France
Former French President Nicholas Sarkozy sentenced to one year in prison
By Anthony Torres, 3 March 2021
Sarkozy had sought to bribe a representative of the legal system in order to suppress the fallout from the Bettencourt affair
French government rejects lockdown as UK variant becomes dominant strain
By Samuel Tissot, 27 February 2021
The British variant now accounts for nearly half of new COVID-19 infections across France.
Macron government doubles down on right-wing attack on French universities
By Alex Lantier, 23 February 2021
Vidal’s proposal highlights the dictatorial nature of the projects of the entire political class and the need for a political mobilisation of the working class.
999 Macron doubles down on political censorship of French universities
23 February 2021
Adopting “anti-separatist” law, Macron moves to censor French universities
By Alex Lantier, 18 February 2021
The state has ordered the National Center for Scientific Research to ideologically evaluate all university research in France for Islamist influence.
President Macron rejects troop draw-down in French military intervention in the Sahel
By Will Morrow, 18 February 2021
The French army has waged the neo-colonial war under the cynical banner of the fight against terrorism and the defence of the local population.
France’s “anti-separatist” law: A frontal assault on democratic rights
By Alex Lantier, 16 February 2021
The “anti-separatist” law now set to pass in the National Assembly would allow the state to ban political organizations and prosecute their members.
999 NPA covers Stalinist vote for fascistic anti-Muslim law
15 February 2021
French neo-fascist Le Pen, interior minister debate anti-Muslim policies
By Alex Lantier, 13 February 2021
In the debate, Interior Minister Darmanin attacked Le Pen from the right, for not supporting his fascistic “anti-separatist” law and being “soft” on Islam.
French Communist Party and Unsubmissive France back Macron government’s far-right “anti-separatist” law
By Jacques Valentin, 12 February 2021
The law drastically restricts the freedom of association and religious freedoms under the pretext of fighting against Islamic “separatism.”
French universities reopen despite spread of coronavirus, new variants
By Samuel Tissot, 9 February 2021
French universities are returning to partial in-person education, opening the door for further anti-lockdown measures as the British variant continues to spread.
French teachers denounce Macron government’s “herd immunity” policy in schools
By Will Morrow, 5 February 2021
Last night, Prime Minister Jean Castex delivered a press conference to announce that the government was continuing to reject any lock-down measures.
Workers Struggle (LO) tries to strangle French workers’ opposition to herd immunity policies
By Anthony Torres, 4 February 2021
As the unions organize a national day of action today, the LO party insists that only the trade unions—who support "herd immunity" policies—can lead the working class.
French government rejects a new lockdown to stop coronavirus spread
By Alex Lantier, 31 January 2021
Like his counterparts across Europe, Macron is sacrificing masses of lives to increase the wealth of the super-rich.
Macron dictates “Charter of principles” to the French Islamic Council
By Jacques Valentin and Alex Lantier, 31 January 2021
The government’s measure aims to transform Muslims into de facto second-class citizens and overwrite the 1905 secularism law.
NPA calls to reopen French universities as COVID-19 deaths mount
By Samuel Tissot and Alex Lantier, 30 January 2021
As deaths mount, the petty-bourgeois New Anti-capitalist Party is aligning itself on the murderous “herd immunity” policy of President Emmanuel Macron.
Macron government denounces scientists for “intervening” in pandemic response
By Will Morrow, 29 January 2021
For weeks, the Macron government has rejected demands from the scientific community and health care professionals for a lockdown.
999 French pseudo-left hold demonstration for reopening of universities
29 January 2021
999 France covid update/ pseudo left protests
28 January 2021
For a European-wide strike against school openings!
Network of Action Committees for Safe Education, 28 January 2021
This statement was adopted by a meeting of the Network of Action Committees for Safe Education.
French government determined to keep schools open as virus spreads
By Samuel Tissot, 27 January 2021
Despite over new 1,000 admissions to ICU beds in the last 48 hours, the French education minister doubled down on lies to justify keeping schools open.
999 French oil workers strike against job losses in pandemic
25 January 2021
999 Stellantis merger finalized
18 January 2021
French government rejects lockdown as COVID-19 deaths sweep Europe
By Alex Lantier, 16 January 2021
The official policy of imposing a 6 p.m. curfew while keeping schools and nonessential production open ensures that hundreds of thousands will keep dying across Europe.
