President Macron in London for Queen’s funeral
President Emmanuel Macron is attending the Queen’s funeral today at Westminster Abbey in London.
He and his wife Brigitte are two of around 500 foreign dignitaries and a total of 2,000 guests at the service.
After the funeral, the president will head straight for New York, where he will attend the UN General Assembly, the five-hour time difference helping him to arrive on time.
Read more: Seven facts about the Queen’s relationship with France
Monet’s Impressionist house opens to visitors in Argenteuil
People who love the work of Claude Monet now have a further opportunity to find out about the artist’s life, as his Maison Impressionniste in Argenteuil (Val d’Oise in Ile-de-France) opens to the public after years of renovation work.
The house can be visited from Tuesday September 20 and will offer visitors an immersive experience of the artist’s life and work.
Monet completed some 159 paintings in that house between 1874 and 1878, covering themes such as the effect of the industrial revolution on Argenteuil, and the pockets of nature which were preserved.
Visitors will be able to visit both of the house’s floors, which contain furniture and oil lamps from the period.
Discussions continue over assisted suicide
President Macron has already called for a citizen consultation on the subject of assisted suicide, and whether it could be legalised in France.
This consultation will be launched in October, ahead of a potential change to the law in 2023. The president has also stated that a referendum could be held on the subject.
Now, Health Minister François Braun has said that he does “not want healthcare workers to be forgotten in this discussion. I have been a healthcare worker, I have been confronted by these end-of-life issues and in this consultation my role is to make sure that the word of professionals is not forgotten.”
This is because it is these healthcare workers who are “on the front line in these moments”.
The Comité consultatif national d’éthique ethical authority has judged that assisted suicide could be made legal under strict conditions for adults who have serious and incurable illnesses and who are suffering physical or psychological pain.
The Ordre des médecins doctors’ body has said that it is “not in favour of euthanasia” but has stated that if assisted suicide were to become legal, healthcare staff should be entitled to a ‘conscience clause’ which would allow them to avoid carrying out the treatment because of religious or other beliefs.
Mr Braun said today that: “End-of-life [care] is as much, or even more of, a societal problem than a medical problem.
“It is an extremely difficult moment, extremely painful; my deep belief is that we should not be suffering at that time.”
Discussions on the subject will continue ahead of the official consultation launch.
Paris métro pays tribute to Queen
The Paris métro network has paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II ahead of her funeral by installing plaques dedicated to the monarch in its George V station.
“We are acknowledging this day of mourning by placing a plaque reading ‘Elizabeth II 1926-2022 at the George V station on Ligne 1,” transport operator RATP stated.
The Queen Elizabeth plaques will cover those reading George V for today (September 19), while the funeral takes place, and will be removed this evening.
Read more: Paris métro station George V pays homage to Queen Elizabeth II
A new métro line opens in Rennes
The Ligne B of the Rennes métro system is set to open tomorrow (September 20), after a series of delays.
The first train will set off at 05:15. The new line means that three quarters of people in Rennes will now live less than 600 metres from a métro station.
It is estimated that the Ligne B will prevent 50,000 car journeys each day.
“There will continue to be a period of setting up and fine-tuning,” the city’s mayor Nathalie Appéré has said.
Rennes is one of the smallest cities in the world to have a métro system, along with Lausanne in Switzerland and Brescia in Italy.
Hunting season opens in much of northern France
In much of the northern half of France, this week marks the first of the 2022-23 hunting season, which will run until February 28 in the vast majority of departments.
You can see the exact dates for your department in the article below:
Read more: MAP: The dates for the 2022-3 hunting season in your French department
Read more: Is there a way to check if a hunt is taking place near me in France?
In most of southern France, the season began on September 11, and in some places it will start on September 25.
The opening of this year’s hunt comes as the French Senate is expected to publish reports based on discussions triggered by petitions calling for stricter rules and ‘no-hunting’ days.
Read more: French Senate debates whether to ban drinking while hunting
Some tax payments due in France
People due to pay impôt sur la fortune immobilière property wealth tax on their property assets owned on January 1, 2022 have until tomorrow (September 20) at midnight to do so if they are paying online by internet or smartphone (for other methods the deadline was September 15).
Their bank accounts will only be debited from September 26.
Note however, that certain people may be given later dates for payment, in which case use the date on your avis d’imposition (bill) for this tax. This is also likely to apply to you if you have not yet received your avis. Check with your tax office if in doubt.
Those who have impôt sur le revenu and/or French social charges to pay on 2021 income also have until tomorrow at midnight to pay their bill online (unless they have a direct debit set up).
Similarly to property wealth tax, the money will only actually be debited on September 26. If the amount due is more than €300 it will be taken in four amounts, spread over the last months of the year.
The Festival Origines Contrôlées
Toulouse is hosting the Festival Origines Contrôlées this week, with open air concerts, a comedy night, a poetry reading and other events aimed at foregrounding the immigrant culture which helps to characterise the city.
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