French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne resigned on Monday, as President Emmanuel Macron seeks to give a new impetus to his second mandate ahead of European parliament elections and the Paris Olympics this summer.

French PM Elisabeth Borne resigns, President Emmanuel Macron to name new PM

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Beijing on Wednesday, Chinese state media said, beginning a three-day visit during which he will meet his counterpart Xi Jinping.

French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in China for 3-day visit

The US President Joe Biden had his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron hail the essential Washington and Paris ties. Watch this video to know more.

US, France can 'Succeed Together, Not Against Each Other', says Macron

Macron, Biden pledge to hold Russia accountable for 'war crimes'

French President's US visit; Emmanuel Macron is in US for first state visit hosted by Joe Biden. Watch the video to know more about the news.

French President Emmanuel Macron visits NASA with Kamala Harris as US tour starts

French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire has said that the French government has relied too much on external consultants such as U.S. firm McKinsey.

France went 'too far' in relying on consultants like McKinsey, says France's Le Maire

After a declassified French defence report indicated the government hidden&nbsp;impact of nuclear testing in French Polynesia between 1966-1996, the French government held a round table meeting to discuss the issue.

A report by an online site Disclose revealed&nbsp;that radiation levels were allegedly two to ten times higher than estimated by France’s Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) in 2006 as it studied the radiation effects in Aldébaran in 1966, Encelade in 1971&nbsp;and Centaure in 1974.

Watch:

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According to the report, the Polynesian population was badly hit by the radiation caused by the Centaure bomb testing in July 1974 with almost the entire population badly hit.

According to Disclose, at least 63 Polynesian civilians have received compensation for the radiation exposure.

The meeting was attended by French President Emmanuel Macron. The French president called for a frank discussion on the subject amid allegations by Disclose. However, MP Moetai Brotherson who represents Polynesia refused to attend the event unless the government apologised.

The head of the region Edouard Fritch however welcomed Macron's move.

Disclose in its report had said that at least 11,000 victims allegedly received radiation doses in excess of 5 millisieverts which included 600 children under the age of 15 in Tahiti, Tureia and Gambier Islands.

France had reportedly carried out 193 nuclear tests between 1960 and 1996 on the atolls of Fangataufa and Mururoa.

The "Moruroa files" which was compiled in a two year-long investigation after interviewing several people in France and French Polynesia found that the military did not take preventive evacuation while conducting the tests, according to the declassified report&nbsp;

The investigation revealed that people living in Mangareva island in the Gambier archipelago had developed breast and thyroid cancer after the tests were conducted.

(With inputs from Agencies)

After a declassified French defence report indicated the government hidden impact of nuclear testing in French Polynesia between 1966-1996, the French government held a round table meeting to discuss the issue.

After a declassified French defence report indicated the government hidden impact of nuclear testing in French Polynesia between 1966-1996, the French government held a round table meeting to discuss the issue. A report by an online site Disclose revealed that radiation levels were allegedly two to ten times higher than estimated by France’s Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) in 2006 as it studied the radiation effects in Aldébaran in 1966, Encelade in 1971 and Centaure in 1974. Watch: According to the report, the Polynesian population was badly hit by the radiation caused by the Centaure bomb testing in July 1974 with almost the entire population badly hit. According to Disclose, at least 63 Polynesian civilians have received compensation for the radiation exposure. The meeting was attended by French President Emmanuel Macron. The French president called for a frank discussion on the subject amid allegations by Disclose. However, MP Moetai Brotherson who represents Polynesia refused to attend the event unless the government apologised. The head of the region Edouard Fritch however welcomed Macron's move. Disclose in its report had said that at least 11,000 victims allegedly received radiation doses in excess of 5 millisieverts which included 600 children under the age of 15 in Tahiti, Tureia and Gambier Islands. France had reportedly carried out 193 nuclear tests between 1960 and 1996 on the atolls of Fangataufa and Mururoa. The "Moruroa files" which was compiled in a two year-long investigation after interviewing several people in France and French Polynesia found that the military did not take preventive evacuation while conducting the tests, according to the declassified report The investigation revealed that people living in Mangareva island in the Gambier archipelago had developed breast and thyroid cancer after the tests were conducted. (With inputs from Agencies)

France holds discussion on nuclear testing in French Polynesia over declassified report

France's lower house of parliament approved on Tuesday a law to fight extremism and 'Islamist separatism' that the government bills as a riposte to religious groups attempting to undermine France's secular traditions. &nbsp;

President Emmanuel Macron's centrist party rallied around the legislation, with 347 National Assembly lawmakers voting in favour, 151 against and 65 abstaining. &nbsp;

With an eye on 2022 elections, President Emmanuel Macron has championed the bill, which seeks to tighten rules on issues ranging from religious teaching, online hate to polygamy.&nbsp;

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It has been debated in a highly charged atmosphere in France after three attacks late last year by extremists including the beheading in October of teacher Samuel Paty, who had shown his pupils cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.&nbsp;

The law is dubbed the anti-separatism bill as ministers fear Islamists are creating communities that reject France's secular identity and laws, as well as its values, such as equality between the sexes.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/macrons-new-anti-extremism-bill-sparks-fresh-protests-in-france-363888" hreflang="en">Macron's new anti-extremism bill sparks fresh protests in France</a>

France, home to Europe's largest Muslim community, is still shaken by the succession of massacres committed by Islamist militants from January 2015 that left hundreds dead.&nbsp;

The National Assembly lower house voted on the legislation after a total of 135 hours of debates that saw some 313 amendments adopted. &nbsp;

The upper house Senate will also examine the draft legislation in the coming months and could amend it. If that it is the case, the bill will then go back to the National Assembly for a final reading.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/france-recommends-single-vaccine-dose-for-people-who-have-had-covid-363224" hreflang="en">France recommends single vaccine dose for people who have had Covid</a>

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said after the final debate on Saturday that the bill "provides concrete responses to... the development of radical Islam, an ideology hostile to the principles and values on which the Republic is founded."&nbsp;

Paty's killing prompted the inclusion of the specific crimes of online hate speech and divulging personal information on the internet that could be used to harm someone.&nbsp;

France's lower house of parliament approved on Tuesday a law to fight extremism and 'Islamist separatism' that the government bills as a riposte to religious groups attempting to undermine France's secular traditions.

France's lower house of parliament approved on Tuesday a law to fight extremism and 'Islamist separatism' that the government bills as a riposte to religious groups attempting to undermine France's secular traditions. President Emmanuel Macron's centrist party rallied around the legislation, with 347 National Assembly lawmakers voting in favour, 151 against and 65 abstaining. With an eye on 2022 elections, President Emmanuel Macron has championed the bill, which seeks to tighten rules on issues ranging from religious teaching, online hate to polygamy. It has been debated in a highly charged atmosphere in France after three attacks late last year by extremists including the beheading in October of teacher Samuel Paty, who had shown his pupils cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. The law is dubbed the anti-separatism bill as ministers fear Islamists are creating communities that reject France's secular identity and laws, as well as its values, such as equality between the sexes. Also read: Macron's new anti-extremism bill sparks fresh protests in France France, home to Europe's largest Muslim community, is still shaken by the succession of massacres committed by Islamist militants from January 2015 that left hundreds dead. The National Assembly lower house voted on the legislation after a total of 135 hours of debates that saw some 313 amendments adopted. The upper house Senate will also examine the draft legislation in the coming months and could amend it. If that it is the case, the bill will then go back to the National Assembly for a final reading. Also read: France recommends single vaccine dose for people who have had Covid Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said after the final debate on Saturday that the bill "provides concrete responses to... the development of radical Islam, an ideology hostile to the principles and values on which the Republic is founded." Paty's killing prompted the inclusion of the specific crimes of online hate speech and divulging personal information on the internet that could be used to harm someone.

French lawmakers approve bill to battle Islamist extremism

France will mobilise 45 billion euros ($50.22 billion) in crisis measures to help its companies, with the economy expected to contract 1% this year due to the coronavirus outbreak, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Tuesday.

Le Maire said a large part of the 45 billion euro figure was the deferral of all tax payments and payroll charges that companies were due to pay this month and the cancellation of such payments for firms at risk of collapse.

Also see: Coronavirus: Italians keep their spirits up with music

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"We are going to mobilise 45 billion euros as our first immediate economic assistance to companies," Le Maire told French RTL radio. "We don't want bankruptcies."

The money comes in addition to 300 billion euros in government loan guarantees that President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday, Le Maire said.

Watch: France deploy thousands police forces to ensure lockdown

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He said he would produce a new budget bill "in a matter of hours" to reflect fallout from the virus and based on a forecast that the economy would contract 1% this year.

Asked whether the stock market should be closed in light of the economic turmoil, Le Maire said there were other things that could be done first such as banning short-selling, which he said the markets regulator was doing for 24 hours.

France will mobilise 45 billion euros ($50.22 billion) in crisis measures to help its companies, with the economy expected to contract 1% this year due to the coronavirus outbreak, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Tuesday.

France will mobilise 45 billion euros ($50.22 billion) in crisis measures to help its companies, with the economy expected to contract 1% this year due to the coronavirus outbreak, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Tuesday. Le Maire said a large part of the 45 billion euro figure was the deferral of all tax payments and payroll charges that companies were due to pay this month and the cancellation of such payments for firms at risk of collapse. Also see: Coronavirus: Italians keep their spirits up with music "We are going to mobilise 45 billion euros as our first immediate economic assistance to companies," Le Maire told French RTL radio. "We don't want bankruptcies." The money comes in addition to 300 billion euros in government loan guarantees that President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday, Le Maire said. Watch: France deploy thousands police forces to ensure lockdown He said he would produce a new budget bill "in a matter of hours" to reflect fallout from the virus and based on a forecast that the economy would contract 1% this year. Asked whether the stock market should be closed in light of the economic turmoil, Le Maire said there were other things that could be done first such as banning short-selling, which he said the markets regulator was doing for 24 hours.

