Crisis Chronology

FRANCE

05/29/2024

State of emergency lifted in New Caledonia to allow for negotiation between government and FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front).

05/21/2024

Macron to visit New Caledonia as violence continues and more French troops are deployed to the island.

05/15/2024

State of emergency declared in New Caledonia.

05/14/2024

Violent protests and riots in French protectorate New Caledonia against proposed constitutional changes being debated in France’s legislature that would broaden the right to vote. Indigenous Kanak people fear it will reduce their strength. Three are killed in riots after the changes are approved in Paris.

02/16/2024

Ukraine signs defense pacts with France and Germany.

02/13/2024

Police fire tear gas at farmers protesting for higher support prices for their produce. Farmers say that the government has been slow to implement panel to examine how to maintain farm prices. They are also seeking that the government fulfill its promise to double their incomes

02/01/2024

Two farmers’ unions suspend protests after government offers several measures that would reduce competition and a proposal for a “European control force” to combat fraud.

02/01/2024

Teachers strike for better pay and working conditions.

01/31/2024

Farmers from Belgium, Spain, and Italy join French farmers’ protest.

01/29/2024

Farmers encircle Paris with tractors.

01/27/2024

India and France agree to joint defense equipment production including helicopters and submarines.

01/27/2024

Farmers vow to continue protests despite some concessions by government.

01/24/2024

Protests by farmers in France and Brussels against low wages and regulatory burden. Poland farmers also demonstrate against “unfair” competition by Ukraine.

01/09/2024

Gabriel Attal is named prime minister. A Macron loyalist, he is the youngest and first openly gay prime minister.

01/08/2024

Prime Minister Elizabeth Born resigns, allowing Macron to reshuffle cabinet ahead of elections. Rightists gained in recent European parliament elections and polls show Macron’s party trailed Marine Le Pen’s party.

12/22/2023

France says it will close its embassy in Niger after Nigerien military government places restrictions on it, including a blockade of it.

12/20/2023

The Supreme Court of the state of Colorado says that Donald Trump must be removed from the state’s ballot because he was involved with an insurrection on 1/6/21 and is therefore prohibited from holding office according to a provision of the US constitution added after the 1861 civil war.

11/15/2023

French government issues arrest warrants for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his brother for crimes against humanity.

07/30/2023

Protestors waving Russian flags denounce France.

07/02/2023

Riots and demonstrations subsiding.

06/29/2023

Third night of riots after police kill an unarmed teenager of Algerian and Moroccan heritage, known as Nahel M, in a suburb of Paris. There is widespread damage to property and at least 875 have been arrested.

05/24/2023

Government bans short haul domestic flights to reduce carbon emissions.

05/21/2023

French President Macron visits Mongolia and affirms closer cooperation on the extraction of rare minerals needed for high-tech construction.

05/02/2023

Unions announce new day of mass protests and strikes, 6/6/23.

05/01/2023

Protests against the raise in pension age have continued and are especially widespread on this May Day.

03/27/2023

Violence in protests increases.

03/24/2023

More than a million are said to join protests against raising the pension age, as continue to bring the country largely to a standstill. There is some violence. King Charles III of the UK postpones a state visit to France because of the unrest.

03/23/2023

Protests against pension law widen and become more militant.

03/16/2023

Failing to have sufficient votes in the National Assembly for the pension bill, Macron uses a constitutional option allowing him to declare it a law. The legislature has 24 hours to file a no-confidence motion. Such motions are unlikely to succeed. Protests continue and will likely intensify.

03/13/2023

US and Australia complete agreement for Australia to buy 3 nuclear submarines from the US. A previous agreement with France is superseded, causing anger there.

03/11/2023

As protests continue, Senate passes pension reform bill including the change in pension age. The bill will be reviewed by a joint committee of the Senate and the National Assembly and if it agrees on a text, both houses will vote on it.

03/07/2023

Nationwide strike as unions intensity their fight against pension reform that would raise the pension age from 62 to 64. More than a million people are said to have joined the protest.

03/01/2023

French President Emmanuel Macron to visit Gabon, Angola, Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo this week, after announcing France will transform its military bases in Africa into “academies” co-run by French and host armies.

