Why France will remain divided whoever wins Sunday's crucial second round vote
France will choose its next president on Sunday and the choice for voters is simple: re-elect the incumbent centrist Emmanuel Macron or opt for his longstanding rival on the far right Marine Le Pen.Some 15.6 million French voters tuned in to watch Wednesday night's almost-three hour clash to see if either candidate could land any knockout blows on their opponent just days before the crucial vote.We speak to John Lichfield to get his take on the clash, whether there was a clear winner and loser and if the live tête-a-tête will have any impact on Sunday's voting.Along with The Local France's editor Emma Pearson we'll also be looking ahead to Sunday and beyond to look at what will happen next depending on who wins.With John and Emma we'll also look at why France feels more divided than ever. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
21 Apr 202238min
Macron vs Le Pen - who will win the French presidential election?
Emmanuel Macron and his far-right challenger Marine Le Pen will face each other once again in the second round run off vote in the race for the Elysée. Host Ben McPartland is joined by The Local France's editor Emma Pearson and political commentator John Lichfield to discuss what's likely to happen when voters go to the polls again on April 24th. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
11 Apr 202223min
Could Marine Le Pen become the next French president?
French voters will head to the polls for the first round of voting on Sunday and the election race has suddenly become very interesting.On this week's episode host Ben McPartland runs through the latest polls, news and talking points with The Local France's editor Emma Pearson. We'll also look at what actually happens on polling day and why people in France will be glued to their TV screens at 8pm. Our political columnist John Lichfield is again with us. John has long believed that Emmanuel Macron will be re-elected but does he now have reason to doubt his prediction given the latest developments? And what would France be like under a Marine Le Pen presidency? This week we also spoke to political analyst Mudgetarbar Rahman about why this election matters far beyond the borders of France. And if you want to learn some handy French words and phrases then stay with us until the end. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
5 Apr 202235min
French tests for foreigners and how France has changed since 2017
In the latest episode of the Talking France podcast, The Local team plus commentators John Lichfield and Rim-Sarah Alouane look at what the election candidates plan for foreigners in France, how the idea of the secular French state has been 'weaponised', and which political party is selling election-special condoms.Ben McPartland is joined by Local France editor Emma Pearson, reporter Sam Bradpiece and columnist John Lichfield to talk about the latest from the French election trail – from the behaviour of former presidents to what the candidates have planned for foreign residents in France and the likelihood of an election shock in the second round.Legal academic Rim-Sarah Alouane, of Toulouse-Capitole university, a specialist in religious freedom and civil liberties, explains what the French concept of laïcité (secularism) actually is, how it has changed and become weaponsised in the political discourse and what this means for Emmanuel Macron.The team is also looking at ‘election merch’ each party is selling – from slogan T-shirts to frisbees and condoms – and explaining some French phrases that you’ll hear at election time. If you are not yet a member of The Local please consider joining by visiting thelocal.fr/podcastoffer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
29 Mars 202238min
Will the French turn out to vote and what has Macron done for France?
With three weeks to go until the first round of the French election, The Local France team plus guest experts John Lichfield and Adam Plowright discuss abstention levels, Macron's legacy for France and which candidate would make the best drinking buddy.The Local’s Talking France aims to make sense of France, its politics and in particular its 2022 presidential election. This week host Ben McPartland and The Local France editor Emma Pearson are joined by veteran columnist John Lichfield, plus Macron biographer and Paris-based journalist Adam Plowright.We’re talking the latest from the campaign trail, the problems of abstention, how powerful the French military really is and why it is that so many people seem to viscerally hate Emmanuel Macron.We’re also looking at whether a low turn out will really mean a re-elected Macron would be an ‘illegitimate’ president, as his opponents claim.And as ever, we’ll be looking at some of the French words and phrases you need to understand the presidential campaign, and answering questions from our readers – such as, what is a vote blanc?If you are not yet a member of The Local please consider joining by visiting thelocal.fr/podcastoffer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
22 Mars 202236min
Has France become more far-right, and is Macron panicking about petrol?
In this week's episode, host Ben McPartland is joined by The Local France's editor Emma Pearson who brings us up to date on the latest news and talking points with just four weeks to go before the first round of voting. Emma will also help to explain why French people tend to vote differently in certain parts of the country compared to others. We'll also hear from The Local's political columnist John Lichfield about the possible impact of the end of most Covid restrictions in France even though cases are rising once again. He'll also look at whether President Emmanuel Macron is panicking about petrol.Ben is also joined by French political scientist Jean-Yves Camus, an expert on the extreme right, to find out whether France as a country really has moved to the far right in recent years. Is it inevitable that the Elysée palace will one day be occupied by a president from France's extreme right?And wel run through a few French phrases and words that it will be handy to know at election time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
15 Mars 202237min
Has Putin guaranteed Macron victory, and how worried should France be about rising prices?
As France prepares for a battle over its political soul - and maybe also the future of Europe - The Local is launching a special election podcast featuring our expert columnist John Lichfield. We’ll aim to explain the upcoming French presidential election for a non-French audience – how the political system works, who the candidates are and what they stand for, the hot-button issues in France and of course the crucial question; who will win?This week on Talking France, host Ben McPartland is joined by editor Emma Pearson, our political columnist John Lichfield and Sorbonne economics professor Claudia Senik as we look at the first week of official campaigning in the 2022 French presidential election. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
8 Mars 202233min
The teetering front républicain, and why two rounds?
As France prepares for a battle over its political soul - and maybe also the future of Europe - The Local has launched a special election podcast featuring our expert columnist John Lichfield. You can listen to the pilot episode here. Music: David Celeste/courtesy of epidemicsound.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
11 Feb 202226min