Over 600,000 dead from coronavirus in Europe
By Will Morrow, 14 January 2021
Scientists are warning that the pandemic is entering into an even more catastrophic stage than anything that has preceded it.
999 France coronavirus new strain / vaccine rollout debacle
12 January 2021
France’s New Anti-capitalist Party denies Trump’s fascist coup in Washington
By Alex Lantier, 11 January 2021
After the storming of the Capitol by a far-right mob, the middle class NPA denied that a coup was attempted and denounced warnings about a coup as “bourgeois.”
999 NPA downplays fascist coup in Washington
9 January 2021
Vaccine distribution mired in delays across Europe
By Will Morrow, 8 January 2021
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread out of control throughout the European continent, the program of vaccination organized by the European Union is already widely recognized to be a debacle.
Macron government advisor meets with neofascist Marion Marechal Le Pen
By Jacques Valentin, 6 January 2021
The French daily Le Monde revealed that Bruno Roger-Petit, an advisor to President Emmanuel Macron, met for lunch with Marion Maréchal on October 14.
Macron government refuses calls to cancel school reopenings as pandemic surges
By Will Morrow, 4 January 2021
The Macron government has refused calls by medical specialists and teacher and parent groups for the cancellation or postponement of in-person classes.
As scientific council warns of “uncontrolled resurgence of epidemic”
Macron government rejects national lock-down in France
By Samuel Tissot, 31 December 2020
Ignoring the recommendations of scientists, the government has determined to reopen schools and workplaces in the New Year
French testing system missed 9 of 10 COVID-19 cases after first lock-down
By Samuel Tissot, 30 December 2020
A recent study exposes the inadequacy of the testing system the Macron government introduced after the first lock-down, leading to thousands of preventable deaths.
Britain descends into chaos as coronavirus crisis mounts
By Robert Stevens, 24 December 2020
On Tuesday, 691 more people were announced dead from the virus. Yesterday this was topped with 744 deaths reported, the highest total since April 29.
22 December 2020
999 wave of layoffs in France amid pandemic
21 December 2020
Room 2806: The Accusation—Digging up the discredited sexual assault case against French politician Dominique Strauss-Kahn
By Joanne Laurier, 19 December 2020
The case fell apart in August 2011 after prosecutors found, in their own words, that the alleged victim had been “persistently, and at times inexplicably, untruthful in describing matters of both great and small significance.”
Protests erupt in New Caledonia over sale of nickel mine
By John Braddock, 18 December 2020
The dispute over ownership of the troubled Vale plant between the pro-and anti-independence factions of the ruling elite has nothing to offer the working class.
French President Emmanuel Macron tests positive for coronavirus
By Will Morrow, 18 December 2020
The day before Macron was tested, France officially ended the highly limited national lockdown that had been in place since the end of October.
France ends coronavirus lockdown, as thousands of cases reported each day
By Will Morrow, 16 December 2020
The government is ending the limited lockdowns announced in late October despite admitting that its own extremely high threshold of less than 5,000 daily cases is not close to being met.
Macron government authorizes police documentation of political views of French population
By Will Morrow, 14 December 2020
At the beginning of the month, the Macron government quietly released far-reaching changes to its police intelligence guidelines.
Amin: A worker far from home
By Joanne Laurier, 12 December 2020
Amin is a subdued, thoughtful look at the condition of migrant workers who break their backs in the metropolitan countries to feed their families in their native lands.
Johnson and Macron governments step up collaboration in persecution of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers
By Simon Whelan, 12 December 2020
These extremely vulnerable people are fleeing from the wars, fratricidal conflicts, and economic and ecological destruction created and exacerbated by the world’s imperialist powers, foremost in Europe by Britain and France.
Private school permitting students to wear Islamic clothing closed in Paris
By Samuel Tissot, 11 December 2020
The school’s closure is only the latest provocation in a series of attacks launched by the Macron government against institutions that serve France’s six million Muslims.
Mélenchon calls for military conscription, arms buildup in France
By Will Morrow, 8 December 2020
Mélenchon used the interview as a presidential candidate in 2022 to advance his credentials to France’s ruling elite as an aggressive promoter of the interests of French imperialism at home and around the world.