02/01/2023

Protests intensify but Macron remains firm about increasing retirement age.

01/31/2023

Second day of strikes protesting pension reform that would raise the retirement age to 64. Many teachers are also on strike.

11/10/2022

Transit workers strike to protest a bill overhauling pensions.

11/10/2022

Macron announces the end of French anti-Islamistic operations in the Sahel.

10/27/2022

German Prime Minster Scholz and French President Macron avoid their other European-centric differences and protest US policies of prioritizing domestic purchasing in the Buy American program announced by the US.

10/18/2022

Strikes spread across the country demanding higher salaries in the wake of high inflation.

10/12/2022

Government orders workers at Exxon Mobil plant back to work as strikes go into their second week.

10/12/2022

Workers at northern French nuclear plant agree on a renewable strike beginning today. Oil refinery workers refused to allow workers back on the job.

09/29/2022

Unions call 24-hour strike and protests against inflation, Macron’s pension reforms and other policies.

09/29/2022

Educators and transit workers also go on strike.

08/18/2022

Mali Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop accuses France of arming jihadist groups in Mali. France denies this.

08/10/2022

Heat wave continues exacerbating drought.

06/19/2022

Government reelected

In the second round of voting for the National Assembly today, Macron’s Ensemble coalition loses its absolute majority but remains the largest group in the assembly, winning 245 seats. Marine Le Pen’s National Rally wins 89, the leftist NUPES coalition wins 66, and Les Républicans 64.

06/16/2022

Gazprom cuts supplies to Italy by 50%. France has received no gas from the company for more than a month.

06/12/2022

First round of voting for parliament. The leftist NUPES (Popular, Ecological, and Social New Union) alliance led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon is essentially tied with Macron’s Ensemble! coalition. Most seats will be decided in the second round on 6/19.

06/11/2022

Australia agrees to pay French contractor that it pulled out of to contract with the US for nuclear submarines (9/15/21). France says it wishes to rebuild its relationship with Australia.

05/16/2022

Macron names Elisabeth Borne prime minister, the first woman to serve in the position since Edith Cresson in 1991-2.

05/03/2022

The France Insoumise Party (LFI), led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, in discussion with the Green Party to form a coalition for the upcoming legislative elections. Among other policies, Mélenchon wants to free France from EU economic policies, such as budget, compensation, and free-market issues. He also wants France to leave NATO. Other policies include lowering the retirement age, raising the minimum wage, and cap prices of essential products.

04/26/2022

Saudi Arabia and France pledge to initial humanitarian projects in Lebanon to alleviate financial crisis.

04/24/2022

Macron reelected

In voting today, Macron is easily reelected with about 58% of the vote to Le Pen’s 42%. Though Le Pen had surged in polls, her support for détente with Russia and Macron’s attack that she was funded by Putin hurt her in the days before the election.

04/14/2022

Le Pen calls for “rapprochement” between NATO and Russia.

04/10/2022

In first round of voting today, Macron wins about 28% of the vote and Le Pen about 23%. Ten other candidates split remaining votes, with leftist Jean-Luc Mélenchon winning 22%. Polls are projecting a very close win for Macron in the 4/24 runoff, but with a margin well within the margin of error.

04/05/2022

Le Pen and Macron nearly tied in opinion polls ahead of the election. Macron entered the campaign late due to the war in Ukraine and has focused on unpopular policies such as raising the retirement age, while el Pen has focused on the decline in purchasing power of middle- and low-income voters.

03/13/2022

Fierce clashes between demonstrators and police after activist Yvan Colonna falls into a coma after being beaten by a fellow inmate. Colonna, seen as a hero of the Corsican independence movement, was imprisoned for the assassination of a regional official, which he denies.

03/12/2022

German Chancellor Scholz and French President Macron hold joint telephone call with Russian President Putin.

03/12/2022

German Chancellor Scholz and French President Macron hold joint telephone call with Russian President Putin.

03/08/2022

Presidential election voting begins 4/10. Macron has been boosted by his active diplomacy around the invasion of Ukraine and Le Pen has been hurt by her longstanding support for Russian President Putin.

