Topic: Francois Fillon

As its leaders fight, France's conservative party suffers

Experts say that infighting within the conservative UMP, which was ousted from the presidency in May, could undermine its standing with the French public even further.

Amid bitter leadership row, French conservatives tap Copé

Jean-François Copé today was named the winner of the conservative UMP party's recount. But rival François Fillon begs to differ.

France headed toward undivided leftist government

Leftist parties performed strongly in Round 1 of France's parliamentary elections yesterday, setting up President François Hollande to have wide latitude in governing.

French gunman had no Al Qaeda connection, says official

Mohamed Merah claimed to have Al Qaeda contacts and training in Pakistan. French officials say there's no evidence of an Al Qaeda connection.

Credit rating slashed, France promises reforms

Credit rating downgrades prompts several European nations to lambaste S&P ratings agency. But France, which lost its AAA credit rating, says it will implement cost cuts.

Libya conflict: Is Qaddafi's exit in the offing?

French officials claim that emissaries from Muammar Qaddafi say he is ready to discuss a departure from power. But the Libya leader has put out such feelers before, only to withdraw or deny them.
07/12/2011 06:36 pm

French journalists return home after Afghanistan hostage ordeal [VIDEO]

Hervé Ghesquierè and Stéphane Taponier were joyously welcomed home after 547 days as hostages of the Taliban.
06/30/2011 02:00 pm

Ivory Coast generals call for cease-fire, negotiate Gbagbo's surrender

Two generals close to renegade incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo are holding talks to work out the conditions under which he could surrender, French Prime Minister François Fillon said Tuesday.
04/05/2011 12:29 pm

France's Sarkozy faces rifts on Islam debate

French President Nicolas Sarkozy faces mounting criticism over plans for a national debate April 5 on the subject of Islam in France, a week before the new burqa ban takes effect.
04/01/2011 10:42 am

Splits widen among Western leaders over way forward in Libya

As the US moves to transfer command of Libya operations to Western allies, Europe is grappling with who should take the lead to enforce UN Resolution 1973.
03/22/2011 05:12 pm

Japan crisis rattles even pro-nuclear France

Nuclear power has been something of a sacred cow in France. But the Japan nuclear crisis in the wake of last week's earthquake and tsunami is raising concern even here.
03/15/2011 03:59 pm

Global News Blog Sarkozy tells French officials no more vacationing on Arab autocrats' dime

France's prime minister and foreign minister are taking heat for gratis luxury holidays in Egypt and Tunisia. President Sarkozy says vacationing in France is a better idea.
02/09/2011 05:18 pm

Sarkozy cabinet reshuffle aims to capture Gaullist fields of French right

French President Nicolas Sarkozy's cabinet reshuffle Sunday shows an Elysée Palace with a sharp eye on the 2012 elections. Sarkozy's ratings are at a historic low.
11/15/2010 12:26 pm

French strikers begin to retrench after Senate finalized pension bill

France's Senate finalized a bill raising the retirement age from 60 to 62 today as oil workers and students begin to back away from protests over pension reforms.
10/26/2010 05:19 pm

As French strikes continue, unions take aim at Sarkozy

French strikes against pension reforms continued today. A large protest is expected this weekend as unions and the French Left continue to take on President Nicolas Sarkozy.
10/13/2010 01:56 pm

France declares war against Al Qaeda after hostage killed

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said his country was at war with Al Qaeda after the group's affiliate in North Africa, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, announced it murdered a French aid worker it had held hostage since April.
07/27/2010 10:59 am

Nicolas Sarkozy addresses France amid L’Oreal campaign scandal

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to address allegations that his campaign received $190,000 in illegal campaign contributions from France's richest woman, L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt.
07/12/2010 03:39 pm

Sarkozy's summer of scandals: Is the French president in trouble?

A French prosecutor is now investigating whether Liliane Bettencourt, heiress of the L’Oréal fortune, gave some $190,000 in illegal campaign contributions to French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
07/07/2010 03:22 pm

Burqa ban debated by French parliament

Burqa ban in France is widely expected to become law, despite the concerns of many French Muslims, who fear it will stigmatize them.
07/06/2010 04:30 pm

After secret hearings, France ready to put World Cup behind it

After the French team imploded at the World Cup, the French national parliament held two secret inquiries this week into the catostrophe!
07/01/2010 03:20 pm

French President Nicolas Sarkozy reshuffles cabinet after election drubbing

French President Nicolas Sarkozy started to reshuffle his cabinet Monday after a resurgent left beat his center-right party in regional voting. The losses have some questioning Sarkozy's shot at reelection in 2012.
03/22/2010 11:44 am

Global News Blog French citizenship denied to man with veiled wife

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said the Moroccan man, who had married a French woman, failed to respect the “values of the [French] republic” by forcing his wife to wear a burqa.
02/03/2010 05:46 pm

Photos of the Day Photos of the Day 12/21

US and European paths to recovery diverge

Ahead of the G-20 economic summit, a divide grows over the balance of regulation and stimulus.
03/25/2009 01:00 am

French elections a blow for Sarkozy's conservatives

The opposition Socialists beat out the ruling UMP in many cities, prompting calls for the French president to modify his ambitious plans.
03/18/2008 01:00 am