French President Macron hails Egypt’s dictator General al-Sisi in Paris
By Will Morrow, 8 December 2020
Macron’s declaration of support for the butcher of Cairo is a warning to the working class of the advanced preparations for military-police dictatorships across Europe.
Macron greets butcher of Cairo al-Sisi for three-day state visit to Paris
By Alex Lantier, 7 December 2020
Sisi is coming to give Macron a tutorial on how to run a fascistic authoritarian regime, amid mounting social anger at the French president’s police state agenda.
French government announces mass closure of mosques in continuing anti-Muslim crackdown
By Samuel Tissot, 5 December 2020
Just one week before Macron’s draft “anti-separatism law” is submitted to the convention, the interior ministry launches a new attack on mosques.
EU-Turkey tensions mount over Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean
By Hasan Yıldırım, 3 December 2020
The unilateral opening of Varosha or Maraş in northern Cyprus and Ankara’s proposed two-state solution have intensified tensions between the European Union and Turkey.
Hundreds of thousands protest across France against police violence and Macron’s police immunity law
By Will Morrow, 30 November 2020
Opposition is growing to a law that would criminalize the filming of police officers, amid a series of incidents of police brutality over the past week.
French government orders dissolution of leading Muslim rights group
By Samuel Tissot, 30 November 2020
The executive committee of Collectif Contre Islamophobie en France preventively voted to dissolve itself before a government dissolution order came into force.
French police filmed violently assaulting music producer in Paris
By Will Morrow, 28 November 2020
The release of the video footage comes as the Macron government is pushing through a new law criminalizing the filming of police officers.
French National Assembly adopts “global security” ban on filming of police
By Anthony Torres and Alex Lantier, 27 November 2020
The “global security” law threatens fundamental, constitutionally-protected rights and establishes the effective framework of a permanent, fascistic police state.
The anti-refugee police riot in Paris: A warning to the working class
By Alex Lantier, 27 November 2020
An irrepressible conflict is emerging between the working class and the financial aristocracy, powerful sections of which support building a fascist police state
999 French National Assembly passes ban on photos of police
26 November 2020
French police launch violent crackdown on Paris refugee camp
By Will Morrow, 25 November 2020
Hundreds of homeless refugees were forced to march north until they reached the outer suburbs of Paris, pursued by police throwing teargas canisters as they went.
Macron prepares “global security” law banning the filming of French police
By Anthony Torres and Alex Lantier, 19 November 2020
The law, denounced by the UN, is a desperate attempt to silence rising public anger at social inequality and the official handling of the pandemic with all-out police terror.
25 years since the massive strike wave in France
French workers in revolt
By David Walsh, 18 November 2020
In December 1995, David Walsh traveled to Europe as part of an international team of reporters to provide on-the-spot coverage of the massive strike wave in France. We are re-posting the series of articles today.
Macron government opposes full lock-down as coronavirus deaths climb
By Will Morrow, 17 November 2020
Hundreds of people are continuing to die every day in France as tens of thousands of new coronavirus infections are being reported.
Bowing to right-wing campaign, Canada’s Trudeau apologizes to Macron for being “too soft” on Islamist terrorism
By Laurent Lafrance and Keith Jones, 14 November 2020
As the World Socialist Web Site has demonstrated, it is possible and indeed necessary to denounce and expose the reactionary character of the recent Islamist terrorist attacks without giving any quarter to the anti-democratic, chauvinist agenda and predatory interests of French imperialism
European governments seize upon terrorist attacks in France and Vienna to build a police state
By Johannes Stern, 13 November 2020
Under the pretext of a “fight against terror”, the EU and European heads of government have agreed to expand “Fortress Europe” and further arm the police.
As wildcat teacher strikes continue
French government escalates cover-up of COVID-19 infections in schools
By Samuel Tissot, 11 November 2020
Two government ministries published contradictory figures amid a state campaign to suppress public knowledge of COVID-19 transmission in French schools.
”We are being sacrificed for the profits of big business”
Teachers strike across France against Macron administration’s “herd immunity” policy for schools
By Will Morrow, 11 November 2020
The one-day strike followed a week of walkouts organized by rank-and-file teachers since the resumption of classes following the holiday break last Monday.