France to mobilise 45 billion euros as economy slumps 1% in 2020

French police on Thursday (December 5) deployed tear gas and used pepper spray on protesters and black blocs as a pensions reform protest in Paris turned rowdy.

Fires, tear gas and clashes in Paris protests against pension reforms

French police started evacuating migrants on Thursday from an illegal campsite in northern <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-cilic-raonic-make-winning-starts-at-paris-masters-federer-withdraws-258577">Paris</a>, the local police force said in a statement, as the government aims to show it is taking a tougher stance on illegal immigration.

The police said it would be moving between 200-300 people from the illegal site in northern Paris' Porte d'Aubervilliers, and putting them up in shelters.

Since the closure of a huge migrant camp in Calais in 2016, many refugees have moved to Paris. Authorities have repeatedly dismantled illegal campsites only to see them pop up again in different areas a few months later.

Earlier this month, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/macron-seeks-ukraine-progress-from-putin-in-rare-pre-g7-talks-243465">President Emmanuel Macron</a>'s government pledged to clear out some migrant tent camps, impose quotas for migrant workers and deny newly-arrived asylum seekers access to non-urgent healthcare, in a response to voters' concerns about immigration.

French police started evacuating migrants on Thursday from an illegal campsite in northern Paris, the local police force said in a statement, as the government aims to show it is taking a tougher stance on illegal immigration.

French police started evacuating migrants on Thursday from an illegal campsite in northern Paris, the local police force said in a statement, as the government aims to show it is taking a tougher stance on illegal immigration. The police said it would be moving between 200-300 people from the illegal site in northern Paris' Porte d'Aubervilliers, and putting them up in shelters. Since the closure of a huge migrant camp in Calais in 2016, many refugees have moved to Paris. Authorities have repeatedly dismantled illegal campsites only to see them pop up again in different areas a few months later. Earlier this month, President Emmanuel Macron's government pledged to clear out some migrant tent camps, impose quotas for migrant workers and deny newly-arrived asylum seekers access to non-urgent healthcare, in a response to voters' concerns about immigration.

French police evacuates migrants from northern Paris campsite

Anti-government protesters turned out in several French cities Saturday, hoping to inject fresh momentum into weekly demonstrations calling for social justice and the ouster of President Emmanuel Macron.

The so-called "yellow vest" movement had tapered off over the summer, but its leaders are hoping to galvanise support for a fresh wave of rallies as the government embarks on reform of France's retirement system.

Police said around 1,500 people gathered in the southern city of Montpellier, where a police car was set aflame by a firebomb as officers used tear gas to try to disperse the crowd.

Several storefronts were also vandalised, and police said three people had been detained.

Rallies of several hundreds of people were held in cities including Rouen, Strasbourg and Toulouse.

"We're all together, we want the government to drastically change its policies... and radical change can only come when this government resigns," said Alexandre Chantry, a yellow vest organiser in Lille.

However only a few dozen people demonstrated in Paris, where the authorities have maintained a ban on protests on the Champs-Elysees.

The famous avenue was the scene of burning cars, smashed storefronts and violent clashes with police after the yellow vest protests erupted last November.

Triggered by anger over a fuel tax increase, they quickly ballooned into a broad movement against Macron, accused of ignoring the day-to-day struggles of low-income earners in small-town and rural France.

The protests rocked Macron's presidency, and he eventually unveiled nearly 17 billion euros ($18.8 billion) in wage boosts and tax cuts for low earners to quell the protests, while vowing to better address voters' grievances after months of town-hall debates.

But after attracting 282,000 people nationwide at the first yellow vest marches on November 17, their numbers had fallen sharply by last spring, and only sporadic protests were seen over the summer.&nbsp;

Anti-government protesters turned out in several French cities Saturday, hoping to inject fresh momentum into weekly demonstrations calling for social justice and the ouster of President Emmanuel Macron.

Anti-government protesters turned out in several French cities Saturday, hoping to inject fresh momentum into weekly demonstrations calling for social justice and the ouster of President Emmanuel Macron. The so-called "yellow vest" movement had tapered off over the summer, but its leaders are hoping to galvanise support for a fresh wave of rallies as the government embarks on reform of France's retirement system. Police said around 1,500 people gathered in the southern city of Montpellier, where a police car was set aflame by a firebomb as officers used tear gas to try to disperse the crowd. Several storefronts were also vandalised, and police said three people had been detained. Rallies of several hundreds of people were held in cities including Rouen, Strasbourg and Toulouse. "We're all together, we want the government to drastically change its policies... and radical change can only come when this government resigns," said Alexandre Chantry, a yellow vest organiser in Lille. However only a few dozen people demonstrated in Paris, where the authorities have maintained a ban on protests on the Champs-Elysees. The famous avenue was the scene of burning cars, smashed storefronts and violent clashes with police after the yellow vest protests erupted last November. Triggered by anger over a fuel tax increase, they quickly ballooned into a broad movement against Macron, accused of ignoring the day-to-day struggles of low-income earners in small-town and rural France. The protests rocked Macron's presidency, and he eventually unveiled nearly 17 billion euros ($18.8 billion) in wage boosts and tax cuts for low earners to quell the protests, while vowing to better address voters' grievances after months of town-hall debates. But after attracting 282,000 people nationwide at the first yellow vest marches on November 17, their numbers had fallen sharply by last spring, and only sporadic protests were seen over the summer.

French 'yellow vest' protesters look to revive movement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held an "excellent round" of discussion with French President Emmanuel Macron during which he has conveyed that New Delhi <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/goal-set-for-2030-will-be-fulfilled-by-2025-says-pm-modi-in-address-to-indian-audience-in-france-245049">"stands with" Paris on all agendas</a> it is pursuing in the upcoming G7 meeting.&nbsp;

"The Prime Minister had an excellent round of discussion with President Macron last evening. The discussion lasted over 90 minutes and was characterised by a great deal of warmth and friendship. It demonstrated that France and India are two strategic partners," said Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale.

"Among the topic they discussed was the upcoming G7 meeting. And Prime Minister Modi thanked Macron for inviting India. The Prime minister has conveyed that India stands with France on all aspects that France is pursuing, and we wish all success to France to fulfilling that agenda for the G7 meeting," he added.&nbsp;

PM Modi in France: Paris chants 'Modi Hai Toh Mumkin Hai'

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Modi will participate in the G7 summit as Biarritz partner in sessions on the environment, climate, oceans and on digital transformation on August 25 and 26. In a joint statement released after the two leaders'&nbsp;meeting, France and India said they will support new initiatives aimed towards low greenhouse gas emission.

"Under the framework of the G7 Summit in Biarritz and the United Nations Secretary-General's Climate Action Summit on 23rd September 2019, France and India will also support new initiatives aimed towards low-GHG development resilient to climate change notably through financial flows alignment with the Paris Agreement objectives and supporting transition towards lower emissions of high emitting industries," read the joint statement Gokhale said that environment and global warming are big parts of the upcoming G7 meeting and India is committed to the Paris accord.&nbsp;

India has made an important commitment that it intended to fulfill, he noted.

"Obviously environment and global warming are the big part of the G7 Summit that is taking place on Saturday and Sunday. Prime Minister Modi has conveyed that India is committed to the Paris accord. India has made an important commitment that is intended to fulfill", said Gokhale 
He said that Prime Minister Modi noted that the G-7 countries and international community, at large, should fulfill their commitments regarding the environment, global warming.

On the bilateral side, Modi and Macron discussed a gamut of issues.

"They held a discussion on Indo Pacific and on the possibility of cooperation between India and France in the region," Gokhale said.

The two leaders also discussed cybersecurity, Artifical Intelligence, and terrorism.

Several regional issues were discussed by the two leaders.&nbsp;

"During the meeting, Macron condemned terrorism in all its form and manifestations saying it cannot be justified on any grounds whatsoever and called for halting cross-border movements of terror outfits including Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba which are based in Pakistan and engage in anti-India activities, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir," he added on the second day of his visit, Prime Minister Modi met France Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and also addressed the Indian community, before flying to the UAE.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held an "excellent round" of discussion with French President Emmanuel Macron during which he has conveyed that New Delhi "stands with" Paris on all agendas it is pursuing in the upcoming G7 meeting.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held an "excellent round" of discussion with French President Emmanuel Macron during which he has conveyed that New Delhi "stands with" Paris on all agendas it is pursuing in the upcoming G7 meeting. "The Prime Minister had an excellent round of discussion with President Macron last evening. The discussion lasted over 90 minutes and was characterised by a great deal of warmth and friendship. It demonstrated that France and India are two strategic partners," said Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale. "Among the topic they discussed was the upcoming G7 meeting. And Prime Minister Modi thanked Macron for inviting India. The Prime minister has conveyed that India stands with France on all aspects that France is pursuing, and we wish all success to France to fulfilling that agenda for the G7 meeting," he added. PM Modi in France: Paris chants 'Modi Hai Toh Mumkin Hai' × Modi will participate in the G7 summit as Biarritz partner in sessions on the environment, climate, oceans and on digital transformation on August 25 and 26. In a joint statement released after the two leaders' meeting, France and India said they will support new initiatives aimed towards low greenhouse gas emission. "Under the framework of the G7 Summit in Biarritz and the United Nations Secretary-General's Climate Action Summit on 23rd September 2019, France and India will also support new initiatives aimed towards low-GHG development resilient to climate change notably through financial flows alignment with the Paris Agreement objectives and supporting transition towards lower emissions of high emitting industries," read the joint statement Gokhale said that environment and global warming are big parts of the upcoming G7 meeting and India is committed to the Paris accord. India has made an important commitment that it intended to fulfill, he noted. "Obviously environment and global warming are the big part of the G7 Summit that is taking place on Saturday and Sunday. Prime Minister Modi has conveyed that India is committed to the Paris accord. India has made an important commitment that is intended to fulfill", said Gokhale He said that Prime Minister Modi noted that the G-7 countries and international community, at large, should fulfill their commitments regarding the environment, global warming. On the bilateral side, Modi and Macron discussed a gamut of issues. "They held a discussion on Indo Pacific and on the possibility of cooperation between India and France in the region," Gokhale said. The two leaders also discussed cybersecurity, Artifical Intelligence, and terrorism. Several regional issues were discussed by the two leaders. "During the meeting, Macron condemned terrorism in all its form and manifestations saying it cannot be justified on any grounds whatsoever and called for halting cross-border movements of terror outfits including Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba which are based in Pakistan and engage in anti-India activities, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir," he added on the second day of his visit, Prime Minister Modi met France Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and also addressed the Indian community, before flying to the UAE.

