Ça Chauffe! - Turmoil in France

[ExomatrixTV]

1753128382735257865

[ExomatrixTV]

France’s 🇫🇷 Draft Law: Citizens Who Speak out against the Covid-19 Vaccine. “3 Years Prison and €45,000 Fine”? (https://www.globalresearch.ca/frances-draft-law-citizens-who-speak-out-against-the-covid-19-vaccine-3-years-prison-and-e45000-fine/5849818)

[Brigantia]

A shocking incident has happened in Normandy with three prison officers shot dead as they were escorting a prisoner. Note the last sentence; there must have been an insider leak about the route and time. Source (https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/france-prison-escape-latest-normandy-officers-shot-dead-b1157637.html)

"Three French prison officers shot dead as gang ambushes convoy to free drug dealer in Normandy
The bloodbath unfolded on Tuesday at a motorway toll booth near the town of Val-de-Reuil, Normandy

Three prison officers are feared to have been shot dead and three more seriously wounded when a gang attacked a convoy in northern France on Tuesday to free a convicted drug dealer.
The bloodbath unfolded at a motorway toll booth near the town of Val-de-Reuil, Normandy, and led to Mohamed A, a criminal nicknamed The Fly, escaping. 

The prisoner and gang members initially escaped in two cars – an Audi A5 and a BMW 5 series.
A local police source said: “The ambush happened at the Incarville toll booth on the A154 road. Kalashnikovs are thought to be have been used. 
“Three prison officers are thought to be dead, and three others are seriously wounded. 
“A detainee known for cases linked to drug trafficking escaped with a gang made up of around four men.”
Alexandre Rassaërt, president of the Eure Departmental Council, which covers Vale-de-Reuil, said: “I was frozen with horror when I learned of the real carnage that took place at the Incarville tollbooth. 

“I sincerely hope that the gang of killers who carried out this bloody attack will be quickly arrested.
“All my thoughts go to the families of the service agents. penitentiary who escorted the detainees and who were killed or seriously injured during this attack which gave them no chance. 
“I also think of all the prison administration guards who, every day, guard prisoners at the risk of their lives.”
France’s Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti said: “All my thoughts are with the victims, their families and their colleagues.”

The latest conviction of the escaped prisoner was for burglary, and he also has a past conviction for attempted murder. 
A police source told Le Parisien that he was ‘the head of a narcotics network’ in France, and accordingly considered dangerous. 

At the time of the attack, he was being transferred from one detention centre to another, on a route that should have been secret."

[Ravenlocke]

Text:
A state of emergency has been declared in New Caledonia amid mass riots

Earlier, the head of the Southern Province of French New Caledonia, Sonia Backes, demanded the intervention of the French Armed Forces to resolve the situation. "The situation is extremely serious, extremely violent," she said.

Clashes between supporters of the French government and supporters of New Caledonia's independence have erupted amid discussion of a bill aimed at expanding the electorate in provincial elections.

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1790820673046093931

1790820673046093931

[Ravenlocke]

https://x.com/aussiecossack/status/1790825531396800551

1790825531396800551

[Ravenlocke]

Text:
Riots break out across France following right-wing victory in EU elections

Violent clashes have erupted in Paris, Marseille, Rennes, Bordeaux, Montpellier, and Besançon as leftist demonstrators protested against the recent right-wing win in the EU elections.

Police resorted to tear gas in Paris, where protestors were heard chanting "ACAB" (All Cops Are B*stards).

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1800470869883380143

1800470869883380143

[Brigantia]

Mayar Tousi is reporting on far left riots in various cities in France over the French election results in favour of Marine Le Pen that led to the call for a snap election. Strangely there's nothing on the BBC website, but as Mayar says, if it had been what they call 'far right', they would be all over it in their headlines. The video is 45 minutes of footage and comentary.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMR3EHY4x7s

[Ravenlocke]

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1800468444560638257

1800468444560638257


Text:

‼️🇫🇷 Macron is considering the possibility of his resignation in light of the success of right-wing parties in the #European Parliament elections, reports radio station #Europe 1.

"Resignation of the president is not a taboo. Yes, all options need to be considered. He is ready to sacrifice the end of his presidential term," said a source close to #Macron.