02/20/2022

As relayed by French Pres Macron, US Pres Biden agrees in principle” to a summit with Russia Pres Putin as long as there is no further invasion of Ukraine. US intelligence believes that orders have been transmitted to Russian commanders in the field.

02/17/2022

French troops leaving Mali will be stationed in Niger.

02/14/2022

French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Ledrian says that French troops will leave Mali but remain fighting extremists in the Sahel. There have been persistent frictions between France and Mali. However, how the fight against extremists in the Sahel will be prosecuted is uncertain. A Russian proxy of mercenaries, the Wagner Group, has become very active in the region, fighting extremists for governments, but also in one case at least, destabilizing the government. One observer theorizes that Russia is attempting to gain de facto control of the region so that it can force immigrants out of the Sahel and therefore into Europe. A significant migration could destabilize European governments.

02/12/2022

Police fire tear gas at anti-covid-restriction/populist convoy in Paris.

02/11/2022

Inspired by Canadian truckers’ protest, protestors against pandemic restrictions drive to Paris intending to block routes into the city.

02/07/2022

French left is in disarray ahead of the 4/10 presidential election. President Macron is the leading in the polls, but with only 25% among the voting public. The other major candidates are right-wing Valerie Pecresse (16 percent), far-right Marine Le Pen (16 percent) and far-right Eric Zemmour (13 percent). After the disastrous presidency of Hollande, the Socialists have lost focus, having moved to the center on economics and losing their working-class base. The left vote is split between Anne Hidalgo (Socialist Party), Jean-Luc Mélenchon (Popular Union, radical left), Yannick Jadot (the Greens) and Christiane Taubira, former justice minister, poet and left-wing icon after she passed the same-sex marriage law in 2013 who was nominated by about 400,000 voters of the unofficial “people’s primary” last month. The other left candidates did not recognize that vote.

01/31/2022

French President Macron and Russian President Putin discuss the situation in Ukraine by phone. US and Russia also continue discussions. Many believe that Putin will not take any military action until after the Olympics in China are over, mid-February. US President Biden to meet with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to discuss increasing natural gas shipments to Europe to compensate for possible cutoff of shipments by Russia, a key worry of Europeans about any military response to Russian aggression in Ukraine. US subsequently name Qatar a major non-NATO ally, giving it special military and economic privileges.

01/25/2022

French President Macron and German PM Scholz discuss unified EU reaction to the Ukraine situation.

01/17/2022

Zemmour is fined for inciting hatred on ethnic/racial/national origin for comments he made in 2020 about young migrants.

01/04/2022

Some protests continue.

01/03/2022

China, France, Russia, UK, and US issue statement pledging not to stop the spread of nuclear weapons and to ensure no nuclear war is ever fought.

12/27/2021

Iran says it is ready to begin nuclear pact discussions again and to continue them until a deal is reached.

12/14/2021

French troops leaves Timbuktu, the last of the French miltary bases in northern Mali. The troops were first deployed in 2/13 by then French president François Hollande.

12/11/2021

New Caledonia holds referendum on independence from France. With two-thirds of voters not voting or not marking their ballot, the independence is rejected by more than 96%. Pro-independence advocates are boycotting the vote, saying France is rushing the vote and should delay it due to COVID-19. The territory won broad autonomy after violence in 1988 led to a political process known as the Noumea Agreement. Two previous votes failed in 2013 and 2018, though support for independence grew. However, President Louis Mapou, the first president from the Kanaka ethnic group that is strongly in favor of independence, says that the country will “pursue the path of emancipation.”

12/11/2021

EU-Iran talks on nuclear agreement continue.

12/04/2021

Valérie Pécresse wins nomination for president for Les Republicains.

11/30/2021

Zemmour officially announces candidacy for president.

11/29/2021

France sending more troops to Guadeloupe as negotiations with union leaders produce little progress. The unions are refusing to denounce the violent protests.

11/29/2021

Iran, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the UK begin talks to restore the JPCOA. Iran continues to require lifting of US sanctions before substantive talks can begin, but says it seeks a “fair deal."

11/26/2021

Minister for Overseas France postpones vaccine requirement and says he is ready to discuss the autonomy of Guadeloupe.