India stands with France on all its G7 agendas: PM Narendra Modi in France

Thousands of troops paraded as France celebrated Bastille Day on Sunday. President Emmanuel Macron presided over the annual military parade as warplanes flew over Paris. Watch this video to know more.

France's Bastille Day celebrations: Macron presides over military parade

France to unveil nuclear-powered 'Barracuda' class submarine

President Emmanuel Macron pledged on Tuesday that France would rebuild the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fire-broke-out-in-al-aqsa-mosque-as-notre-dame-cathedral-burned-210982">fire-devastated Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral</a>, saying he hoped the work would be done in five years and the French people would pull together to repair their national symbol.

Macron devoted a brief prime-time televised address to Monday's<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/notre-dame-cathedral-was-probably-caused-by-accident-say-french-prosecutors-210901"> catastrophic blaze </a>in the heart of the capital, again postponing planned remarks on his response to months of anti-government protests.

"We will rebuild<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/billionaires-and-private-donors-mobilise-to-rebuild-notre-dame-210887"> Notre-Dame</a> even more beautifully and I want it to be completed in five years, we can do it," Macron said.

"It is up to us to convert this disaster into an opportunity to come together, having deeply reflected on what we have been and what we have to be and become better than we are. It is up to us to find the thread of our national project."

"This is not a time for politics," added Macron, who had cancelled a speech planned on Monday evening on the response to the "yellow vest" protests.

He visited the site of the fire late on Monday and promised then to rebuild the cathedral, parts of which date to the 12th century.

The cathedral spire was destroyed and its roof gutted but the bell towers were still standing and many valuable art works were saved after more than 400 firemen worked to contain the blaze, finally quelling it 14 hours after it began.

As the city and the country grieved for a potent national symbol, billionaires, companies and local authorities were quick to offer donations.

Some 24 hours after the fire started, more than 750 million euros ($845 million) had been pledged, including 500 million from the three billionaire families that own France's giant luxury goods empires: Kering, LVMH and L'Oreal.

Paris public prosecutor Remy Heitz said there was no obvious indication the fire was arson. Fifty people were working on what would be a long and complex investigation, officials said.

The fire swiftly ripped through the cathedral's oak roof supports, where workmen had been carrying out extensive renovations to the spire's timber-framed supports. Police began questioning the workers involved, the prosecutor's office said.

One firefighter was injured but no one else was hurt, with the fire starting at around 6:30 p.m. after the building was closed to the public for the evening.

Firefighters examined the facade, with its spectacular 10-metre filigreed stained-glass rose window still intact. They could be seen walking atop the belfries as police kept the area in lockdown.

Investigators will not be able to enter the cathedral's blackened nave until experts are satisfied its walls withstood the heat and the building is structurally sound.

"Yesterday we thought the whole cathedral would collapse. Yet this morning she is still standing, valiant, despite everything," said Sister Marie Aimee, a nun who had hurried to a nearby church to pray as the flames spread.

"CATHEDRAL OF THE PEOPLE"

Messages of condolence flooded in from around the world.

Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, was praying for those affected, the Vatican said, adding: "Notre-Dame will always remain - and we have seen this in these hours - a place where believers and non-believers can come together in the most dramatic moments of French history."

Britain's Queen Elizabeth expressed deep sadness while her son and heir Prince Charles said he was "utterly heartbroken". Chancellor Angela Merkel offered German help to rebuild a part of "our common European heritage".

Considered among the finest examples of European Gothic architecture, Notre-Dame is visited by more than 13 million people a year. It sits on an island in the Seine, overlooking the Left Bank hangouts of Ernest Hemingway and Pablo Picasso.

"Notre-Dame de Paris is the cathedral of the people, of the people of Paris, of the French people, of the people of the world. It is part of those references of our history, of what we have in common, of what we share," said Interior Minister Christophe Castaner.

It was at Notre-Dame that Henry VI of England was crowned "King of France" in 1431, that Napoleon was made emperor in 1804, and Pope Pius X beatified Joan of Arc in 1909. Presidents Charles de Gaulle and Francois Mitterrand were mourned there.

HUMAN CHAIN

The cathedral is owned by the state and has been at the centre of a dispute between the nation and the Paris archdiocese over who should finance restoration work to collapsed balustrades, crumbling gargoyles and cracked facades.

It was too early to estimate the cost of the damage, said the heritage charity Fondation du Patrimoine.

Paolo Violini, a restoration specialist for Vatican museums, said the pace of the fire's spread had been stunning.

"We are used to thinking about them as eternal simply because they have been there for centuries, or a thousand years, but the reality is they are very fragile," Violini said.

The company carrying out the renovation works when the blaze broke out said it would cooperate fully with the investigation.

"All I can tell you is that at the moment the fire began none of my employees were on the site. We respected all procedures," Julien Le Bras, a representative of family firm Le Bras Freres.

Many relics and artworks were saved. At one point, firefighters, policemen and municipal workers formed a human chain to remove the treasures, including a centuries-old crown of thorns made from reeds and gold, and the tunic believed to have been worn by Saint Louis, a 13th century king of France.

Gold, silver and gem-inlaid chalices, candelabras and many other artefacts survived the blaze.

President Emmanuel Macron pledged on Tuesday that France would rebuild the fire-devastated Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, saying he hoped the work would be done in five years and the French people would pull together to repair their national symbol.

President Emmanuel Macron pledged on Tuesday that France would rebuild the fire-devastated Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, saying he hoped the work would be done in five years and the French people would pull together to repair their national symbol. Macron devoted a brief prime-time televised address to Monday's catastrophic blaze in the heart of the capital, again postponing planned remarks on his response to months of anti-government protests. "We will rebuild Notre-Dame even more beautifully and I want it to be completed in five years, we can do it," Macron said. "It is up to us to convert this disaster into an opportunity to come together, having deeply reflected on what we have been and what we have to be and become better than we are. It is up to us to find the thread of our national project." "This is not a time for politics," added Macron, who had cancelled a speech planned on Monday evening on the response to the "yellow vest" protests. He visited the site of the fire late on Monday and promised then to rebuild the cathedral, parts of which date to the 12th century. The cathedral spire was destroyed and its roof gutted but the bell towers were still standing and many valuable art works were saved after more than 400 firemen worked to contain the blaze, finally quelling it 14 hours after it began. As the city and the country grieved for a potent national symbol, billionaires, companies and local authorities were quick to offer donations. Some 24 hours after the fire started, more than 750 million euros ($845 million) had been pledged, including 500 million from the three billionaire families that own France's giant luxury goods empires: Kering, LVMH and L'Oreal. Paris public prosecutor Remy Heitz said there was no obvious indication the fire was arson. Fifty people were working on what would be a long and complex investigation, officials said. The fire swiftly ripped through the cathedral's oak roof supports, where workmen had been carrying out extensive renovations to the spire's timber-framed supports. Police began questioning the workers involved, the prosecutor's office said. One firefighter was injured but no one else was hurt, with the fire starting at around 6:30 p.m. after the building was closed to the public for the evening. Firefighters examined the facade, with its spectacular 10-metre filigreed stained-glass rose window still intact. They could be seen walking atop the belfries as police kept the area in lockdown. Investigators will not be able to enter the cathedral's blackened nave until experts are satisfied its walls withstood the heat and the building is structurally sound. "Yesterday we thought the whole cathedral would collapse. Yet this morning she is still standing, valiant, despite everything," said Sister Marie Aimee, a nun who had hurried to a nearby church to pray as the flames spread. "CATHEDRAL OF THE PEOPLE" Messages of condolence flooded in from around the world. Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, was praying for those affected, the Vatican said, adding: "Notre-Dame will always remain - and we have seen this in these hours - a place where believers and non-believers can come together in the most dramatic moments of French history." Britain's Queen Elizabeth expressed deep sadness while her son and heir Prince Charles said he was "utterly heartbroken". Chancellor Angela Merkel offered German help to rebuild a part of "our common European heritage". Considered among the finest examples of European Gothic architecture, Notre-Dame is visited by more than 13 million people a year. It sits on an island in the Seine, overlooking the Left Bank hangouts of Ernest Hemingway and Pablo Picasso. "Notre-Dame de Paris is the cathedral of the people, of the people of Paris, of the French people, of the people of the world. It is part of those references of our history, of what we have in common, of what we share," said Interior Minister Christophe Castaner. It was at Notre-Dame that Henry VI of England was crowned "King of France" in 1431, that Napoleon was made emperor in 1804, and Pope Pius X beatified Joan of Arc in 1909. Presidents Charles de Gaulle and Francois Mitterrand were mourned there. HUMAN CHAIN The cathedral is owned by the state and has been at the centre of a dispute between the nation and the Paris archdiocese over who should finance restoration work to collapsed balustrades, crumbling gargoyles and cracked facades. It was too early to estimate the cost of the damage, said the heritage charity Fondation du Patrimoine. Paolo Violini, a restoration specialist for Vatican museums, said the pace of the fire's spread had been stunning. "We are used to thinking about them as eternal simply because they have been there for centuries, or a thousand years, but the reality is they are very fragile," Violini said. The company carrying out the renovation works when the blaze broke out said it would cooperate fully with the investigation. "All I can tell you is that at the moment the fire began none of my employees were on the site. We respected all procedures," Julien Le Bras, a representative of family firm Le Bras Freres. Many relics and artworks were saved. At one point, firefighters, policemen and municipal workers formed a human chain to remove the treasures, including a centuries-old crown of thorns made from reeds and gold, and the tunic believed to have been worn by Saint Louis, a 13th century king of France. Gold, silver and gem-inlaid chalices, candelabras and many other artefacts survived the blaze.

