Topic: Union for a Popular Movement

Hollande's first world appearance a double success

Less than a week after taking office, French President François Hollande traveled to the G-8 and NATO summits to make his case for new economic policies and a French pullout from Afghanistan.

Hollande wins French presidency, signals revisit of austerity (+video)

Socialist candidate François Hollande defeated incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy for the French presidency in a vote that could reposition how the country responds to the eurozone crisis.

Le Pen rebuffs Sarkozy, tells supporters to make own choice in French vote Sunday (+video)

French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen refused to support President Nicolas Sarkozy in his reelection bid and released her supporters to vote for whomever they wished this Sunday.

Will the far right be the kingmaker in France's presidential election? (+video)

Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen captured 18 percent of the vote yesterday. How her supporters vote in the runoff could be the deciding factor between President Sarkozy and Francois Hollande.

France worries school gunman will strike again

The gunman responsible for yesterday's shooting at a Jewish school, who may also be behind last week's attacks of three French soldiers from North Africa, is still at large. 

Is this France or Phoenix? Sarkozy touts 'Buy American' and border security

Facing tough re-election, France's Nicolas Sarkozy is calling for beefed up European borders and for a 'Buy European Act' modeled on the American version.

Turkey hails French court overturning Armenian genocide denial law

The Turkish government applauded France's highest court reversing a law making it illegal to deny Armenian deaths in the former Ottoman Empire over 100 years ago was genocide.

French court convicts ex-Pres Jacques Chirac of corruption

Jacques Chirac, a savvy world diplomat and icon of France's ruling establishment for decades, will not go behind bars but was handed a two-year suspended sentence that goes on his criminal record. Anti-corruption crusaders, long frustrated by dirty dealings in the French political machine, rejoiced at the conviction.

Stunning shift in Strauss-Kahn case

Dominique Strauss-Kahn: New revelations that Dominique Strauss-Kahn's accuser may not be credible could rehabilitate the political career of one of France's most powerful figures ahead of 2012 elections.

Strauss-Kahn arrest upends French politics ahead of presidential race

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, arrested in New York on sexual-assault charges, was considered a strong contender to become France's next president. Now his candidacy for the Socialist party is in serious doubt.

European concerns grow about Al Qaeda's presence in the Sahel

Financial support and political engagement from Spain and France could enhance counterterrorism efforts in Mali, Niger, and Mauritania as those nations take on Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

25 years after Chernobyl, Europe debates nuclear power's future

In Germany, phasing out nuclear energy is not a question of if, but when. France, however, has seen only minor expressions of dissent about its reactors.

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.

Merkel and Sarkozy rattled by election losses

Germany's antinuclear Green Party won control of a state government for the first time in local elections Sunday. In France, Le Pen's right-wing party gained momentum.

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.

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.

Poland election: Can late president Kaczynski's twin brother pull off an upset?

Parliament speaker and acting president Bronislaw Komorowski is expected to win the first round of the Poland election on Sunday, but.Jaroslaw Kaczynski has been rising in the polls.

France moves to raise retirement age to 62

Low turnout in protest rallies Thursday signal that Nicolas Sarkozy's plan to raise France's retirement age from 60 to 62 is likely to succeed. Other European nations are moving from age 65 to 67.

French elections: Can Socialist Party gain more ground on Sarkozy?

With a first-place showing over President Nicolas Sarkozy in Sunday's first round of regional French elections, France's Socialist Party is building alliances in preparation for next Sunday's runoff - and the national elections two years from now.

French election: Is Muslim candidate's criminal record fair game or race baiting?

Ahead of next month's French election, allegations about a French-African Muslim candidate's criminal record is raising questions about whether France offers a level playing field for ethnic minorities. Ali Soumaré, a candidate in regional elections, says he is the victim of slander.

No burqas in France? Ruling party moves to ban veils in public.

The new effort to outlaw the full-length veil - niqabs and burqas - in public trumps earlier efforts to ban it only in some official buildings. The move comes at a time when French Muslims say they are being targeted as outsiders or not fully French.

New literary star Marie Ndiaye takes on France's old guard

Marie Ndiaye won the Prix Goncourt for tackling immigration in her novel "Trois femmes puissantes." She refuses to retract her equally bold criticism of Sarkozy's France.

France passes new law to ban 'gangs'

President Sarkozy's law-and-order push now includes three years in jail or a 45,000 euro fine for being a member of a gang.

Conservatives gain in European parliament vote

A record low turnout of only 43 percent of 375 million eligible voters pointed to skepticism about a more integrated Europe.

French kill Web piracy bill, by accident