Prime minister

Proposed tax rises on well-off in France: who is deemed wealthy?

The PM is considering several options to raise the billions needed to address the country’s deficit

Which taxes could be raised, or introduced, in new French PM's budget to combat debt?

‘The situation is extremely serious, more severe than I was led to believe,’ says new PM Michel Barnier

Marine Le Pen: ‘We expect Michel Barnier to act’

‘At least he is aware that immigration is a major problem’, said the head of the Rassemblement National

news

Immigration, EU, pay: What are PM Michel Barnier's known policies?

The new PM likely faces an uphill battle in parliament to push policies through, as there is still not a clear majority

New French government: five possible scenarios after Macron rejects PM choice

Left is calling for protests in September as political deadlock continues

France placed on highest alert after Moscow attack: what changes?

Anti-terrorist measures are stepped up. Alert may remain throughout summer

Key points of new French prime minister’s traditional policy address

Gabriel Attal vows to fight bureaucracy and raise the minimum wage. He also criticises the Rassemblement Nationale party for supporting Brexit

See: France’s new government with surprise return of Sarkozy minister

Prime minister includes Rachida Dati and his former partner in cabinet

France’s new PM: The key difference in coverage in France and the US

Awkwardness, private life, homophobia…? Why has the French media glossed over Gabriel Attal’s openly gay stance, in contrast to reports in the US?

President names Gabriel Attal prime minister of France

The 34-year-old is the youngest head of government in the country’s modern history

French MPs vote for ban on single-use ‘puff’ electronic cigarettes

The bill is now in the hands of the Senate

What is France’s article 49.3 and why is it back in the news again?

The controversial political mechanism is often referred to as the ‘nuclear option’ as it exposes the government to the possibility of a vote of no confidence

Six key points to note from French Prime Minister’s recent interview

Fuel aid, taxes, medical fees and tackling crime were among the topics covered by Elisabeth Borne

MAP: See what temperatures to expect today and tomorrow in France

Temperatures in the south and the Rhône valley in particular will be extremely high

Age, new minimum amount: What does France’s pension reform involve?

The prime minister has stated that the minimum pension received each month would rise as well as the retirement age. Unions have called for a day of protest

French election fallout: Macron refuses to accept PM’s resignation

The president is now scheduled to receive representatives from different parties in a bid to find ‘constructive solutions’ to lack of parliamentary majority

Elisabeth Borne must win at legislative elections to remain French PM

Simon Heffer looks at why she is standing for election to the Assemblée nationale, what happens if she loses and what awaits her as prime minister if she wins

Laws, national defence: what is the role of the French prime minister?

Élisabeth Borne has just been named head of government. We look at what her duties will be and how her job differs from the president’s

Élisabeth Borne: Six facts about France’s new prime minister

She is the country’s second-ever female head of government and takes on the ‘job from hell’. We look at her life, politics and hobbies

Facemasks, tennis, new PM: What’s happening in France this week?

This week sees the end of obligatory facemasks on public transport, the start of the Roland-Garros tournament and a change of prime minister

Will France’s next PM be a woman? If so, she will not be the first

President Macron is expected to announce his new prime minister soon. We look at who it could be and about France’s first female prime minister, appointed in 1991

How can Mélenchon become French prime minister and how would it work?

The hard-left politician has set his sights on becoming head of government to contest President Macron's policies

Lost glasses, Mr Lockdown: Memorable moments of French PM Jean Castex

The outgoing head of government has been praised by colleagues for a job well done. We look back at some of the funny, regrettable and notable points of his time in the role

Far-Left Mélenchon ‘is dreaming’ in aim to be French prime minister

He hopes for a big success for his party in June’s MP elections but will struggle as his supporters are concentrated in just a few urban areas, says a political analyst

Jean-Luc Mélenchon calls on France to elect him as prime minister

The far left politician who came third in the presidential first round is urging the public to elect a majority of MPs from his party in June’s parliamentary elections

€100 for people in France with income of less than €2,000 a month

Up to 38 million people are eligible including employees, self-employed, pensioners and unemployed

France pledges €240m for struggling at-home elderly care services

Low salaries and the Covid crisis have worsened staff shortages in the sector meaning that availability is now a ‘postcode lottery’ and some requests for help are being denied

Vaccination must increase, France is now in 4th Covid wave, says PM

Jean Castex discussed the Covid-19 situation in a TV interview this afternoon (July 21), and spoke about new health pass and vaccination measures

70% of Covid cases in Landes now Delta variant

Ministers are visiting the department in southwest France today to check on the progress of vaccinations and testing, while health experts call for continued caution to avoid another wave over the summer

Paris-Nice night train restarts with PM onboard for first trip

The relaunch is to be the first in a series of new night services. Campaigners also want lower VAT for train tickets and a minimum amount for plane tickets 'to rebalance' competition

France doubles penalties for people who do not obey police orders

The prime minister announced a crackdown on aggressive behaviour towards police amid rising anger in the force after the death of two police workers

France steps up Covid rule checks to ‘avoid lockdown’

The prime minister has called on local authorities to strengthen checks on current health rules in a bid to avoid a national lockdown, as Toulouse becomes the latest city to impose local bans

Thousands of homes at risk as flooding hits southwest France

Prime Minister Jean Castex has visited the Lot-et-Garonne, as alerts remain in Charente and Charente-Maritime, with thousands evacuated across the region

France urged to speed up vaccination as variants spread

The World Health Organisation has called for vaccinations to be speeded up across Europe amid the new variant threats, as France begins its AstraZeneca rollout for healthcare workers

Why there is no new lockdown in France (for now)