French President Macron hopes to rebuild Notre-Dame in five years

A former boxer who became a hero to some of France's <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/french-yellow-vests-clash-with-police-in-nantes-during-their-weekly-demonstrations-196293">"yellow vest" protesters</a> after being filmed punching police officers during a demonstration in Paris goes on trial Wednesday on charges that carry up to seven years in jail.

Christophe Dettinger, 37, an ex-national light-heavyweight champion, was caught on camera on January 5 throwing a flurry of punches at an officer during clashes on a footbridge over the river Seine near parliament.

The footage, which was played repeatedly on TV and social media, also showed the 1.9-meter (6.3-foot) tall Dettinger kicking another officer on the ground.&nbsp;

The scene caused widespread outrage, with the government describing it as a prime example of the violence that has characterised the yellow vest demonstrations since they began in November.

One of the injured officers was treated in hospital for his injuries.

Dettinger, nicknamed "The Gypsy From Massy" during his days in the ring in reference to the town south of Paris where he began his career, turned himself in two days after the incident and has been in custody ever since.

Some French people have hailed him as a hero for taking on the police.&nbsp;

&nbsp;An angry 'ordinary citizen'&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/demonstrator-loses-hand-at-paris-yellow-vest-march-196297">The yellow vest movement </a>— so-named after the luminous safety vests worn by the activists — started over fuel tax hikes and quickly grew into a broader rebellion against the economic policies and leadership style of President Emmanuel Macron.

The number of people taking part in weekly protests has fallen significantly since the start of the year, but the heat has still not gone out of the movement, with the demonstrations regularly ending in rioting.

Six people were arrested on Tuesday suspicion of having used a forklift truck to ram open the doors leading to the office of government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux, on the same day as Dettinger's attack on the police.

On Friday, a leading figure of the yellow vest movement, 33-year-old truck driver Eric Drouet, will also be tried on charges of illegally organising a demonstration in Paris.

He faces up to six months in prison if convicted.

Since the start of the protests, 1,796 people have been sentenced in court, mainly for the destruction of public property and attacks on the police.

Another 1,422 are still awaiting trial, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe told parliament on Tuesday.

In a video posted on YouTube a day after his outburst, Dettinger described himself as an "ordinary citizen" acting out of anger with what he called the repressive tactics of the police.

At his first court appearance the married father-of-three, who has no previous convictions, apologised for his actions. &nbsp;

His case has elicited widespread sympathy among the yellow vests and their supporters, with an online fundraising drive bringing in more than 117,000 euros ($134,000) towards his legal costs before being shut down.

In another sign of support, street artists painted two giant black-and-white portraits of the boxer, one showing him punching the policemen, on a wall in northern Paris.

Some yellow vests argue that Dettinger's punches were just retribution for the police, who have been criticised for their liberal use of rubber bullets and stun grenades which have left dozens seriously injured.

But the police have also drawn sympathy, with a fund for the injured officers garnering over a million euros in donations.

Around 10,000 people taking part in a rally in Paris last month to condemn "yellow vest" violence, during which the police were applauded. 
&nbsp;

A former boxer who became a hero to some of France's "yellow vest" protesters after being filmed punching police officers during a demonstration in Paris goes on trial Wednesday on charges that carry up to seven years in jail.

A former boxer who became a hero to some of France's "yellow vest" protesters after being filmed punching police officers during a demonstration in Paris goes on trial Wednesday on charges that carry up to seven years in jail. Christophe Dettinger, 37, an ex-national light-heavyweight champion, was caught on camera on January 5 throwing a flurry of punches at an officer during clashes on a footbridge over the river Seine near parliament. The footage, which was played repeatedly on TV and social media, also showed the 1.9-meter (6.3-foot) tall Dettinger kicking another officer on the ground. The scene caused widespread outrage, with the government describing it as a prime example of the violence that has characterised the yellow vest demonstrations since they began in November. One of the injured officers was treated in hospital for his injuries. Dettinger, nicknamed "The Gypsy From Massy" during his days in the ring in reference to the town south of Paris where he began his career, turned himself in two days after the incident and has been in custody ever since. Some French people have hailed him as a hero for taking on the police. An angry 'ordinary citizen' The yellow vest movement — so-named after the luminous safety vests worn by the activists — started over fuel tax hikes and quickly grew into a broader rebellion against the economic policies and leadership style of President Emmanuel Macron. The number of people taking part in weekly protests has fallen significantly since the start of the year, but the heat has still not gone out of the movement, with the demonstrations regularly ending in rioting. Six people were arrested on Tuesday suspicion of having used a forklift truck to ram open the doors leading to the office of government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux, on the same day as Dettinger's attack on the police. On Friday, a leading figure of the yellow vest movement, 33-year-old truck driver Eric Drouet, will also be tried on charges of illegally organising a demonstration in Paris. He faces up to six months in prison if convicted. Since the start of the protests, 1,796 people have been sentenced in court, mainly for the destruction of public property and attacks on the police. Another 1,422 are still awaiting trial, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe told parliament on Tuesday. In a video posted on YouTube a day after his outburst, Dettinger described himself as an "ordinary citizen" acting out of anger with what he called the repressive tactics of the police. At his first court appearance the married father-of-three, who has no previous convictions, apologised for his actions. His case has elicited widespread sympathy among the yellow vests and their supporters, with an online fundraising drive bringing in more than 117,000 euros ($134,000) towards his legal costs before being shut down. In another sign of support, street artists painted two giant black-and-white portraits of the boxer, one showing him punching the policemen, on a wall in northern Paris. Some yellow vests argue that Dettinger's punches were just retribution for the police, who have been criticised for their liberal use of rubber bullets and stun grenades which have left dozens seriously injured. But the police have also drawn sympathy, with a fund for the injured officers garnering over a million euros in donations. Around 10,000 people taking part in a rally in Paris last month to condemn "yellow vest" violence, during which the police were applauded.

French 'yellow vest' boxer on trial for punching police

*By:&nbsp;Sophie Hunter

By displaying a tin ear to the concerns of the gilets jaunes protests, President Emmanuel Macron remains fatefully out of touch.

A new revolution is on its way in the country that invented the guillotine. A new emperor, more at home at the gilded palaces of Rothschild and the winding corridors of power, is now asking his people to eat cake when they often can’t afford a simple baguette.&nbsp;

French President Emmanuel Macron is woefully out of touch and his people have taken again to the streets as a result. Across France, a tired police force of 89,000 will be facing mobs on December 15, a fifth consecutive weekend of protests. A top police chief has declared that this level of violence is unprecedented. On December 5, mobs burned down a famous law firm, two high schools and several cars in Paris. They looted shops in the historic Place Vendôme and Rue de Rivoli.

The “gilets jaunes,” as the protesters have come to be known because of their high-visibility yellow vests, were joined by high school students, road transport unionists and farmers.&nbsp;

On December 3, 200 high schools shut down after students rallied to protest against the latest education reforms. Road transport unions, the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) and the Workers’ Force (FO) union syndicates have called for a general strike. These mass protests are testing the mettle of a feckless government.

The gilets jaunes and other protesters have united out of disgust for Macron’s arrogance. Some hold the view that he suffers from pervers narcissique. In simple English, Macron could best be described as a smooth-talking narcissistic pervert.&nbsp;

When abroad, the French president conveys an image of a liberal and progressive leader who is holding back the mighty tide of populist nationalism, saving France and Europe from disaster in the process. At home, this image does not quite wash. For too many, he represents France’s out-of-touch, elite, business school-trained political upper class that can no longer hear or empathise with the people’s concerns.

Macron came to power in 2017 claiming to be an outsider. His La République En Marche! movement was supposed to liberate France from the shackles of party politics. Literally meaning “the republic on the move,” the party has now fizzled out to give way to a revolution on the march. The protests have led to a climate of fear in the country.&nbsp;

Even though the government has caved in and withdrawn fuel tax hikes that sparked the protests, popular unrest continues. This plays into the hands of Marine Le Pen’s renamed far-right National Rally party, which now has a much better shot at the Élysée.

The clash of the classes

Once the gilets jaunes movement started, testimonies of thousands of people have been pouring out on social media. One of these has gone viral. Paul is a 40-year-old delivery driver who lives in the north of France. He earns the minimum salary of €1,184 ($1,337) a month. He has three children and a wife, who doesn’t work.&nbsp;

They live hand-to-mouth, with no money left after food, utility bills and rent. He is not poor enough to get full state benefits and not rich enough to lead anything but a hardscrabble life. The €600 per month that Paul gets in social benefits is barely enough for his family to get by.&nbsp;

Paul’s family may not be living in heartrending poverty seen in the developing world, but this sort of dilution of living standards goes against France’s ideals.

