For this week's big talking points we'll look at what's happening on May Day in France, why French bakers are up in arms this year and whether there'll be any riots. And the future of France is at stake, according to the French PM and he's blaming the French for not working hard enough. We'll find out what needs to happen for France to be saved. And we'll hear why Americans are all moving to the French Riviera, why French doctors are not helping find a cure for the country's health problems and....
Apr 30, 2025•36 min•Season 17Ep. 1
It might be two years but the race - albeit a marathon rather than a sprint - to be the next president of France has already started. We’ll hear about who’s in the running, who might be out of it, and who has the best chance of winning. And we’ll tell you why US president Donald Trump is targeting a tiny French overseas territory and why Emmanuel Macron called on French companies to suspend investment in the US. We’ll find out about some historic French sites threatened with collapse or disappea...
Apr 10, 2025•35 min•Season 16Ep. 6
This new episode is not one you want to miss because shockwaves rippled around France this week when it was announced far right leader Marine Le Pen had been banned from standing for political office for the next five years. This could of course rule her out of the 2027 French presidential election. It's a huge story, it's all kicked off and we'll have all the latest looking at what happens next, what impact will the verdict have on French voters and whether Le Pen can somehow still make it to t...
Apr 02, 2025•31 min•Season 16Ep. 5
This week we'll look at a potential earthquake in French politics that could strike next week. That's when far right leader Marine Le Pen will find out whether she's been banned from standing in elections. Could she be banned? Should she be banned? What will happen if she is? We'll delve deep into all of those questions and try to come with some answers. We'll also find out about McDonald's vision of conquering rural France. Can the US fast food giant win the hearts and stomachs of French villag...
Mar 26, 2025•34 min•Season 16Ep. 4
This week we look at the earthquake risks in different parts of France after the city of Nice and the surrounding area was recently shaken by a 4.1 magnitude tremor. Scientists say France should expect a big quake one day, but do we know where and when? We also wade into a new transatlantic war of words over the Statue of Liberty and look at what else France has given the United States over the years. We explain a new and very innovative plan to combat drought in the south of France and find out...
Mar 20, 2025•34 min•Season 16Ep. 3
This week we look at how the international crisis is impacting France. Is President Emmanuel Macron a war monger and making the most of it all to boost his flagging popularity as his critics say, or is he the right man at the right time to lead France and Europe through increasingly stormy waters. And we look at the battle for French public opinion between Macron and the country’s increasingly influential pro-Russian media baron. We also find out about a move to allow rural French villages to op...
Mar 14, 2025•37 min•Season 16Ep. 2
We start off this week by jumping straight into the increasingly choppy waters of international relations and examine whether France has a strong enough military to help bring peace to Europe and whether Emmanuel Macron has any influence at all over Donald Trump. We also explain how the UK's new travel authorisation scheme could affect you and your family in France and explain why a 102-year-old Frenchman named Albert is suing the government. We also look at why France hasn't quite experienced t...
Mar 06, 2025•37 min•Season 16Ep. 1
On the menu for this week we'll start off by talking about France's new highly intelligent cat, which Emmanual Macron is hoping will rule the world. Don't worry, we'll explain what I'm on about shortly. We'll also delve into France's new budget and explain how listeners will be impacted by some of the measures, including why you'll have to pay more for flights in France in the future. You've all heard of the medieval citadel of Carcassonne but there are some other, less well-known castles in sou...
Feb 13, 2025•33 min•Season 15Ep. 6
On the bill this week, we get the latest on the forecast for how long the French PM will last as he tries to navigate the government through evermore turbulent waters. And speaking of water we'll also hear about a potentially huge scandal involving French eau mineral - or mineral water. We'll look at potential problems for the thousands of skiers heading to the FRench Alps this February including: ginormous boulders rolling off the mountainside. And we'll try to solve the age old riddle for Fren...
Feb 06, 2025•36 min•Season 15Ep. 5
This week we'll examine the French President's planned multi-million euro revamp of the world famous Louvre gallery in Paris and also… why is Emmanuel Macron even getting involved in museum refurbishments anyway? We'll also discuss the end of the internet in France, well not quite, but there are major changes afoot that listeners should be aware of. And we'll explore France's love-hate relationship with mega cruise ships. They love building them but do French cities still love welcoming them and...