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1800430653323845725

1800430653323845725

[Bill Ryan]

From The Duran today. Macron has suddenly committed political suicide, with Le Pen now facing an open goal. :)

French political establishment furious with Macron


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GCoFfwohvQ

[Gwin Ru]

...

... Macron's brand 'toxic' - Bloomberg
(https://www.sott.net/article/492652-Macrons-brand-toxic-Bloomberg)
RT (https://www.rt.com/news/600034-france-macron-toxic-brand/)
Wed, 26 Jun 2024 12:46 UTC


https://www.sott.net/image/s35/709552/super/667c0c7d85f54065e54bb364.jpg (https://www.sott.net/image/s35/709552/full/667c0c7d85f54065e54bb364.jpg)
© Sebastien SALOM-GOMIS/AFPFILE PHOTO. Emmanuel Macron


Even close allies of the French president fear aligning with him ahead of snap elections, the outlet has reported

French President Emmanuel Macron's allies could distance themselves from him ahead of snap elections as the leader has become a "toxic brand" due to his waning popularity, Bloomberg has reported, citing sources.

The heads of communication at the Elysee Palace have admitted they have "no polls or data to suggest candidates should publicly align themselves with Macron to retain their seats," the outlet said on Wednesday, citing attendees at an emergency meeting of top French government officials.

Soon after Macron called snap elections earlier this month, dozens of lawmakers who initially supported the French leader now want him to keep a "low profile" as his behavior grows increasingly "erratic," Bloomberg claimed.

Even political heavyweights such as French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, once Macron's closest allies, are keeping their distance, the outlet stated.

Most pro-government candidates have not placed the president's image in their campaign posters or leaflets as the Macron brand is feared to be toxic, Bloomberg added. A person close to the president claimed that it's normal for candidates not to use his image, arguing that the election is about the parliament, not the presidency.

Speaking on Monday on the 'Generation Do It Yourself' podcast, Macron claimed that upcoming legislative elections in France could lead to civil war, should the far right or the leftist bloc sweep to power.

Only his centrist ruling coalition can prevent such a scenario, Macron insisted, arguing that both the right-wing National Rally party and the left-wing France Unbowed party have espoused divisive policies that stoke tensions.

Macron's popularity has tumbled in recent months, and opinion polls indicate that his party is lagging far behind National Rally.

Macron, who has presented himself as a leading backer of Ukraine in the conflict with Russia, has floated the possibility of sending French - and other Western - troops to the battlefield. Jordan Bardella, the National Rally leader, recently said that if he becomes prime minister, he will not send troops or long-range missiles to Ukraine, describing any such moves as "very clear red lines."

Macon dissolved the country's parliament and called snap elections earlier this month, after the National Rally party trounced his ruling coalition in the European Parliament elections. He has vowed to stay on as president until his five-year term ends in 2027, but an opposition-controlled legislature and government would dramatically shift the balance of power.

The first round of the elections will be held on Sunday, while the second round is scheduled for July 7.

Comment:
1) From the article:
Jordan Bardella, the National Rally leader, recently said that if he becomes prime minister, he will not send troops or long-range missiles to Ukraine, describing any such moves as "very clear red lines." From the same source, there was and indication of what Macron is determined to do:
25 Jun, 2024 12:23
Macron pledges 'unequivocal' support for UkraineThe upcoming election in France could bring a victory for the far-right, thus upending the country's foreign policy (https://www.rt.com/news/599950-macron-unequivocal-support-ukraine/)

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday reassured NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that Paris is determined to "unequivocally" help Ukraine "in the long term."

Stoltenberg was visiting the French capital in preparation for the NATO summit in Washington next month. According to the military bloc's chief, more support to Ukraine is NATO's "most urgent task."

Macron's reassurance comes as France could soon find itself with a new prime minister who is less supportive of the EU's and NATO's policy of aiding Kiev in its conflict with Russia.

France is heading for legislative elections next week, and if the right-wing National Rally (RN) wins, Macron is expected to offer the job of prime minister to Jordan Bardella, the current RN leader. The RN handed Macron's party a resounding defeat in the European Parliament elections earlier this month.

"Our support for Ukraine remains and will remain constant and we will continue to mobilize to respond to Ukraine's immediate needs, to convey the message of our unequivocal determination to stand alongside the Ukrainians in the long term," Macron said.

His comments came after France's Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu suggested that the snap elections could affect the country's defense cooperation with its European allies.