Macron’s reforms seem to be hitting people like Paul the hardest. Some of the ills of the Anglo-Saxon system have infected France too. The recently disgraced Carlos Ghosn, the chief executive of the leading French car manufacturer Renault, was earning 1,200 times more than the lowest-paid worker at the company and remains in his job despite charges of financial misconduct.&nbsp;

It comes as no surprise that gilets jaunes are looting, pillaging, plundering and burning shops selling luxury items and cars. Muriel Pénicaud, the minister of labor, has admitted that jobs simply do not pay enough for lower classes to make ends meet. She is planning to reverse this problem by decreasing the cost of social contributions and increasing the minimum wage.

France’s convoluted laws and infamous red tape do not help. On December 5, bakers in Normandy went to court for selling bread seven days a week. French law imposes one day off per week for all businesses, facing a €3,000 penalty if they don’t comply. The bakers argued that if they respected the law, they would have to fire two of their employees and close their shop. In light of such trying economic circumstances, restrictive laws have to go. They were once drafted with good intentions but now pave the way to a Kafkaesque hell.

Parisians from the posh 8th and 16th districts have called upon the army to protect their elegant Haussmann mansions. They accuse gilets jaunes of being a disorganised mob engaged in social terrorism. So far, the government has been unable to protect the wealthy neighborhoods, sparking fear among France’s elite. At heart is a clash over a vision for France. The richer sections of society want to make France more like the US and the UK. For them, the Rothschild banker is the perfect president trimming down a bloated French state à la Margaret Thatcher.

For others, this is the wrong way forward. They want to reinstate higher taxes for the super wealthy, if not the wealthy. Marielle de Sarnez challenged Macron in parliament, declaring that it is time to rewrite the social and civic contract in favor of the struggling masses. It is important to remember that this discontent with the government is not new. Both Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande were failed one-term presidents who fell prey to popular disillusionment. Macron rose to power exploiting that sentiment.

Ironically, he was the one who extended working hours in 2015 as minister of the economy. Emmanuel Valls, then-prime minister, relied on Article 49.3 of the French Constitution to pass the law without a vote. Macron’s new reforms aimed at attracting capital back to France to “unlock economic growth” are old wine in a new bottle that elites have been trying to sell for years. Those not so privileged are pushing back against this very phenomenon by the proverbial French method of taking to the barricades.

End of project Macron

Emmanuel Macron was always overrated by the media, particularly in Britain and America. He won 24&nbsp;per cent of the vote in the first round of elections in 2017, with Le Pen coming second with 21.3 per cent. In the second round, the French rallied behind Macron as they did behind Jacques Chirac in 2002. On both occasions, they wanted to keep the far right from coming to power, but at the last election, Marine Le Pen did much better than her father, former National Front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen. Her party gained 50&nbsp;per cent more votes than it did in 2002.

By displaying a tin ear to the concerns of the gilets jaunes, Macron may have signed his political death warrant. The president treated the movement as another strike, which are common in France, but failed to realise that this time the mood was more sombre. In contrast to Sarkozy, who faced 100 days of thugocracy in the outskirts of Paris in 2005, the gilets jaunes marched down the Champs Élysées and seized the Arc de Triomphe — the monument to modern France.&nbsp;

This is a national protest of les sans-culottes who are asking for dignity, equity and social recognition they have lost in a system dominated by the top 1 per cent. The gilets jaunes are not typical French rioters. They are ordinary citizens pushed against a wall who have been crushed by every president since Chirac.

Macron has two ticking time bombs on his hands: social unrest because of growing inequality and economic transition due to environmental concerns. Nicolas Hulot, the former minister for ecology, tried unsuccessfully to address both these problems. He took the view that the government must reconcile “the end of the world with the end of the month.” That is what Macron promised to do, but so far Project Macron has failed completely and irrevocably.

To understand Project Macron, one has to study modern France. La grande nation prides itself as the home of liberty, equality and fraternity. Sadly, the reality differs from this ideal. In comparison to the United States, education is almost free. However, as Atul Singh wrote in Fair Observer last year, the top “positions are monopolised almost entirely by énarques [graduates of the National School of Administration] and graduates of other grande écoles, the top French schools.”&nbsp;

He points out how between 1987 and 1996, only 5.5 per cent of énarques “hailed from working-class backgrounds” in contrast with graduates of Canada’s top schools where the number was 25-30 per cent. As per Singh, “elite French schools perpetuate ‘a tiny caste-like aristocracy of wealth and brains’ that would make inbred Brahmins proud.” Success in France is only available to a few lucky ones who manage to get into the driving seat. Consequently, they make the system serve them, and not vice versa.

Today, France offers little social mobility. It suffers from archaic elitism that is not only unjust but also thwarts innovation. The French educational system does not teach or reward critical thinking. Instead, it teaches students to mold themselves into the system and become cogs in an economy of privilege. Outsiders have little room to breathe. As a result, the French are immigrating in large numbers even to former British colonies such as Singapore and Hong Kong.

France has a two-tier system of higher education. Public universities comprise the first, obliged to admit everyone with a high-school diploma but offering a low standard of education. The prestigious grandes écoles form the second tier. Created in the Napoleonic age, they were supposed to foster a meritocratic elite to run the French state. Out went l’ancien régime with its inherited privilege, in came the Napoleonic men of merit.

Over time, these elite schools have ossified and created an incestuous elite of their own. They judge merit through examinations that might be rigorous but reward conformity. More importantly, alumni of the grandes écoles have a stranglehold on French politics, business, finance and diplomacy. Those who attend elite schools are guaranteed top jobs for their lifetime. Over 80 per cent of top executives in France’s 40 biggest companies — including Emmanuel Macron — come from just three of these schools. That might explain his inability to relate to modern-day sans-culottes who form the bedrock of the gilets jaunes movement.

Surviving in the desert

The gilets jaunes are protesting because they are fed up with the elite that Macron belongs to. They no longer want to be bossed about by the énarques and want ladders to the top echelons of French society. Macron does not understand their concerns. His knee-jerk response is to throw cash at the problem.&nbsp;

Despite concessions to increase the minimum wage by €100, cancel taxes on extra working hours as well as the latest tax imposed on low-income pensioners, the gilets jaunes are hungry for more meaningful changes within governmental institutions and structures to allow their voices to be heard. Macron has failed to address the two main issues gilets jaunes care about: more social mobility and a sustainable minimum living wage.

There is an inherent link, historically, between anti-fiscal protests and the withdrawal of public services, according to the historian Mathilde Larrère. For people living in the countryside and the outskirts of large cities, it is a daily battle to find doctors, hospitals, centers for public services such as social security or taxes, nurseries and post offices.&nbsp;

Without a doubt, the increase in the fuel tax hit a sensitive nerve. According to a recent report, 11,300 municipalities lack doctors and other medical services. They have been labeled “medical deserts.” So under the underlying anti-fiscal protests, the gilets jaunes express anger toward the disparity between what they pay in taxes and what they perceive in terms of public services — which is not much.

What is also at stake is people’s participation in the making of political decisions. For the first time, protesters voice the thorny issue that challenges directly institutions. Condemning a political class that is not representatives of its people, gilets jaunes firmly demand the creation of a référendum d’initiative citoyenne — a referendum based on the people’s initiatives.&nbsp;

Already in place in certain European countries and very popular in Switzerland, this system allows parliament to review a project of law if a certain amount of signatures is reached. In addition, the gilets jaunes also demand the power to revoke a political representative or change the constitution based on a citizen-led referendum.

The debate between representative or direct democracy already opposed Montesquieu and Rousseau in the late 18th century. The gilets jaunes’ frustration echoes what Rousseau wrote regarding the social contract, namely that citizens become the slaves of parliamentarians once elected.&nbsp;

The demands of today’s protesters echo those made during the French Revolution and should be listened to, because they deal with the essence democracy and citizens’ rights. When the future of the gilets jaunes movement is uncertain after the terrorist attack in Strasbourg on December 11, one would hope that politicians have listened and will act accordingly. Otherwise people will flock back in the streets.

The rallying cry Tous à la Bastille! — everyone to the Bastille — that has swept social media evokes 1789, the year the royal prison fell to a revolutionary mob. The gilets jaunes are harking back to those days of resurrection. Hopefully, this time posh Parisians will not remain as out of touch as the French royalty of yore.

*Sophie Hunter is a French law graduate from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, with a previous background in international politics, management and Russian language.

(This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/">Fair Observer</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/region/europe/gilets-jaunes-yellow-vests-protests-france-emmanuel-macron-news-16251/">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

*By: Sophie Hunter By displaying a tin ear to the concerns of the gilets jaunes protests, President Emmanuel Macron remains fatefully out of touch. A new revolution is on its way in the country that invented the guillotine.