Jan 29, 2025•37 min•Season 15Ep. 4
Donald Trump is back and his mate Elon Musk is doing a lot of talking and gesticulating, but the pair have been fairly quiet about France... so far. We'll examine whether Emmanual Macron has managed to befriend and becalm them or if Trump and co will "crush" France and Europe as the French PM has warned. On a slightly less worrying subject we'll explain France's new census that's taking place around the country and why one particular question has caused a rumpus. And we'll look at a new French l...
Jan 22, 2025•32 min•Season 15Ep. 3
This week we'll find out why pensioners are to blame for all of France's problems, well not quite, but they are perhaps to blame for all the new prime minister's troubles. We'll also examine some major travel changes for south west France at a time that could spell both bad and good news for residents there. We'll get to the bottom of a new driving law in France that's finally come into force this week and look at whether days are numbered for France's tourist information centres as the last one...
Jan 15, 2025•29 min•Season 15Ep. 2
This week we bring you all the latest on some big changes in France for drivers and look at where in the country you’ll wait the longest for a response from your prefecture. We will of course bring you the latest on the plight of France’s latest government and remind you who the PM is these days. We also explain the 12 Gallic complaints you’ll need to get through the year in France. And it’s 10 years since the Charlie Hebdo and HyperCacher supermarket terror attack in Paris. We’ll look at what h...
Jan 08, 2025•42 min•Season 15Ep. 1
This special episode is dedicated entirely to looking ahead so you know a little about what to expect in France in 2025. We'll try and answer some of the big questions about what lies ahead. Such as... How many Prime Ministers will France have in 2025? More or less than the 4 it had in 2024? We'll also look at whether there will be more elections this year and more protests and political crises. We'll look ahead to some big travel changes in Paris, in France and indeed in Europe. And just as Not...
Dec 31, 2024•28 min•Season 14Ep. 9
In this special episode of Talking France in which we answer some questions about France from listeners of the podcast and readers of The Local. These questions will cover everything from whether Donald Trump being back in the White House means Marine Le Pen will soon be in Macron’s house - the Elysee palace. We’ll answer a question on how could France have an energy crisis when it’s got so much nuclear power and whether the country simply spends too much on protecting its population? We’ll try ...
Dec 24, 2024•27 min•Season 14Ep. 8
France has a new Prime Minister, just in time for the New Year, but how long will he last for in 2025? France does have a PM but will it get a new government in time for Christmas? A lot has happened in French politics since last week and there’s a lot more that will happen before the end of the year so we’ll break it all down for you. Away from politics we’ll find out about some foreign residents who’ve been caught with fake French language test certificates. And we’ll run through what to expec...
Dec 17, 2024•29 min•Season 14Ep. 7
This week, we'll get the latest on the ongoing political crisis in France and President Emmanuel Macron's quest to find a government to run the country. Will he succeed in getting a Christmas truce? We'll find out who the winners and losers are from the fact that France has no 2025 budget and look at who might be to blame for the messy end of year in French politics. We'll find out what's so special about Paris' roof tops but why you really don't want to be living right under one. And we'll expl...
Dec 11, 2024•30 min•Season 14Ep. 6
France has been plunged into crisis this week. As widely expected the French government has fallen along with Prime Minister Michel Barnier after they lost a no-confidence vote on Wednesday evening. What happens next? Can the under-pressure President Emmanuel Macron steady the ship or will he jump, as many are calling for. We get all the latest news and analysis on the political chaos. Elsewhere this week we explain new rules around holiday property rentals in France, we try and understand why a...
Dec 05, 2024•36 min•Season 14Ep. 5
France has only had a new government for a couple of months and now it looks like it could lose it - just when it really needs one. We'll find out what's going on and what it will mean for the country and the crucial 2025 budget if the government falls. We'll also explore how Paris has changed over the last 10 years under mayor Anne Hidalgo, who announced this week she won't run for a third term. We'll also discuss how a mass rape trial in the south of France that has deeply shocked the country,...
Nov 27, 2024•34 min•Season 14Ep. 4
Protesting French farmers are threatening to cause chaos and the government is struggling to calm their anger. We explain the reasons for their fury and why it's causing France to lose friends in Brussels. And could Marine Le Pen be barred from standing in the next presidential election? We look at the ramifications of what could be a bombshell court verdict. We also talk about sex this week or more to the point the changing sex lives for the French and whether those clichés about highly active ...