As Covid cases remain ‘relatively stable’, the prime minister has strengthened existing measures rather than announce a new confinement - but several doctors have criticised the move as ‘political’

France hits one million vaccination target amid delay fears

The prime minister confirmed the country had hit the target ahead of schedule but doubts remain over possible vaccine delivery delays and dose shortages

France Covid-19: Self-isolation recommended but not forced

People who test positive will now be offered ‘home visits’, but the PM stopped short of making self-isolation legally enforced. Plus, what to do if you test positive

France rules out Christmas travel ban ahead of PM speech

President Macron has said, ahead of the PM’s deconfinement speech tonight, that stopping Christmas travel is ‘not an option’ in France despite Covid cases remaining high

French PM announces mass Covid testing trial after Christmas

PM Jean Castex discussed Covid health plans this winter including vaccines, skiing restrictions, and a Covid testing campaign for densely populated areas during an interview this morning,

France: Bars and restaurants may not open before January 15

Hospitality sites may not be permitted to reopen until next year, as ‘non-essential’ shops and religious sites wait to find out if they will be able to reopen from December 1

France lockdown: No decision yet on reopening shops

The prime minister will give a press conference about confinement tonight, amid widespread speculation over rules for shops, schools and Christmas

How will France’s new lockdown be different from spring?

Exemption forms for leaving the house are back, but there are other significant changes

What are the new Covid rules in France from tomorrow?

Large cities will introduce curfews, and there are new rules that will apply throughout France.

France announces €100billion plan to relaunch economy

French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced the economic relaunch plan to counteract the economic effect of the Covid-19 crisis, with the objective of creating 160,000 jobs in 2021.

France Covid-19: Cases top 5,000 as PM mask claim questioned

Claims by Prime Minister Castex that France is “well ahead” of other countries on giving free masks have been questioned, as he reiterated calls for public “responsibility” - and new Covid cases exceed 5,000.

France Covid-19: Prime Minister Castex lays out new measures

No free masks for all, masks required in theatres and cinemas, and more details on the “relaunch” plan: these were among the main points made in a key interview by French Prime Minister Jean Castex this week.

PM calls for discipline as Covid worsens in France

French Prime Minister Jean Castex has called for “vigilance, discipline” and more mask-wearing, as he called the current Covid-19 situation “worrying” - but one top professor has said the minister did not go far enough.

France confirms where masks are mandatory from tomorrow

France has issued a partial list of “indoor, enclosed” places in which masks are to become obligatory from tomorrow (Monday July 20), alongside further recommendations of how to wear a mask safely and effectively.

Ex-French PM and wife to appeal guilty sentence

Ex-French Prime Minister François Fillon and his wife Penelope, who was born in Wales, were found guilty of embezzling over €1 million of public funds yesterday (June 29). They will appeal the ruling.

Deconfinement in France: PM to outline second phase

The French Prime Minister is to address the country this Thursday (May 28) to detail the second phase of deconfinement, including whether bars and restaurants will reopen, and if travel beyond 100km will be allowed.

French PM: ‘Public can holiday in France’ this summer

French prime minister Edouard Philippe has said the public “will be able to go on holiday within France” this summer, as he announced a €18billion tourism support package, in a live address.

Covid-19: France declares state of health emergency

France has declared a state of health emergency for two months, after MPs and Senators agreed on an urgent law to battle Covid-19 this weekend.

France to ‘struggle to accept’ Brits if no confinement

France will “struggle to accept” British visitors travelling into its country if Britain does not enact mandatory confinement measures on its population quickly, the French Prime Minister has said.

France ‘activates’ hospitals to prepare for Covid-19

France is to “activate” 70 extra hospitals in preparation for a potential spread of coronavirus Covid-19 - amid news that the virus has already caused tourism in the country to drop by 30-40%.

Unclear if strikes to continue in France at Christmas

With just 10 days to go until Christmas, it is still not clear whether TGV and train workers will continue to strike in France over the holiday period, as the Prime Minister warns strikers to “take responsibility”.

French PM says ‘no magic’ speech coming on pensions

There will be “no magic announcements” to stop the pension strikes, Édouard Philippe has said, ahead of his speech on the issue today, as it emerges that the reforms will apply only to those born after 1975.

Sterling falls as Brexit impasse deepens

Prime Minister Boris Johnson rules out trips to France or Germany until EU agrees to reopen Withdrawal Agreement

French PM promises tax cuts in speech to MPs

Edouard Philippe also highlights pension reform, the environment, drug crime, childcare and unemployment benefits in wide-ranging speech

French PM announces new gilets jaunes measures

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has admitted the government “made mistakes” in responding to the gilets jaunes , and has announced a series of new measures to address their grievances.

French government to announce halt in fuel tax rise

The French government is to announce a moratorium on the rise in fuel tax this morning (Tuesday December 4); one of the primary demands made by the Gilets Jaunes protesters in recent weeks.

'At source' tax WILL go ahead next year

The new system of tax levied at source will go ahead from January 1 as planned says the Prime Minister

Government unveils 18 new road safety measures

Bid to clamp down on speed, alcohol and phone use - in a bid to “act on drivers’ behaviour”.

‘Still possible to stop Brexit’ says Blair

‘It is still possible to stop Brexit’, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has told Le Figaro .

Brexit cyclist Paul hoping for MPs’ vote

Brexit campaigner Paul Hearn, who biked from the Charente to Downing Street to deliver a 15,000-name change.org petition, is now urging backers to sign a second, duplicate one.

Meet France’s new PM, Edouard Philippe

Edouard Philippe, 46, is the new Prime Minister of France.