11/22/2021

Protests are quelled. Most stores remain closed.

11/21/2021

France sends military to Guadeloupe to quell rioting and protests against COVID-19 restrictions in the second week of a general strike.

11/19/2021

After the governments institutes mandatory vaccination, protests erupt and the government imposes a curfew. The protests spread to Martinique.

10/31/2021

UK disputes French position on the fishing boat’s rights to fish.

10/28/2021

France seizes British fishing trawler, accusing it of lacking a license.

10/27/2021

France insists to Australia that it will be responsible for restoring good relations between the two countries.

10/19/2021

Government asks main Islamic body, the High Islamic Council (HCI), to open negotiations with the leaders of the al Qaeda-linked Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) to end the fighting. France, which has been fighting the extremist in Africa, objects to these negotiations and says it will not conduct joint operations with any country that does so.

10/13/2021

Far-right candidates Marine Le Pen and Eric Zenmour running strongly in polls for election in 2022. Macron is still ahead. Zenmour is an extremist on immigration and has often been accuses of prejudiced speech and sexual assault.

10/12/2021

Macron announces a plan to re-industrialize France.

10/07/2021

Ireland drops its objection to tax reform, agreeing to increase tax rate on large multinational companies based in Ireland. Estonia also approves the global tax rate agreement, so all 38 members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development have agreed to the new tax rate.

10/07/2021

France and Greece sign mutual defense pact, which pledges each to come to the defense of the other if attacked, even by a NATO member. For Greece, this seems to be aimed at NATO member Turkey. It could be invoked if there is an attack on each country’s territorial waters. Greece also signed a mutual defense pact with the UAE in 11/20. France sees Turkey as a rival for influence in North Africa.

09/30/2021

Former president Nicolas Sarkozy convicted of illegal campaign financing and sentenced to one year, probably under electronic surveillance. In 3/21, he was also convicted of corruption and influence peddling, which he has appealed.

09/21/2021

Presidents Macron and Modi announce that they will cooperate in the Indo-Pacific region. India is also angry at the US, which denied it nuclear-powered submarines, Modi has said.

09/18/2021

France recalls its ambassadors to the US and Australia.

09/15/2021

Australia, the UK, and the US announce a new strategic defense pact that will give Australia nuclear submarines. China denounces the pact. New Zealand says it will not allow the submarines in its territorial waters. France feels betrayed, having been negotiating a submarine deal with Australia, which Australia has now cancelled.

09/12/2021

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo of the Socialist Party announces her candidacy for president.

08/27/2021

Michel Bernier, former chief EU negotiator for Brexit, announces he will run for president. In 2/21, he created the Patriot and European group, which may become his political party. Les Républicains party, also center-right, has announced it will not decide how to choose its candidate until 9/25.

08/06/2021

Large protests against COVID-19 passes.

07/21/2021

Government requires proof of vaccination for many leisure activities including museums, theaters, etc. Next month, it will be extended to restaurants, cafes, bars, and shopping malls. Children are exempted and school attendance.

06/27/2021

Neither National Rally or La République en Marche win any seats in regional elections. The center right Les Républicains, led by Xavier Bertrand, win 52% of the vote.

06/20/2021

First round of regional elections. The National Rally led by Marine Le Pen wins only about 19% of the national vote, far below its hopes. Les Républicains win about 31%, a strong showing. Macron’s Le Républic en Marche wins only 11%. Turnout is low, with many overtly abstaining.

06/04/2021

G-7 nations -- Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the US -- agree to institute a global 15% tax on businesses and steps to restrict tax havens. It will take long negotiations. Nations such as Ireland benefit from the current tax laws, which allow them to be tax havens. The new rules will have to be approved by the legislatures of the participating countries. In principle, if a German company reports its profits through an Irish subsidiary, where taxes are 5%, Germany would receive 10% of those profits.

05/04/2021

Reacting to the UK’s demands about obtaining fishing licenses in the English Channel, French fishing ships mass off the island of Jersey. The UK sends Royal Navy patrol boats.

04/02/2021

Marine Le Pen says she will quit as leader of the National Rally party in order to campaign for president as the “candidate of all French people.”