Nov 20, 2024•32 min•Season 14Ep. 3
This week we look ahead to winter in France, not the weather or Christmas, but the likelihood of major strikes causing disruption across the country. French farmers, rail unions and pilots have all announced protests and industrial action over the days and weeks ahead. Just how bad could it get? We also explain why Emmanuel Macron might just have his mojo back thanks to Donald Trump but will he be able to do anything with it in the time he has left as president? And we find out why France has a ...
Nov 13, 2024•32 min•Season 14Ep. 2
To start this news series off we find out how the French President Emmanuel Macron and his government might be feeling about the return of Donald Trump to the White House. And with many Americans apparently taking to Google to find out how they can move to France, we explain if they actually can, and all the pitfalls to avoid if you do. We also explain why French rail unions are threatening "long and strong" rail strikes this autumn and why the accent in the south west of France is considered se...
Nov 07, 2024•34 min•Season 14Ep. 1
Up for discussion this week is what's been described as "the most violent austerity plan France has ever seen." We find out just how painful the new budget will be for people in France. And apart from the budget, there's a planned new immigration bill that could also spell bad news for foreigners in France. We find out more. And did you know around 150 movies and TV series are filmed in Paris each year? We explain why the film industry means big business in the French capital. We run through the...
Oct 17, 2024•37 min•Season 13Ep. 6
The big news this week in France is that the mythical golden owl, a treasure people in France have been hunting for for three decades, has finally been found. If you have no idea what I'm talking about please stay tuned. This week we'll also get the calculator out and find out if France's autumn budget - described as the toughest and most important in 50 years - will solve any of the country's financial problems. Or will it just give you financial problems with major cuts and tax hikes ahead. We...
Oct 10, 2024•36 min•Season 13Ep. 5
Up for discussion this week is the French PM's key policy speech and why it sounded like a wedding speech by a bride's grandfather. Plus, does the PM have a chance of getting anything done and will the gaping hole in the country's money box spell doom for us all here in France? On a more positive note we'll put France's interior minister to rights by introducing you to some foreign immigrants who really did help make France the country it is today. We'll also introduce you to some dinosaurs that...
Oct 02, 2024•34 min•Season 13Ep. 4
In this new episode we take a look at France's new government. It's been dubbed a government of "losers" and we'll get to the bottom of who's in it, how long it might last and whether foreigners in France should be wary of the direction it takes. We also find out why the Chinese are giving France's cognac makers a huge headache, whether Paris deserves its reputation as the "City of Rats", and look at the future of two important airport hubs in south west France. And we also find out whether the ...
Sep 26, 2024•34 min•Season 13Ep. 3
This week we'll get the latest on the never-ending story that is France's quest to find a new government and find out if the country is facing imminent tax hikes to plug the gaping deficit. We also look at which are the best cities in France when it comes to having access to everything you need for everyday life. Plus we explore where are the most remote parts of the country where you'll be content if all you need for everyday life is peace and quiet. We also explain why you might face more bord...
Sep 19, 2024•36 min•Season 13Ep. 2
Talking France is back with a new series. This week, we'll bring you right up to date with the political shenanigans in France and examine whether there will be any positive legacy for Paris now the Olympics are over. Remember the political crisis that was paused over the summer? Well French politicians have pressed the play button again and the drama continues to be gripping. We'll run the rule over the new French PM and look ahead to what's coming and how long he'll last in the job. We'll also...
Sep 12, 2024•36 min•Season 13Ep. 1
In the last episode before the summer break we focus on the post-election political crisis that is gripping France. We've had the elections, they produced a shock result and although there were some losers - namely Marine Le Pen’s far right which finished third despite pollsters predictions that they would win - there wasn't really a clear winner. So what happens now? When will France get a new government? If its the leftist alliance then what will they do in power? Or will nothing happen and wi...
Jul 10, 2024•36 min•Season 12Ep. 12
In this special edition of the Talking France podcast we'll look in detail at the shock results of the defining second round of France’s snap parliamentary elections. We also get all the reaction from the key players, look ahead at what happens next and get all the analysis from our politics expert John Lichfield. Host Ben McPartland is also joined by The Local France’s Emma Pearson. READ MORE: What happens next in France after bombshell election results? French far right blasts 'alliance of dis...
Jul 08, 2024•26 min•Season 12Ep. 11