"Political formations will be sending out a message: either one of withdrawal, weakening France's position in the world... or a message of clarity," Politico quoted Lecornu as saying during a meeting with his German and Polish counterparts Boris Pistorius and Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz.

The popularity of Macron, who's been one of the staunchest supports of the Ukrainian leadership in its conflict with Russia, has tumbled in recent months. Opinion polls indicating that Macron's party is lagging far behind the RN.

Bardella said on Monday that if he becomes prime minister, he will not send troops or long-range missiles to Ukraine. He described such moves as "very clear red lines."

In February, Macron said he would not rule out the possibility of deploying troops to Ukraine. Last month, the French leader announced that the country's weapons sent to Ukraine, including long-range missiles, could be used to hit targets deep inside Russia. 2) Macron can promise what he does, if one considers: SOTT Focus: Macron Allegedly Considers Adopting Emergency Powers After July 7th Election Results (https://www.sott.net/article/492381-Macron-Allegedly-Considers-Adopting-Emergency-Powers-After-July-7th-Election-Results)

3) There are indications, Macron has secured support. The British paper, The Telegraph carried this article:
Le Pen victory threatens 'Liz Truss-style' debt crisis in France (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/06/12/marine-le-pen-victory-trigger-liz-truss-style-debt-crisis/)
Finance minister warns voters over economic impact of backing National Rally party
12 June 2024 - 3:30pm Two weeks later they doubled down:
Le Pen threatens Britain's economy, Bank of England warns (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/06/27/french-election-poses-risk-to-uk-economy-world-stability/)
Global financial stability at risk from looming elections around world, officials fear
27 June 2024 - 10:48am There was also: The great Brussels stitch-up: Over dinner last night, von der Leyen was crowned again (https://www.sott.net/article/492458-The-great-Brussels-stitch-up-Over-dinner-last-night-von-der-Leyen-was-crowned-again)
For now, Germany and France haven't formally endorsed her, but everything indicates Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron — faced with record-low domestic support and massive gains by the AfD and the National Rally — are betting on a second von der Leyen term as a way of securing an "anti-populist" ally in Brussels. "We will build a bastion together with others against the extremes of the Left and Right," von der Leyen stated after the elections — something which Scholz and Macron are desperately in need of. Might the National Rally make a Liz Truss realization and find out they have little influence compared to the bankers:

4) See also:

Macron is not going anywhere - PM (https://www.sott.net/article/492582-Macron-is-not-going-anywhere-PM)
Best of the Web: France's Macron warns of 'civil war' if far left or far right wins (https://www.sott.net/article/492562-Frances-Macron-warns-of-civil-war-if-far-left-or-far-right-wins)b
Two women who claimed French first lady Brigitte Macron is transgender and was born 'Jean-Michel' go on trial in defamation case weeks before general election (https://www.sott.net/article/492539-Two-women-who-claimed-French-first-lady-Brigitte-Macron-is-transgender-and-was-born-Jean-Michel-go-on-trial-in-defamation-case-weeks-before-general-election)
Macron just threw a live grenade at his own feet (https://www.sott.net/article/492377-Macron-just-threw-a-live-grenade-at-his-own-feet)
Macron's approval rating plummets - poll (https://www.sott.net/article/492307-Macrons-approval-rating-plummets-poll)

[Gwin Ru]

...

... deep core analysis of the sit in the "West":

France facing the change of era (https://www.voltairenet.org/article221057.html)

by Thierry Meyssan

As France prepares for early parliamentary elections, its political parties are ganging up on each other, accusing each other of pandering to different forms of extremism. The anxiety they are showing and the violence they are stirring up are not equal to the stakes. Everyone points to the past mistakes of others, but no one analyzes the reasons for the profound social crisis that the country, and with it the whole of the West, is going through. The problem is not to resolve this or that shortcoming, but to radically change the paradigm of political action and adapt it to a society whose economy is now based on information technology rather than industry.