*By: Sophie Hunter By displaying a tin ear to the concerns of the gilets jaunes protests, President Emmanuel Macron remains fatefully out of touch. A new revolution is on its way in the country that invented the guillotine. A new emperor, more at home at the gilded palaces of Rothschild and the winding corridors of power, is now asking his people to eat cake when they often can’t afford a simple baguette. French President Emmanuel Macron is woefully out of touch and his people have taken again to the streets as a result. Across France, a tired police force of 89,000 will be facing mobs on December 15, a fifth consecutive weekend of protests. A top police chief has declared that this level of violence is unprecedented. On December 5, mobs burned down a famous law firm, two high schools and several cars in Paris. They looted shops in the historic Place Vendôme and Rue de Rivoli. The “gilets jaunes,” as the protesters have come to be known because of their high-visibility yellow vests, were joined by high school students, road transport unionists and farmers. On December 3, 200 high schools shut down after students rallied to protest against the latest education reforms. Road transport unions, the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) and the Workers’ Force (FO) union syndicates have called for a general strike. These mass protests are testing the mettle of a feckless government. The gilets jaunes and other protesters have united out of disgust for Macron’s arrogance. Some hold the view that he suffers from pervers narcissique. In simple English, Macron could best be described as a smooth-talking narcissistic pervert. When abroad, the French president conveys an image of a liberal and progressive leader who is holding back the mighty tide of populist nationalism, saving France and Europe from disaster in the process. At home, this image does not quite wash. For too many, he represents France’s out-of-touch, elite, business school-trained political upper class that can no longer hear or empathise with the people’s concerns. Macron came to power in 2017 claiming to be an outsider. His La République En Marche! movement was supposed to liberate France from the shackles of party politics. Literally meaning “the republic on the move,” the party has now fizzled out to give way to a revolution on the march. The protests have led to a climate of fear in the country. Even though the government has caved in and withdrawn fuel tax hikes that sparked the protests, popular unrest continues. This plays into the hands of Marine Le Pen’s renamed far-right National Rally party, which now has a much better shot at the Élysée. The clash of the classes Once the gilets jaunes movement started, testimonies of thousands of people have been pouring out on social media. One of these has gone viral. Paul is a 40-year-old delivery driver who lives in the north of France. He earns the minimum salary of €1,184 ($1,337) a month. He has three children and a wife, who doesn’t work. They live hand-to-mouth, with no money left after food, utility bills and rent. He is not poor enough to get full state benefits and not rich enough to lead anything but a hardscrabble life. The €600 per month that Paul gets in social benefits is barely enough for his family to get by. Paul’s family may not be living in heartrending poverty seen in the developing world, but this sort of dilution of living standards goes against France’s ideals. Macron’s reforms seem to be hitting people like Paul the hardest. Some of the ills of the Anglo-Saxon system have infected France too. The recently disgraced Carlos Ghosn, the chief executive of the leading French car manufacturer Renault, was earning 1,200 times more than the lowest-paid worker at the company and remains in his job despite charges of financial misconduct. It comes as no surprise that gilets jaunes are looting, pillaging, plundering and burning shops selling luxury items and cars. Muriel Pénicaud, the minister of labor, has admitted that jobs simply do not pay enough for lower classes to make ends meet. She is planning to reverse this problem by decreasing the cost of social contributions and increasing the minimum wage. France’s convoluted laws and infamous red tape do not help. On December 5, bakers in Normandy went to court for selling bread seven days a week. French law imposes one day off per week for all businesses, facing a €3,000 penalty if they don’t comply. The bakers argued that if they respected the law, they would have to fire two of their employees and close their shop. In light of such trying economic circumstances, restrictive laws have to go. They were once drafted with good intentions but now pave the way to a Kafkaesque hell. Parisians from the posh 8th and 16th districts have called upon the army to protect their elegant Haussmann mansions. They accuse gilets jaunes of being a disorganised mob engaged in social terrorism. So far, the government has been unable to protect the wealthy neighborhoods, sparking fear among France’s elite. At heart is a clash over a vision for France. The richer sections of society want to make France more like the US and the UK. For them, the Rothschild banker is the perfect president trimming down a bloated French state à la Margaret Thatcher. For others, this is the wrong way forward. They want to reinstate higher taxes for the super wealthy, if not the wealthy. Marielle de Sarnez challenged Macron in parliament, declaring that it is time to rewrite the social and civic contract in favor of the struggling masses. It is important to remember that this discontent with the government is not new. Both Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande were failed one-term presidents who fell prey to popular disillusionment. Macron rose to power exploiting that sentiment. Ironically, he was the one who extended working hours in 2015 as minister of the economy. Emmanuel Valls, then-prime minister, relied on Article 49.3 of the French Constitution to pass the law without a vote. Macron’s new reforms aimed at attracting capital back to France to “unlock economic growth” are old wine in a new bottle that elites have been trying to sell for years. Those not so privileged are pushing back against this very phenomenon by the proverbial French method of taking to the barricades. End of project Macron Emmanuel Macron was always overrated by the media, particularly in Britain and America. He won 24 per cent of the vote in the first round of elections in 2017, with Le Pen coming second with 21.3 per cent. In the second round, the French rallied behind Macron as they did behind Jacques Chirac in 2002. On both occasions, they wanted to keep the far right from coming to power, but at the last election, Marine Le Pen did much better than her father, former National Front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen. Her party gained 50 per cent more votes than it did in 2002. By displaying a tin ear to the concerns of the gilets jaunes, Macron may have signed his political death warrant. The president treated the movement as another strike, which are common in France, but failed to realise that this time the mood was more sombre. In contrast to Sarkozy, who faced 100 days of thugocracy in the outskirts of Paris in 2005, the gilets jaunes marched down the Champs Élysées and seized the Arc de Triomphe — the monument to modern France. This is a national protest of les sans-culottes who are asking for dignity, equity and social recognition they have lost in a system dominated by the top 1 per cent. The gilets jaunes are not typical French rioters. They are ordinary citizens pushed against a wall who have been crushed by every president since Chirac. Macron has two ticking time bombs on his hands: social unrest because of growing inequality and economic transition due to environmental concerns. Nicolas Hulot, the former minister for ecology, tried unsuccessfully to address both these problems. He took the view that the government must reconcile “the end of the world with the end of the month.” That is what Macron promised to do, but so far Project Macron has failed completely and irrevocably. To understand Project Macron, one has to study modern France. La grande nation prides itself as the home of liberty, equality and fraternity. Sadly, the reality differs from this ideal. In comparison to the United States, education is almost free. However, as Atul Singh wrote in Fair Observer last year, the top “positions are monopolised almost entirely by énarques [graduates of the National School of Administration] and graduates of other grande écoles, the top French schools.” He points out how between 1987 and 1996, only 5.5 per cent of énarques “hailed from working-class backgrounds” in contrast with graduates of Canada’s top schools where the number was 25-30 per cent. As per Singh, “elite French schools perpetuate ‘a tiny caste-like aristocracy of wealth and brains’ that would make inbred Brahmins proud.” Success in France is only available to a few lucky ones who manage to get into the driving seat. Consequently, they make the system serve them, and not vice versa. Today, France offers little social mobility. It suffers from archaic elitism that is not only unjust but also thwarts innovation. The French educational system does not teach or reward critical thinking. Instead, it teaches students to mold themselves into the system and become cogs in an economy of privilege. Outsiders have little room to breathe. As a result, the French are immigrating in large numbers even to former British colonies such as Singapore and Hong Kong. France has a two-tier system of higher education. Public universities comprise the first, obliged to admit everyone with a high-school diploma but offering a low standard of education. The prestigious grandes écoles form the second tier. Created in the Napoleonic age, they were supposed to foster a meritocratic elite to run the French state. Out went l’ancien régime with its inherited privilege, in came the Napoleonic men of merit. Over time, these elite schools have ossified and created an incestuous elite of their own. They judge merit through examinations that might be rigorous but reward conformity. More importantly, alumni of the grandes écoles have a stranglehold on French politics, business, finance and diplomacy. Those who attend elite schools are guaranteed top jobs for their lifetime. Over 80 per cent of top executives in France’s 40 biggest companies — including Emmanuel Macron — come from just three of these schools. That might explain his inability to relate to modern-day sans-culottes who form the bedrock of the gilets jaunes movement. Surviving in the desert The gilets jaunes are protesting because they are fed up with the elite that Macron belongs to. They no longer want to be bossed about by the énarques and want ladders to the top echelons of French society. Macron does not understand their concerns. His knee-jerk response is to throw cash at the problem. Despite concessions to increase the minimum wage by €100, cancel taxes on extra working hours as well as the latest tax imposed on low-income pensioners, the gilets jaunes are hungry for more meaningful changes within governmental institutions and structures to allow their voices to be heard. Macron has failed to address the two main issues gilets jaunes care about: more social mobility and a sustainable minimum living wage. There is an inherent link, historically, between anti-fiscal protests and the withdrawal of public services, according to the historian Mathilde Larrère. For people living in the countryside and the outskirts of large cities, it is a daily battle to find doctors, hospitals, centers for public services such as social security or taxes, nurseries and post offices. Without a doubt, the increase in the fuel tax hit a sensitive nerve. According to a recent report, 11,300 municipalities lack doctors and other medical services. They have been labeled “medical deserts.” So under the underlying anti-fiscal protests, the gilets jaunes express anger toward the disparity between what they pay in taxes and what they perceive in terms of public services — which is not much. What is also at stake is people’s participation in the making of political decisions. For the first time, protesters voice the thorny issue that challenges directly institutions. Condemning a political class that is not representatives of its people, gilets jaunes firmly demand the creation of a référendum d’initiative citoyenne — a referendum based on the people’s initiatives. Already in place in certain European countries and very popular in Switzerland, this system allows parliament to review a project of law if a certain amount of signatures is reached. In addition, the gilets jaunes also demand the power to revoke a political representative or change the constitution based on a citizen-led referendum. The debate between representative or direct democracy already opposed Montesquieu and Rousseau in the late 18th century. The gilets jaunes’ frustration echoes what Rousseau wrote regarding the social contract, namely that citizens become the slaves of parliamentarians once elected. The demands of today’s protesters echo those made during the French Revolution and should be listened to, because they deal with the essence democracy and citizens’ rights. When the future of the gilets jaunes movement is uncertain after the terrorist attack in Strasbourg on December 11, one would hope that politicians have listened and will act accordingly. Otherwise people will flock back in the streets. The rallying cry Tous à la Bastille! — everyone to the Bastille — that has swept social media evokes 1789, the year the royal prison fell to a revolutionary mob. The gilets jaunes are harking back to those days of resurrection. Hopefully, this time posh Parisians will not remain as out of touch as the French royalty of yore. *Sophie Hunter is a French law graduate from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, with a previous background in international politics, management and Russian language. (This article was originally published on Fair Observer. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The people of France want to be heard

Macron under pressure after fresh 'yellow vest' protests

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Former minister of science and technology and senior Congress leader Jaipal Reddy on Thursday said that no one from the current French authorities including President Emmanuel Macron has contradicted former France president Francois Hollande`s claim on the controversial Rafale jets deal.