03/31/2021

Government again issues stay-at-home order, closing schools for four weeks, as COVID-19 infections rise sharply. The new variant of the virus is driving infections.

03/01/2021

Former president Sarkozy is convicted of corruption and sentenced to three years in prison, two of which are suspended. He may be able to serve the remainder in house arrest.

12/17/2020

Macron tests positive for COVID-19.

11/30/2020

Government promises changes in the law

11/28/2020

Large demonstrations against a new law that would restrict videos of police actions, days after police brutally beat a Black movie director in custody.

10/29/2020

Second knife attack kills three. Turkey and Pakistan denounce Islamophobia as the attacks become an international controversy.

10/28/2020

Government orders nationwide stay-at-home restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic new outbreak.

10/18/2020

A teacher is beheaded by a Chechen immigrant for showing cartoons satirizing Islam.

10/07/2020

France reports highest number of new cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

10/04/2020

New Caledonia rejects independence from France in a referendum.

09/25/2020

France seeing new spike in COVID-19 cases. It now has more that 535,000 cases and 31,500 deaths.

07/03/2020

Macron appoints Jean Castex, a longtime civil servant, to be prime minister. After its disappointing showing in municipal elections, Macron will have to change direction for the coming elections.

06/28/2020

Macron’s centrist Republic on the Move party does poorly in municipal elections. Turnout is low. The Socialist and Green Party do well, and Le Pen’s National Rally holds its strength. Le Pen is seen as the strongest challenger to Macron in elections in 2022.

05/26/2020

In the wake of the economic devastation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, government introduces a stimulus package of €8 billion for the automotive industry, to boost manufacturing and promote energy-efficient automobiles.

05/26/2020

In the wake of the economic devastation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, government introduces a stimulus package of €8 billion for the automotive industry, to boost manufacturing and promote energy-efficient automobiles.

05/18/2020

Germany and France propose a €543 billion recovery fund in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

04/21/2020

Poorer sections of Paris banlieux riot in opposition to stay-at-home order.

04/13/2020

Government extends stay at home order until 5/11.

03/16/2020

France locks down the country due to COVID-19.

01/24/2020

France confirms its first case of COVID-19.

01/14/2020

France, Britain, and Germany begin process that would allow them to impose sanction on Iran for not following JPCOA. Iran argues that since the US has already broken the agreement, they are not liable. It is later revealed that Pres Trump threatened to impose new auto tariffs if they did not.

01/12/2020

Despite some concessions on pension system by the government, protestors continue to call for a complete withdrawal of the plan.

12/31/2019

Transit strike enters its 27th day, with neither side backing down.

12/16/2019

Commissioner in charge of pension reform forced to quit after it is revealed that he held jobs in private business while in government.

12/16/2019

Strikes continue.

12/10/2019

Strike enters its sixth day and is growing.

12/09/2019

In a summit meeting also involving France and Germany, Russia and Ukraine agree to a cease-fire by the end of 2019 and a prisoner exchange. UN General Assembly passes resolution that Russia should remove its troops from Crimea as soon as possible.

12/07/2019

Strike continues.

12/06/2019

Millions of transportation workers and some others strike over proposed pension reforms.

12/04/2019

Government suspends fuel tax increase that set off Yellow Jacket protests for six months. Leaders of the protests withdraw from talks after death threats from hardliners in their movement.

12/02/2019

On eve of NATO meeting, Pres Macron criticizes the alliance as “brain dead” for its response to Turkey’s operation in Syria.

12/02/2019

US threatens tariffs on French wine and cheese in retaliation for French tax on large digital companies.

11/16/2019

Yellow Vest protests resume, one year after they first began. More than a hundred are arrested in Paris in violent clashes with police. Protests are nationwide.

11/06/2019

France and China agree to $15 billion in new trade contracts.

09/25/2019

Rouhani says that Iran is willing to resume adhering to the JPCOA if US sanctions are lifted. It would also agree to further negotiations on details of the treaty then. Imran Khan says Trump asked him to mediate with Iran, as did Saudi Arabia. French Pres Macron says conditions are in place for Rouhani and Trump to talk.