Voltaire Network | Paris (France) | 18 June 2024

Deutsch (https://www.voltairenet.org/article221064.html) ελληνικά (https://www.voltairenet.org/article221061.html) Español (https://www.voltairenet.org/article221054.html) français (https://www.voltairenet.org/article221053.html) italiano (https://www.voltairenet.org/article221063.html) Nederlands (https://www.voltairenet.org/article221058.html) norsk (https://www.voltairenet.org/article221087.html) Português (https://www.voltairenet.org/article221059.html) русский (https://www.voltairenet.org/article221062.html)


Full article: https://www.voltairenet.org/article221057.html

[Bill Ryan]

France facing the change of era (https://www.voltairenet.org/article221057.html)

Yep. Exit polls show that Macron is toast. It's impossible to find a mainstream headline without 'far right' in it (:facepalm::facepalm::facepalm:), and here's just one example from dozens:


https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/30/europe/macron-france-election-first-round-intl/index.html

Macron on course to lose big as far right surges in French parliamentary elections first round

[Ravenlocke]

Text:
Results of the first round of the elections in France:
- Rassemblement National (Le Pen) in the lead in 297 seats (51% of seats)
- Nouveau Front Populaire (the left) in the lead in 149 seats (26%)
- Ensemble (Macron) in the lead in 58 seats (10%)
- Les Républicains (centre right) in the lead in 33 seats (6%)

All in all, the percentages of total votes are:
- Rassemblement National: 33,20 %
- Nouveau Front populaire: 28,10 %
- Ensemble: 21,00 %
- Les Républicains: 10,00 %

What's going to happen now is a second round in cases when no candidate in a constituency secured an absolute majority (more than 50% of votes cast) in the first round. Which is the case in most consistuencies: for instance out of the 297 RN candidates in the lead in their constituency, only 39 have secured an absolute majority and as such are already elected.

The second round will occur on the 7th of July and will feature a runoff between the top two candidates from the first round. However, any candidate who received votes from at least 12.5% of registered voters in the first round can also participate (unless they decide to give up and ask their voters to vote for one of the leading candidates), potentially creating three-way races. The candidate who receives the most votes in the second round wins the seat, even without an absolute majority.

So even though the RN is clearly in the lead, it's very uncertain that they'll end up with an absolute majority (289 seats) in parliament and as such we potentially face a situation where France might not be able to form a government backed by a majority in parliament.

https://x.com/RnaudBertrand/status/1807563718747926645

1807563718747926645

[Ravenlocke]

https://x.com/TheNewsTrending/status/1807561336345231554

1807561336345231554

[Jamie]

France facing the change of era (https://www.voltairenet.org/article221057.html)

Yep. Exit polls show that Macron is toast. It's impossible to find a mainstream headline without 'far right' in it (:facepalm::facepalm::facepalm:)

As we all know, just one of those modern terms to shut people down & prevent them from speaking out. File it alongside being called a racist, fascist or anti-semitic... when you dare to asks questions against your Countries current Status Quo! :facepalm:

Perhaps these so called 'Far Right European Extremists' just want to vote to be FREE from the current madness.

[BMJ]

Gavin Mortimers thoughts on the mood of the french in regards to the upcoming election.

FRANCE ERUPTS: Left threaten democracy amid Marine Le Pen's election victory

Mayhem and unrest has taken place across France after the results of the first round of voting in the French Election.

As France heads back to the polls in the coming days, shops are being boarded up and parts of the population are concerned at what chaos could ensue.

Following the first round of voting, rioters took to the streets after Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party secured a large victory.

"These are the same people who raged against Donald Trump and his supporters when they stormed the Capitol, quite rightly. And yet they see nothing wrong now," The Spectator author Gavin Mortimer told Sky News Digital Originals.

"This is the immorality of a section of the left who are so virtuous, they feel that they can do what they want if a vote doesn't go their way."

GQNyA2dfzrQ

[ExomatrixTV]

Paris 🇫🇷 Is Now Unrecognizable. Will There Be Riots Over Tonight's Election? (https://www.rebelnews.com/paris_france_national_elections_rassemblement_national_rally_riots)

Alexa Lavoie is on the ground in Paris 🇫🇷, where local businesses have already begun to prepare for riots following the results of tonight's second round of national elections.


dutch (https://www.ninefornews.nl/journalist-loopt-door-parijs-en-schrikt-zich-rot-schokkend-onherkenbaar/) 🇳🇱 (+ Multi-Language Options). 🦜🦋🌳

[ExomatrixTV]

‘Paris Will Burn’: Chaos Erupts In France 🇫🇷 As Left-wing Alliance Predicted To Win:

ogPBfAvNcPs
Far-left activists have been captured rioting in the streets after the second round of voting in the French Election.

