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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: French politics

French politics stories: 12 news summaries

 Sarko to French Pols: 
 Put Down the Croissants 

French government gets the fitness bug after president loses 15 pounds

Oct 7, 09 7:40 AM CDT
(Newser) - Nicolas Sarkozy has lost 15 pounds since he married Carla Bruni, subsisting on a diet of cottage cheese, fruit compote, and bottled water—and he's not the only one in the French government who's slimming down. As the Times of London reports, Sarkozy is pressuring his ministers to lose weight,... More »

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Nicolas Sarkozy • France • weight loss • diet • French politics • overweight • Carla Bruni • Christine Lagarde

Royal Ahead as French Left Picks Leader

Defeated presidential candidate goes into runoff with big lead

Nov 21, 08 7:07 AM CST
(Newser) - Ségolène Royal has emerged as the strongest candidate to take over France's Socialist Party as a bitter leadership contest goes to a runoff today, Reuters reports. Royal, defeated by Nicolas Sarkozy in last year's presidential race, will face Martine Aubry, the mayor of Lille who as a minister... More »

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Segolene Royal • France • French politics • Socialist Party • Martine Aubry

Former French PM Accused In Sarko Scandal

De Villepin will stand trial on false money-
laundering accusation

Nov 20, 08 9:19 AM CST
(Newser) - Former French prime minister Dominique de Villepin will face trial for his role in an alleged smear campaign against Nicolas Sarkozy, who outmaneuvered him for the presidency. The "Clearstream Affair" scandal dates to 2004, when an anonymous source sent a judge a list of politicians, including Sarkozy, said... More »

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fraud • Nicolas Sarkozy • France • Dominique de Villepin • Clearstream affair • French politics • scandal

In Paris, President Envy: 'There Is No French Obama'

Country's egalitarian tradition takes a hit

Nov 6, 08 10:20 AM CST
(Newser) - Sacre bleu! With Barack Obama’s victory in the US presidential race, the French, who’ve long prided themselves on a tradition of egalitarianism, are being forced to take a closer look at themselves—and they’re not happy with what they see, the Wall Street Journal reports. “... More »

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Barack Obama • Nicolas Sarkozy • France • French politics • Obama 2008 • President Obama

OPINION

 Sarkozy
 Puts France
 on Speed 

Sarkozy is 'the most important European leader of his time,' writes Cohen

Jul 17, 08 8:05 AM CDT
(Newser) - His love life may be distracting and his poll ratings may be low, but Nicolas Sarkozy is "a tonic to his country and the most important European leader of his time," writes New York Times columnist Roger Cohen. In just 14 months the French president has led a... More »

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European Union • Europe • Nicolas Sarkozy • France • French politics • French president

 Bardot On Trial,
 Once Again,
 Over Racism 

'60s sex kitten, oft-convicted, says rant was in defense of animals, not anti-Islam

Apr 16, 08 2:09 PM CDT
(Newser) - Brigitte Bardot is on trial for racism—again. The 1960s French sex symbol, now 73, is a stridently anti-immigrant and seemingly anti-Muslim politician, Time reports. Bardot is on trial for “inciting racial hatred,” a charge she’s been convicted of four times. The current case involves a letter... More »

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immigration • Islam • France • racism • French politics • Brigitte Bardot

Sarkozy Steps Out With Singer/Model

French prez takes new flame for a ride—at Disneyland Paris

Dec 17, 07 9:39 AM CST
(Newser) - The Nicolas Sarkozy soap opera’s latest turn involves Mickey Mouse. The recently divorced French president strolled Disneyland with Italian pop singer Carla Bruni on Saturday, provoking a hail of gossip, AFP reports. The president’s office was officially mum, but one magazine editor said Bruni told him personally “... More »

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Nicolas Sarkozy • French politics • gossip • Disneyland • Carla Bruni

TV Babe Helps Sarko Rebound

Newly divorced prez turns to half of French TV's 'Ken and Barbie'

Nov 26, 07 12:48 PM CST
(Newser) - It didn’t take Nicolas Sarkozy long to get over his recent divorce—the French president is already in a “close and loving relationship” with star journalist Laurence Ferrari, according to the Daily Mail. It began when Ferrari interviewed Sarkozy on the campaign trail, creating visible chemistry. “... More »

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Nicolas Sarkozy • France • French politics • Laurence Ferrari

Sarko in Snit Walks Out on
'60 Minutes' Interview

Lashes out at 'stupid' questions on divorce

Oct 29, 07 5:54 AM CDT
(Newser) - In a "60 Minutes" interview aired last night, surly French President Nicolas Sarkozy called his press secretary an "imbecile," dismissed the interview as "stupid," and abruptly ended the conversation when asked about his estranged wife, Cécilia, Reuters reports. "If I had something to... More »

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divorce • Nicolas Sarkozy • France • Arnold Schwarzenegger • French politics • Cecilia Sarkozy

Mayors Spurn Sarkozy Immigration Crackdown

Reject DNA testing, deportation quotas

Sep 14, 07 4:42 PM CDT
(Newser) - French leftists aren't about to help Nicolas Sarkozy make good on the immigration crackdowns he promised during his campaign for president. Eight Paris-area mayors have refused to cooperate with measures that include deportation quotas and mandatory DNA-testing for prospective immigrants. Human rights groups denounced Sarkozy for treating immigrants as "... More »

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immigration • Nicolas Sarkozy • France • French politics

Mais Oui! French Prez Is Friend
to Business

Sarkozy embraces entrepreneurs, pushes limits on worker's rights

Jul 28, 07 7:42 AM CDT
(Newser) - France could see a longer work week and new limits on workers' right to strike if President Nicholas Sarkozy gets his way. He's already reduced wealth taxes on certain investments and practically eliminated the inheritance tax, the Los Angeles Times reports. But supporters insist he will not erode social benefits... More »

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Nicolas Sarkozy • France • labor • reform • French politics • French economy

Charges Loom for Former French PM

De Villepin linked to dirty campaign against rival Sarkozy

Jul 6, 07 4:29 AM CDT
(Newser) - Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin is expected to face criminal conspiracy charges following the discovery of new evidence linking him to a dirty tricks campaign against President Nicolas Sarkozy, the Times of London reports. Police yesterday searched his Paris home after investigators found computer data suggesting he directed... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Nicolas Sarkozy • Jacques Chirac • France • Dominique de Villepin • Clearstream affair • French politics • French warships • Luxembourg • Clearstream International

12 Stories


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