09/22/2019

Yellow Vest protests in Paris are teargassed by police.

09/15/2019

Some fighting breaks out in Yellow Vest protests in Nantes. There are protests in other cities. It is the 44th consecutive weekend of protests.

09/13/2019

Transportation workers launch general strike.

09/11/2019

US Pres Trump indicates that he may be open to negotiations with Iran that would institute the French proposal of a hard currency credit line for Iran or some other sanctions relief. His suggestion comes the day after firing National Security Agency chief John Bolton, a hardliner against any relief to Iran.

09/07/2019

After months of sparse efforts, Yellow Vest protests reappear with renewed energy in cities around France, though not Paris, in the wake of the G7 meeting.

09/03/2019

UN report says US, UK, and France may be complicit in possible war crimes by Saudi Arabia in Yemen.

09/03/2019

France offers Iran a $15 billion credit line that would allow it to trade for hard currency. However, it may run afoul of US sanctions anyway.

08/31/2019

France and Iran say they are near an agreement that would hold the nuclear deal in place with European signatories.

06/28/2019

Iran exceeds JPCOA levels of enriched uranium. All of it is low-enriched uranium, not weapons-grade. France, Germany, and the UK have initiated the “special purpose vehicle” (an SPV officially called INSTEX) that allows EU countries to circumvent US sanctions on sales to Iran.

06/16/2019

Government declares national emergency after huge storm devastates southern France.

04/20/2019

Police tear gas Yellow Vest protestors in Paris.

04/08/2019

Macron’s Great National Debate concludes with a resolution to lower taxes, although French citizens want the social services to continue. Macron must present a program to accomplish this. Yellow Vest protests beginning to lose momentum.

03/26/2019

Xi, Macron, Merkel and EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker meet to discuss multilateralism.

03/25/2019

China Pres Xi meets with Macron, offering partnership in the Silk Road initiative.

03/17/2019

Violence at continued Yellow Vest protests in Paris. The protests had been declining in numbers, and organizers had hoped to regenerate support. Estimates are that about 10,000 protested. Fires were set in some stores and there was some looting.

03/11/2019

French National Assembly approves the French-German parliamentary assembly that can propose joint non-binding resolutions for the two countries, following up on the Aachen agreement of 1/19.

02/21/2019

France and UK say they will pull troops out of Syria is the US removes its troops.

02/09/2019

Thirteenth weekend of Yellow Vest protests.

02/07/2019

France recalls its ambassador to Italy after Italian deputy prime minister Luigi di Maio meets with Yellow Vest representatives. Tension between the two countries has increased since Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini called Macron “a terrible president” in January.

01/21/2019

France and Germany sign the Treaty of Aachen, which commits them to work together on European issues. It has been described as a move to revitalize a unified Europe.

01/15/2019

Macron begins monthlong national debate, visiting cities around France. However, tensions remain high as many legislators and journalists have been threatened. Macron’s town hall meetings are under heavy security.

01/05/2019

Gilets Jaunes protests continue, attacking police and forcing their way into government offices.

01/02/2019

Police arrest a leader of the Gilets Jaunes for organizing an unauthorized demonstration.

12/16/2018

Yellow Vest protests continue, although they are increasingly aided by far-right groups.

12/10/2018

Macron, calling the situation a national emergency, announces increase in minimum wage and tax concessions. Some in the opposition say the changes are insufficient.

12/04/2018

Government suspends fuel tax increase that set off Yellow Jacket protests for six months. Leaders of the protests withdraw from talks after death threats from hardliners in their movement. Protestors say they will continue to protest other aspects of taxation and government.

12/01/2018

Yellow Jacket protests in Paris turn violent, as protestors torch cars and buildings, loot, and attack police. 412 are arrested and 133 injured. Authorities believe the protests were infiltrated by thugs and far-right radicals. Protests elsewhere in France were mostly peaceful.

11/24/2018

Second weekend of Yellow Jacket protests, smaller than before but more concentrated in Paris. Police fire tear gas into the protests. The protesters, of which a significant portion are from the provinces are protesting labor law changes and high taxes. France has the highest percentage of GDP coming from taxes in Europe.