"For the first time on Wednesday, current French President avoided the question on Rafale and said he was not in charge at the time. In other words, he did not contradict the former French President's words. This consistent non-contradiction from current French authorities is absolutely tantamount to confirmation of facts," Reddy said while addressing a press conference.

Calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his silence on the issue, Reddy said," You are no longer contradicting the president of the Congress party(Rahul Gandhi). You are no longer contradicting the opposition in India. There is no ploy left in Paris. Don`t confuse Pakistan with Paris. So, Mr Modi owes an explanation to the nation about the statement made by the former president of France on Anil Ambani`s company."

Reddy further said that in the last 70 years, he had never seen a head of state of a foreign major country make a statement that is contradictory to the one made by an Indian Prime Minister.

"Can anybody cite a single example of a former prime minister being contradicted by a former president of any major, responsible Western democracy? France is the only country that has stood beside India consistently. When we went nuclear, France is the only country which did not act in a hostile fashion. From De Gaulle to the present days, France has been a friendly country. So, if a president of France says something, the country has to sit up and take notice of it."

"The non-contraction by the current president of France is equivalent to an international revelation," Reddy further said.

Reddy claimed that "Prime Minister Modi is getting caught or sandwiched between international revelations and internal disclosures."

Earlier, Macron had said that he was not in power when the deal was signed between the two countries.&nbsp;

"It was a government to government discussion. I just want to refer to what Prime Minister Modi very clearly said a few days ago. I was not in charge at that time. I know that we have very clear rules," Macron said while addressing a presser on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.

"The contract is a part of a broader framework between India and France, which is a military and defence coalition between the two countries. It`s very important to me and it`s a strategic coalition. I just want to refer what Prime Minister Modi said on the situation," Macron had added.

The deal to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets was signed in 2016 between Prime Minister Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government and the French government under then-President Francois Hollande.

The Congress party has been alleging irregularities in the high-profile Defence fighter jets contract, saying that the NDA government was procuring each aircraft at a cost of over Rs 1,670 crore as against Rs 526 crore finalised by the then United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

The controversy took a new twist last week after Hollande, with whom Prime Minister Modi had cleared the deal in 2016, claimed that the Indian government had proposed Reliance Defence`s name as the offset partner for Dassault Aviation.&nbsp;

Former minister of science and technology and senior Congress leader Jaipal Reddy on Thursday said that no one from the current French authorities including President Emmanuel Macron has contradicted former France president Francois Hollande`s claim on the controversial Rafale jets deal.

Former minister of science and technology and senior Congress leader Jaipal Reddy on Thursday said that no one from the current French authorities including President Emmanuel Macron has contradicted former France president Francois Hollande`s claim on the controversial Rafale jets deal. "For the first time on Wednesday, current French President avoided the question on Rafale and said he was not in charge at the time. In other words, he did not contradict the former French President's words. This consistent non-contradiction from current French authorities is absolutely tantamount to confirmation of facts," Reddy said while addressing a press conference. Calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his silence on the issue, Reddy said," You are no longer contradicting the president of the Congress party(Rahul Gandhi). You are no longer contradicting the opposition in India. There is no ploy left in Paris. Don`t confuse Pakistan with Paris. So, Mr Modi owes an explanation to the nation about the statement made by the former president of France on Anil Ambani`s company." Reddy further said that in the last 70 years, he had never seen a head of state of a foreign major country make a statement that is contradictory to the one made by an Indian Prime Minister. "Can anybody cite a single example of a former prime minister being contradicted by a former president of any major, responsible Western democracy? France is the only country that has stood beside India consistently. When we went nuclear, France is the only country which did not act in a hostile fashion. From De Gaulle to the present days, France has been a friendly country. So, if a president of France says something, the country has to sit up and take notice of it." "The non-contraction by the current president of France is equivalent to an international revelation," Reddy further said. Reddy claimed that "Prime Minister Modi is getting caught or sandwiched between international revelations and internal disclosures." Earlier, Macron had said that he was not in power when the deal was signed between the two countries. "It was a government to government discussion. I just want to refer to what Prime Minister Modi very clearly said a few days ago. I was not in charge at that time. I know that we have very clear rules," Macron said while addressing a presser on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. "The contract is a part of a broader framework between India and France, which is a military and defence coalition between the two countries. It`s very important to me and it`s a strategic coalition. I just want to refer what Prime Minister Modi said on the situation," Macron had added. The deal to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets was signed in 2016 between Prime Minister Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government and the French government under then-President Francois Hollande. The Congress party has been alleging irregularities in the high-profile Defence fighter jets contract, saying that the NDA government was procuring each aircraft at a cost of over Rs 1,670 crore as against Rs 526 crore finalised by the then United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. The controversy took a new twist last week after Hollande, with whom Prime Minister Modi had cleared the deal in 2016, claimed that the Indian government had proposed Reliance Defence`s name as the offset partner for Dassault Aviation.

Macron didn't counter Hollande's statement on Rafale: Congress

Paris police are deploying in large numbers and activists are calling for calm as the French capital prepares for a mass protest on the anniversary of President Emmanuel Macron's inauguration.

Authorities are pledging to avoid a repeat of violence and damage that scarred May Day protests in Paris earlier this week.

A judicial official said today that seven people were charged in that unrest, which saw protesters torch cars and vandalise a McDonald's restaurant and other stores.

Authorities blamed masked anarchists who disrupted a peaceful workers march.

Paris authorities have ordered 2,000 police officers onto the streets on Saturday.

Organisers of the march, the far left party Defiant France, warned troublemakers to stay away. The party is angry at Macron's reforms such as abolishing some worker protectionist and increasing police powers.&nbsp

Paris police are deploying in large numbers and activists are calling for calm as the French capital prepares for a mass protest on the anniversary of President Emmanuel Macron's inauguration

Paris police are deploying in large numbers and activists are calling for calm as the French capital prepares for a mass protest on the anniversary of President Emmanuel Macron's inauguration. Authorities are pledging to avoid a repeat of violence and damage that scarred May Day protests in Paris earlier this week. A judicial official said today that seven people were charged in that unrest, which saw protesters torch cars and vandalise a McDonald's restaurant and other stores. Authorities blamed masked anarchists who disrupted a peaceful workers march. Paris authorities have ordered 2,000 police officers onto the streets on Saturday. Organisers of the march, the far left party Defiant France, warned troublemakers to stay away. The party is angry at Macron's reforms such as abolishing some worker protectionist and increasing police powers.

2,000 French police on streets for anti-Macron protest

A French policeman shot by an Islamist gunman Friday after swapping himself for a hostage in a siege at a supermarket in southwest France is &quot;fighting for his life&quot;, President Emmanuel Macron said.

&quot;He saved lives and honoured his colleagues and his country,&quot; Macron said in a televised address, adding that the officer was &quot;very seriously wounded&quot;.

Arnaud Beltrame, 45, was among a group of officers who rushed to the scene in the town of Trebes after the attacker, who claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group, stormed the store and fired on shoppers and staff before taking them hostage.

&quot;He is currently fighting for his life and all our thoughts go out to him and his family,&quot; Macron said.

The assailant, identified as 26-year-old Radouane Lakdim, shot dead two people at the supermarket after earlier opening fire on passengers in a car, killing one of them, and injuring a police officer in nearby Carcassonne.

Speaking at the scene earlier Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said a police team immediately intervened after the start of the siege at around 11:00 am.

&quot;They managed to get some of the people out,&quot; he said, but the attacker kept one woman back as a human shield.

Beltrame then offered to take her place and remained holed up with Lakdim while negotiations to end the standoff continued.

The officer &quot;left his telephone on the table&quot; to allow police who had surrounded the building in the sleepy town of 5,000 inhabitants to listen in, Collomb said.

&quot;When we heard shots the GIGN (an elite police force) intervened,&quot; he said, praising Beltrame for his &quot;courage&quot; and &quot;act of heroism&quot;.

An officer from the police SWAT team was also hurt in the operation to kill the gunman.

Beltrame, who is married with no children, had participated as recently as December in an exercise in Carcassonne on how to respond to a mass shooting at a supermarket.&nbsp;

Arnaud Beltrame, 45, was among a group of officers who rushed to the scene in the town of Trebes after the attacker, who claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group, stormed the store and fired on shoppers and staff before taking them hostage.