Coronavirus pandemic spreads in France despite partial lockdown policies
By Jacques Valentin, 10 November 2020
In a press conference Monday, health director Jérôme Salomon warned that the “peak” remained “ahead of us,” and “the second wave is continuing.”
For a general strike to close schools! Form rank-and-file safety committees of teachers, parents and students!
By Parti de l’égalité socialiste (France), 10 November 2020
Thousands of French teachers will join a nationwide strike today, as strikes voted by local staff meetings have shut dozens of schools since holidays ended Monday.
In face of rising coronavirus infections, teachers, students, and parents express support for European-wide school strike
By Gregor Link, 7 November 2020
From a scientific standpoint, it has long been shown that schools and kindergartens are breeding grounds for the coronavirus.
French teachers’ strikes mount against school openings as pandemic surges
By Will Morrow, 6 November 2020
Teachers across France are continuing to organise strike action at local school meetings as they face catastrophic conditions.
UK teachers, students and parents across England support strike action to close schools, welcome French teacher strikes
By Tania Kent, 6 November 2020
The UK’s lockdown vote took place on the deadliest day for the virus in the country since May, with 492 COVID-19 deaths reported. This was the highest fatality rate per capita of any country in the world that day.
Over 850 dead in 24 hours
After delayed and inadequate lockdown measures, COVID-19 second wave overwhelms France
By Jacques Valentin, 5 November 2020
The government’s policies are dictated by its willingness to tolerate catastrophic levels of death.
Surge in coronavirus pandemic produces deadly situation in hospitals throughout Europe
By Markus Salzmann, 5 November 2020
Experts are warning of the consequences of a shortage of staff and intensive care beds as a massive increase in COVID-19 infections pushes hospitals throughout Europe to their limits.
French police assault students demanding school shutdowns to stop coronavirus spread
By Will Morrow, 4 November 2020
Yesterday, French riot police tear gassed and broke up protests by high school students calling for the closure of their schools to halt the spread of the pandemic.
Teachers strike across France against first day of deadly school reopenings
By Will Morrow, 3 November 2020
Government policy means that schools will act as vectors for the transmission of the virus, countless children will become infected, and will infect family and friends.
French students denounce inadequate partial lockdown
By Samuel Tissot, 2 November 2020
Students denounce abrupt, inadequate second lockdown as confusion and precarity loom large.
Clare Moseley on the horrific plight of English Channel migrants: “They are asking for help, but being treated like criminals”
By Laura Tiernan, 31 October 2020
The founder of refugee charity Care4Calais spoke with the WSWS about this week’s horrific loss of life on the English Channel, including the deaths of three children.
Three killed in terrorist attack on church in Nice, France
By Will Morrow, 30 October 2020
A lone attacker entered the building at 8:30 a.m. armed with a knife and attacked churchgoers who were attending the morning mass.
The fight of the WSWS against the falsification of Marxism
By Alex Lantier, 30 October 2020
The WSWS’s Marxist internationalist perspective set it on an opposed class trajectory to a layer of middle-class parties based on a fusion of Stalinism and identity politics.
Johnson government’s war on migrants turns English Channel into a “graveyard for children”
By Laura Tiernan, 29 October 2020
Driven from their homes by British imperialism’s wars of aggression across the Middle East, these persecuted people have become the latest victims of the Johnson government’s xenophobic “deterrence” regime against immigrants and refugees.
Macron administration wages far-right campaign against “Islamo-leftism”
By Will Morrow, 28 October 2020
The term “Islamo-leftism” is used to define anyone who defends Muslims’ democratic rights and opposes French imperialism as accomplices of terrorism.
As COVID-19 floods hospitals, Macron debates second lockdown in France
By Alex Lantier, 28 October 2020
Europe is recording over 200,000 new cases each day, with France among the continent’s worst-hit countries, regularly reporting 30,000 to 50,000 new cases daily.
French government whitewashes COVID-19 clusters in schools, universities
By Samuel Tissot, 27 October 2020
The reopening of in-person education has been a central element of the murderous, anti-scientific policy of “herd immunity” overseen by the French government.
The policy of “herd immunity” pushes Europe’s health care system toward the abyss
By Anthony Torres, 27 October 2020
With more than 50,000 new cases recorded in France on Sunday, there is a clear danger that hospitals and emergency rooms will once again be overwhelmed.