11/17/2018

Protestors against tax increases block roads throughout France. It is called the Yellow Vest (“des gilets jaunes”) protest because they are are wearing yellow visibility vests.

11/13/2018

After Macron proposes a European army, Merkel agrees with the idea.

11/12/2018

Macron proposes a joint military force for Europe. Europe already has the European Intervention Initiative (EI2), aimed at creating a unified military force capable of taking coordinated action abroad. Finland joins the group, which includes France, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Estonia, Portugal and the United Kingdom.

11/11/2018

Erdogan says that recordings of the killing of Khashoggi was issued to Saudi Arabia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. Canadian PM Trudeau says that Canada has also heard the tapes. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian says that France has not heard the tapes and US Secretary of State Pompeo has not said he has heard the tapes.

11/04/2018

New Caledonia votes to remain a territory of France.

10/27/2018

France. Germany. Russia. and Turkey meet to discuss Syria and agree to work toward a political process. Russia, Syria, Turkey, and Iran want the US to leave northern Syria and end its association with the YPG. Europe is angered about the US ending the nuclear and possibly destabilizing Iran’s economy and therefore nascent democratic government, and the possible increase in refugees to Europe. Assad has no interest in any change in the Syrian political structure.

10/09/2018

Protests in cities throughout France. Students, pensioners, workers are protesting “the destruction of the social model.” Major trade unions holding protests in Paris against workplace reforms and “ideological policies” of Macron.

10/03/2018

Interior minister Gerard Collomb resigns, another loss for Macron.

09/24/2018

Macron’s approval rating falls to new low in poll, on a par with previous president Hollande.

09/08/2018

Reports that France is supporting Haftar in order to gain access to Libyan oil and supporting elections in Libya to legitimize Haftar, who is now calling the Italians an enemy.

09/04/2018

Sports minister announces that she is resigning just before Macron announces cabinet reshuffle.

09/03/2018

France reported to have given Gabon $800 million since 2010.

08/28/2018

In a surprise setback for Macron, French environment minister Nicolas Hulot resigns, saying he felt alone in advancing policy on environmental issues.

08/01/2018

Parliament passes law on asylum and immigration criticized on both the right (for being inadequate) and the left (for being too harsh). The law cuts the time for processing claims, reduces time in which asylum claims can be made, and facilitates removal of those rejected.

07/02/2018

In letters sent in June, Trump demands that Germany, Canada, Belgium, and Norway and perhaps other NATO members increase their contributions to NATO, saying that the US will reconsider its troop deployment if there is no change.

06/20/2018

Poland objects to French-German plan for EU, saying that it will create disadvantaged countries under the plan. Poland, for instance, would lost some share of the budget as monies shift to southern countries with high unemployment.

06/19/2018

Macron German Chancellor Merkel offer plan for overall eurozone budget, an increased bailout fund, and stronger controls on migrants.

06/04/2018

UK and France pledge to continue to conduct naval operations in the South China Sea to put pressure on China and its militarization of disputed islands there.

06/01/2018

Marine Le Pen announces that the National Front will be renamed to Rassemblement National (National Rally) in advance of elections for the EU parliament in 2019.

05/07/2018

Negotiations between government and striking unions.

04/25/2018

French court charges that Groupe Bollore, owned by billionaire Vincent Bollore, gave financial concessions to the campaigns of Alpha Conde of Guinea and Faure Gnassingbe in return for business concessions.

01/30/2018

Economy grows the most in ten years, 1.9% in 2017.

11/17/2017

Saad Hariri arrives in Paris. He says he will return to Lebanon on 11/22/17.

11/16/2017

Hariri to visit France as French try to mediate the situation in Lebanon.

11/08/2017

French legislature strips Marine Le Pen of her immunity, related to her showing of gruesome Islamic State images.

11/01/2017

France ends state of emergency as new anti-terror law goes into effect. The law restricts movement of people associated with terrorist organizations, authorizes house searches to prevent terrorism, closes extremist places of worship, broadens area for ID checks around airports, and allows searches around public events, among other things. Most of the law will expire in 2020.

07/02/2017

France, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger form an anti-jihadist military alliance called the G5.