Assembly.
President Emmanuel Macron called on people of good will to come together to defend the Republic in the snap election he decided to call.
France has taken the dramatic step of blocking TikTok in its Pacific territory of New Caledonia, as part of efforts to quell days of violent unrest.
Several days of riots in New Caledonia come after Paris proposed changes to the local voting system
New Caledonia’s international airport is closed and Australians are advised to exercise a high degree of caution, as protests turn deadly.
Mbappe was named France's player of the year on Monday at an awards ceremony in Paris, as he comes to the end of his seven-season stay with Paris Saint-Germain.
The Eiffel Tower has emitted a powerful message as France passes a landmark legislation, attracting heavy backlash from the Vatican overnight.
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was found guilty on Wednesday by a Paris appeals court of illegal campaign financing over his failed 2012 re-election bid, confirming a previous ruling by a lower court.
Le Monde said the president was "flirting with nostalgia for a France of old".
France's new Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, 34, unveiled his government on Thursday with several cabinet members remaining in their posts, including hardline Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin and controversial Justice Minister Éric Dupond-Moretti.
He replaces Elisabeth Borne, who resigned from her post on Monday
French President Emmanuel Macron is under renewed fire after urging his minority government to vote for a strengthened immigration bill that was endorsed by the far right. The late Tuesday vote, which divided Macron's coalition MPs and prompted his health minister to resign a day later, was heralded by far-right leader Marine Le Pen as an “ideological victory” upon its passage.