France recalls ambassador to Turkey over Turkish criticisms of law on Islam
By Alex Lantier, 26 October 2020
The recalling of an ambassador is the most serious gesture taken between states short of a complete breakdown of diplomatic relations and war.
Anti-Muslim hysteria dominates French political establishment after terrorist killing of Samuel Paty
By Will Morrow, 23 October 2020
The anti-Muslim hysteria of the French political establishment is continuing, a week after the terrorist killing of Samuel Paty, a middle-school history and geography teacher in Conflans, on October 16.
No to police-state rule after the terrorist killing of French teacher Samuel Paty!
By Alex Lantier, 22 October 2020
The bankruptcy of communal terrorism is once more exposed. The state uses such atrocities as opportunities to whip up support for authoritarianism and nationalism.
999 Anti-muslim crackdown in France
21 October 2020
Macron launches anti-Muslim police-state crackdown after terror attack in France
By Will Morrow, 20 October 2020
Macron’s policy is indistinguishable from the fascistic ravings of National Rally leader Marine Le Pen.
Macron promotes anti-Muslim “free speech” hypocrisy after terrorist killing
By Will Morrow, 19 October 2020
Less than 48 hours after the murder of a teacher near Paris on Friday, the political establishment launched a campaign for “national unity” behind anti-Muslim laws.
Macron hails herd immunity, rejects lockdown as COVID-19 surges in Europe
By Alex Lantier, 15 October 2020
In a national interview, Macron said non-essential work and in-person schooling would continue and that he is aiming for 90,000-150,000 monthly new COVID-19 cases in France.
French, Spanish hospital workers protest as COVID-19 spreads across Europe
By Will Morrow, 15 October 2020
Protests are driven by demands for desperately-needed resources for hospital workers to fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
French universities enforce de facto herd immunity policy on COVID-19
By Samuel Tissot, 12 October 2020
Despite a nominal commitment to limited measures to contain the virus, in reality French universities are allowing the virus to rapid spread amongst students, accelerating infections and deaths in the wider population.
State of emergency declared in Madrid as COVID-19 resurgence sweeps Europe
By Jordan Shilton, 10 October 2020
New daily infections in Europe Friday surpassed the 100,000 mark for the second day running.
Germany, France to sanction Russia over Navalny’s alleged poisoning
By Clara Weiss, 10 October 2020
Nothing published by the OPCW and the imperialist powers on the poisoning of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny can be taken at face value.
Macron’s anti-Islamic separatism law: The death throes of French democracy
By Alex Lantier, 8 October 2020
This bill, which would impose control of Islam by the state and mass survaillance of the population, exposes the fascistic and anti-secular policies of the Macron government.
New Caledonia rejects independence from France for second time
By John Braddock, 7 October 2020
With a growing economic crisis and social tensions, the referendum result was deeply divided with just 53 per cent voting against independence.
French Medical Association denounces official inaction on pandemic
By Alex Lantier, 1 October 2020
The herd immunity policy decided by President Emmanuel Macron raises the risk of another terrible spike in deaths, worse than last spring.
Bridgestone, Total shut plants as COVID-19 layoffs sweep Europe
By Anthony Torres, 1 October 2020
After receiving billions of euros from the public purse in the form of European Union bailouts, European corporations are drastically cutting jobs.
COVID-19: French NPA’s Révolution Permanente web site lines up with Macron’s school re-opening
By Anthony Torres, 22 September 2020
Factions of France’s New Anti-capitalist Party linked to Argentina’s Socialist Workers Party (PTS) tacitly back a return to school endangering millions.
France imposes return to school without protections against COVID-19
By Jacques Valentin, 16 September 2020
With over 1,200 schools and universities affected, France faces a resurgent pandemic provoked by the reopening drive by the highest state authorities.
Greece buys billions in French arms amid war tensions with Turkey
By Alex Lantier, 14 September 2020
The purchase of a squadron of fighter jets and four warships marks a major escalation in the military standoff between Greece, backed by France, and Turkey.
Revelation of US government conspiracy on COVID-19 exposes EU herd immunity policy
By Alex Lantier, 12 September 2020
Revelations that US officials conspired to lie to the public about the severity of the coronavirus pandemic also expose the politically criminal role of the EU.
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