The victory of François Hollande in the French Presidential contest provides a further insight into the operation of the bond markets. It is frequently argued that there can be no retreat from ‘austerity’, which in…
Tagged By France
Fiscal Treaty Files: Lost in Translation
This debate – you wouldn’t know whether to laugh, cry or bang your head on the asphalt repeatedly. Following the rejection of austerity parties in Greece and France, the Taoiseach says: ‘I welcome the fact that…
Elections in France and Greece: The Euro Crisis, The Left and the Genie
The Eight of May was the Fête de la Victoire in France. It was also the day of François Hollande’s first public appearance as president-elect. The right-wing Le Figaro featured photographs of ‘deux presidents sous l’Arc de Triomphe’, in…
When British thieves and French thieves fall out – the Anglo-French governmental dispute in perspective
The French and British authorities are engaged in a war of words over which country will be first to be downgraded by the credit ratings agencies. At least the hostilities are purely verbal – these…
Films of the Year 2011
Films of the Year Archive After a disappointing year in 2010, this year was considerably better at the movies. There were a number of big disappointments (I’m thinking mainly of Terrence Malick, Lynne Ramsay, Gus…
ILR Interview with Yanis Varoufakis
Below is an interview with Professor of Economics at the University of Athens, Yanis Varoufakis which I recorded on Wednesday the 14th of September in Leinster House. Michael Taft, Research Officer with Unite the trade…
Monique Pinçon-Charlot: “the rich have a money addiction that must be treated”
L’Humanite interview with Monique Pinçon-Charlot: “the rich have a money addiction that must be treated” For sociologist Monique Pinçon-Charlot, the campaign against public deficits is an ideological weapon being used by neoliberals to do away…
For an urgent end to Françafrique: Open letter to France’s Minister for Foreign Affairs
An open letter written to the French Minister for Foreign Affairs Alain Juppé calling for an urgent change to France’s current policies in Africa. Signatories below. This letter was originally published in l’Humanite on April…
Catherine Mills, “The more a health system is free, the more efficient and effective it is”
An interview with Catherine Mills, economist and social protection specialist, shows how to build a new health system based on solidarity. This interview was originally published in l’Humanité on March 31st. It was translated by…
Alain Badiou, Jean-Luc Nancy, France, Libya and Me
In Alain Badiou’s open reply to Jean-Luc Nancy, he chides Nancy for falling into the trap that the NATO attacks on Libya were in any way designed to rescue the insurgents of Benghazi. Badiou is…
Marine Le Pen Revamps the Same Old Ideas
The Front National (FN) Congress in Tours approved the transfer of the family business to Marine Le Pen. Jean-Marie Le Pen has handed over everything, including his goodwill. Gregory Marino and Lionel Venturini report for…
France: Not Victorious, but not Defeated
It is now possible to begin to draw a tentative balance sheet of the vast movement against the reform (or more exactly, counter-reform) of the pension system that we have seen in France over the…
Why was May 1968 a social success but a political failure?
This article by Georges Seguy, former Secretary General of the CGT (General Confederation of Labour) was published in L’Humanite on the 19th of October. This translation by David Lundy was published in the English language…
In France Support for the Protest Movement Is Still Gathering Momentum
This article, by Paule Masson of L’Humanite was published in that paper on the 16th of October. The following translation by Isabelle Metral was published on the 17th in the English language edition of L’Humanite….