Talking France21 Dec 2023

Does French immigration law spell bad news for foreigners and how Catholic is France?

France's controversial immigration bill has passed through parliament. It's been hailed as a victory for the ideas of the far right but just how bad is it for immigrants in France?

We also look at whether France can still call itself a "Catholic" country and where in the country public transport is free and why.

Podcast listeners can become members of The Local for just €1 for the first month by clicking here.

-------

After Emmanuel Macron was elected president of France he vowed to battle against the ideas of the far right but after his government's controversial immigration bill passed through parliament this week Marine Le Pen has been claiming victory. So what's in this final bill that's causing such an uproar and is it really a big win for Le Pen?

Away from French politics we explore just how Catholic France is, why some groups have even been banned and why certain Catholics say they are treated as second class citizens.

And for anyone who thinks the French are not funny we have a list of some must-watch hilarious French films for you, we look at the list of French towns where you can travel for free on transport and find out what you have to do to be made a knight in France.

Host Ben McPartland is joined this week to help shed light on all these subjects will be The Local France's Editor Emma Pearson, journalist Gen Mansfield and politics expert John Lichfield.

Avsnitt(179)

Carte de séjour misery, French data centre battlegrounds and Brittany runs low on tap water

Up for discussion this week is the weather, will a town in rainy Brittany run out of water. What’s the situation like everywhere else? Will we all be forced to limit our showers to three minutes soon?...

30 Sep 30min

French fuel prices risk autumn unrest and the real danger posed by Le Pen

Among the words on everyone’s lips this week in France is - petrol, well and diesel. Yes fuel prices have reached record high levels in France. We’ll get the latest on what the government is doing, wh...

23 Sep 38min

Could France really favour the French over foreigners and who derailed the Normandy train?

This week we dig into one of Marine Le Pen's contentious proposals and find out whether the far right leader would actually be able to favour French citizens over foreign national residents if she bec...

16 Sep 36min

$New tipping culture drives the French mad and far-right fractures deepen$

New tipping culture drives the French mad and far-right fractures deepen

On the show this week we'll delve into the almighty squabble that ended with the Eiffel Tower closing this week after angry staff walked out.We’ll also look at the growing split in the French far righ...

9 Sep 33min

Le Pen's 'vile' election pledge and why French cheese could lose its taste

This week we look ahead to the 2027 presidential election which is edging closer. A new poll this week suggested there's only one winner, but could Marine Le Pen trip herself up before she gets over t...

2 Sep 40min

Food prices, strikes: How the hellish summer has hit life in France

Summer is thankfully almost over and September is upon us, which means it's time for a new series of Talking France.Thanks to you all for tuning in to this podcast, which is produced by the team at Th...

25 Aug 27min

France ravaged by climate crisis as wildfires and drought blight summer

You are listening to a special summer episode of Talking France podcast and it's a pretty solemn episode too given France is in the midst of unprecedented heatwaves, drought and devastating wildfires....

29 Juli 20min

Heatwaves, wildfires and border delays: What to expect in France this summer

In this week’s episode of Talking France we’ll look ahead to the holiday season in July and August and spell out exactly what you can expect in France this summer from the weather outlook and wildfire...

9 Juli 17min