A French policeman shot by an Islamist gunman Friday after swapping himself for a hostage in a siege at a supermarket in southwest France is "fighting for his life", President Emmanuel Macron said. "He saved lives and honoured his colleagues and his country," Macron said in a televised address, adding that the officer was "very seriously wounded". Arnaud Beltrame, 45, was among a group of officers who rushed to the scene in the town of Trebes after the attacker, who claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group, stormed the store and fired on shoppers and staff before taking them hostage. "He is currently fighting for his life and all our thoughts go out to him and his family," Macron said. The assailant, identified as 26-year-old Radouane Lakdim, shot dead two people at the supermarket after earlier opening fire on passengers in a car, killing one of them, and injuring a police officer in nearby Carcassonne. Speaking at the scene earlier Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said a police team immediately intervened after the start of the siege at around 11:00 am. "They managed to get some of the people out," he said, but the attacker kept one woman back as a human shield. Beltrame then offered to take her place and remained holed up with Lakdim while negotiations to end the standoff continued. The officer "left his telephone on the table" to allow police who had surrounded the building in the sleepy town of 5,000 inhabitants to listen in, Collomb said. "When we heard shots the GIGN (an elite police force) intervened," he said, praising Beltrame for his "courage" and "act of heroism". An officer from the police SWAT team was also hurt in the operation to kill the gunman. Beltrame, who is married with no children, had participated as recently as December in an exercise in Carcassonne on how to respond to a mass shooting at a supermarket.

French police officer 'fighting for his life' after hostage swap

French President Emmanuel Macron&rsquo;s upcoming visit to India from 9 to 12 March will have many discussion points on the agenda, the main one being maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Specifically, China&rsquo;s power projection, its worrying stance on freedom of navigation and combating piracy are the converging interests that can bring France and India closer together on the maritime security front. &nbsp;

Why is France an Indian Ocean Power?

Like India, France is an Indian Ocean Power and a middle power with a similar culture of strategic autonomy. France has the largest Exclusive Economic Zone (11 million square kilometres) in the world out which 24% lies in the IOR. Three of these overseas territories: Reunion, Mayotte and The French Southern Antarctic Islands constitute a total of almost 1 million French citizens living in the IOR. France also has military bases in Djibouti and The UAE. This gives France significant sovereign, demographic and economic interests to defend militarily in the region.&nbsp;

China has a growing footprint of commercial bases in the India Ocean. The problem is that the commercial utility of these bases is questionable which invariably acts as a fa&ccedil;ade for militarisation, &nbsp;loss of sovereignty or both. This can be seen with Hambantota in Sri Lanka and Gwadar in Pakistan, both of which started off as commercial operations, collapsed commercially, and then played (or will play) host to Chinese nuclear submarines. These ports are interlinked with a heavy regional architecture in the form of rail and road infrastructure and are linked up to Chinese ports in the Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Seychelles. China also built its first purposed military base in Djibouti, controlling the Mandeb Strait, one of the most significant maritime oil trade chokepoints. The 2013 French white paper showed concern over the dual-use nature of this presence. &nbsp;

The common reason for concern with India is China&rsquo;s position on the freedom of military navigation in the South China Sea. French Indian Ocean territories have sea links with French Pacific territories like New Caledonia. These lines of communication run through several South East Asian straits, where the Chinese have been posturing aggressively. Given China&rsquo;s controversial position on freedom of military navigation in its contested Exclusive Economic Zone in the South China Sea (SCS) and the East China Sea (ECS), there are chances that China can extend the same kind of hegemonic power play even in the Indo-Pacific at a later date. These paradigms if applied to the Chinese bases in Djibouti, Gwadar et al, would be disastrous for both India and France, hindering the defence on critical overseas territories.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp;

France mentions its stance on freedom of navigation very clearly in its 2015 document on National Strategy for the Security of Maritime Areas hinting towards the actions of certain East Asian powers which can &ldquo;threaten France&rsquo;s freedom of navigation in the international waters&rdquo;. &nbsp;&nbsp;Similarly, the Defence Minister A K Antony&#39;s speech at the Shangrila Dialogue in Singapore in 2012 railed against Chinese Maritime Imperialism. These expressions of common concern now need to translate into common actions. &nbsp;It is particularly important to challenge Chinese imposed paradigms in the SCS, in order to prevent their spread to the IOR. Joint Indian and French Freedom of navigation operations in the SCS can do much to stiffen the spine of SCS countries and draw clear lines with regards to the IOR.&nbsp;

Another vital element of freedom of navigation is counter-piracy operations. The sea link of the French Indian Ocean territories to France passes through the red sea in the west and to the French Pacific Territories via the South East Asian straits in the east. These are the two most heavily piracy-infested water around. In the past, India has been cooperated with France on Operation Atlanta, a counter-piracy military operation at the sea off the Horn of Africa and in the Western Indian Ocean. Equally, the joint protection of fisheries which are important to both French Indian Ocean territories and India is critical as is the need to contain any maritime fallout of instability arising out of the situation in Somalia, Yemen etc as this can very easily spread to both if not checked at the source. The potential synergy here is immense. French military bases in Djibouti and Abu Dhabi dominate the western IOR while Indian bases in the Andamans dominate the eastern IOR. A logistics agreement allowing the sharing of bases and refuelling facilities can significantly reduce costs and duplication making any synergy more effective. &nbsp;

Despite the considerable strategic clout that France and India possess in the IOR, this particular aspect of the bilateral relationship has been rather downplayed for decades given India&#39;s continental obsession. However, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, one can see a much-needed revival of a maritime focus in Indian foreign policy thinking. &nbsp;This and the similarities in both country&#39;s international outlook could lead to intensified cooperation in this much-neglected sphere. However, this has to be directed by both leaders and be a top-down approach. The hope is that Macron&#39;s visit will give a stimulus to this much-understated facet of possible India-France cooperation.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

The common reason for concern with India and France is China, growing its footprints of commercial bases in the India Ocean. Thus, maritime cooperation in (IOR) will be the main agenda of French President Emmanuel Macron’s upcoming visit to India.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s upcoming visit to India from 9 to 12 March will have many discussion points on the agenda, the main one being maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Specifically, China’s power projection, its worrying stance on freedom of navigation and combating piracy are the converging interests that can bring France and India closer together on the maritime security front. Why is France an Indian Ocean Power? Like India, France is an Indian Ocean Power and a middle power with a similar culture of strategic autonomy. France has the largest Exclusive Economic Zone (11 million square kilometres) in the world out which 24% lies in the IOR. Three of these overseas territories: Reunion, Mayotte and The French Southern Antarctic Islands constitute a total of almost 1 million French citizens living in the IOR. France also has military bases in Djibouti and The UAE. This gives France significant sovereign, demographic and economic interests to defend militarily in the region. China has a growing footprint of commercial bases in the India Ocean. The problem is that the commercial utility of these bases is questionable which invariably acts as a façade for militarisation, loss of sovereignty or both. This can be seen with Hambantota in Sri Lanka and Gwadar in Pakistan, both of which started off as commercial operations, collapsed commercially, and then played (or will play) host to Chinese nuclear submarines. These ports are interlinked with a heavy regional architecture in the form of rail and road infrastructure and are linked up to Chinese ports in the Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Seychelles. China also built its first purposed military base in Djibouti, controlling the Mandeb Strait, one of the most significant maritime oil trade chokepoints. The 2013 French white paper showed concern over the dual-use nature of this presence. The common reason for concern with India is China’s position on the freedom of military navigation in the South China Sea. French Indian Ocean territories have sea links with French Pacific territories like New Caledonia. These lines of communication run through several South East Asian straits, where the Chinese have been posturing aggressively. Given China’s controversial position on freedom of military navigation in its contested Exclusive Economic Zone in the South China Sea (SCS) and the East China Sea (ECS), there are chances that China can extend the same kind of hegemonic power play even in the Indo-Pacific at a later date. These paradigms if applied to the Chinese bases in Djibouti, Gwadar et al, would be disastrous for both India and France, hindering the defence on critical overseas territories. France mentions its stance on freedom of navigation very clearly in its 2015 document on National Strategy for the Security of Maritime Areas hinting towards the actions of certain East Asian powers which can “threaten France’s freedom of navigation in the international waters”. Similarly, the Defence Minister A K Antony's speech at the Shangrila Dialogue in Singapore in 2012 railed against Chinese Maritime Imperialism. These expressions of common concern now need to translate into common actions. It is particularly important to challenge Chinese imposed paradigms in the SCS, in order to prevent their spread to the IOR. Joint Indian and French Freedom of navigation operations in the SCS can do much to stiffen the spine of SCS countries and draw clear lines with regards to the IOR. Another vital element of freedom of navigation is counter-piracy operations. The sea link of the French Indian Ocean territories to France passes through the red sea in the west and to the French Pacific Territories via the South East Asian straits in the east. These are the two most heavily piracy-infested water around. In the past, India has been cooperated with France on Operation Atlanta, a counter-piracy military operation at the sea off the Horn of Africa and in the Western Indian Ocean. Equally, the joint protection of fisheries which are important to both French Indian Ocean territories and India is critical as is the need to contain any maritime fallout of instability arising out of the situation in Somalia, Yemen etc as this can very easily spread to both if not checked at the source. The potential synergy here is immense. French military bases in Djibouti and Abu Dhabi dominate the western IOR while Indian bases in the Andamans dominate the eastern IOR. A logistics agreement allowing the sharing of bases and refuelling facilities can significantly reduce costs and duplication making any synergy more effective. Despite the considerable strategic clout that France and India possess in the IOR, this particular aspect of the bilateral relationship has been rather downplayed for decades given India's continental obsession. However, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, one can see a much-needed revival of a maritime focus in Indian foreign policy thinking. This and the similarities in both country's international outlook could lead to intensified cooperation in this much-neglected sphere. However, this has to be directed by both leaders and be a top-down approach. The hope is that Macron's visit will give a stimulus to this much-understated facet of possible India-France cooperation. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: India-France maritime cooperation in IOR needed, to stop China's involvement