Pro-Palestinian flags and messages dominated a “victory rally” for a left-wing alliance, who are predicted to win.

The New Popular Front gathered at least 172 seats in a sharp turn from round one of France’s 🇫🇷 snap parliamentary election.

Journalists shared images of chaos on the streets.

Commentator Breanna Morello posted on X, “I'm fascinated by France's far-left. If they lose, Paris will burn. If they win, Paris will burn".

[Bill Ryan]

This may or may not have anything to do with all the chaos following the recent election. :flower:

https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/116015
The spire of Rouen Cathedral in Rouen, France is on fire.
In April 2019, Notre-Dame in Paris also caught fire, leading to extensive damage.
~~~

DDGeopolitics/116015

[Ravenlocke]

About the Rouen Cathedral:

The Rouen Cathedral is famous for its intricate facade with three portals adorned with sculptures. It's also one of the tallest cathedrals in France, standing at 151 meters. Construction began in the 12th century, spanning several centuries, and showcases a remarkable evolution of architectural styles, including elements of Early, High, and Late Gothic design.

{📸: juans83}
https://x.com/archi_tradition/status/1729520773692301528

1729520773692301528


Text:
On July 11, 2024 an accidental fire broke out in the spire of the medieval Rouen Cathedral in Rouen, Normandy, France. In the 1890s the French Impressionist Claude Monet painted more than 30 oil on canvas paintings of the Cathedral's façade during different times of the day & year.

I was thrilled to see some of Monet's Rouen Cathedral paintings when I visited the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. Thankfully firefighters said the Rouen Cathedral fire didn't spread & was quickly contained. It was extinguished in 90 minutes because the spire area is mostly metal.

For the past five years the Cathedral has been undergoing a major reconstruction effort after an accidental fire on April 2019 destroyed the roof, spire & some of the Cathedral's interior. The renovated Cathedral is scheduled to reopen in Dec. 2024.

https://x.com/mark_vallen/status/1811496158940004407

1811496158940004407

[Bill Ryan]

We might possibly need a new thread titled Turmoil at the Olympic Games. :flower:

https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/116898

Homeless people, drug addicts and vagrants are being rounded up en masse in Paris ahead of the Olympics. According to Western media, marginalised people are being forcibly removed from the city.
More than 12,000 homeless people have already been removed from Paris.

DDGeopolitics/116898

[Bill Ryan]

Now that the Olympics have begun, the chaos has started as well. From Zero Hedge:


https://zerohedge.com/political/coordinated-sabotage-paralyzes-frances-rail-network-olympics-begin

"Coordinated Sabotage" Paralyzes France's Rail Network as Olympics Begin

A "coordinated sabotage" has paralyzed France's high-speed train network, impacting a quarter million travelers. The number is set to rise to 800k by the end of the weekend, ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.

https://x.com/WorldTimesWT/status/18167766570651816721816776657065181672
In a post on X, French state railway company SNCF described the overnight fire and cutting of critical signal cables near the tracks in Courtalain, northern France, impacting services to Paris, as a "massive attack aimed at paralyzing the high-speed line network."

SNCF said a "large number of trains were diverted or canceled" and requested that "all travelers who can postpone their trip and not go to the station."

The French prime minister has pledged to "find and punish" those responsible for the attack on critical infrastructure.

"Our intelligence services and law enforcement agencies are mobilized to find and punish the perpetrators of these criminal acts," acting prime minister Gabriel Attal said.

It remains unclear who is behind the sabotage, but some Western media outlets have quickly suggested 'Russia - Russia - Russia.'

"The sabotage marks a stunning breach of the sweeping security dragnet that France erected to shield the Games from myriad threats, ranging from Islamist terrorist groups to state-sponsored sabotage planned by adversaries such as Russia or Iran," The Wall Street Journal (https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/sabotage-hits-frances-rail-lines-as-olympics-begin-916e7cba) said.

Jean de Gliniasty, the former French ambassador to Moscow, told French media outlet La Chaîne Info, "We are obviously in a situation of conflict with Russia, and Russia is obviously not going to do anything, and that's an understatement, to help these Olympic Games be a success."

However, an intelligence source told CNN (https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/26/europe/france-rail-network-disruption-paris-olympics-intl-hnk/index.html) that French intelligence services are also investigating 'the far left.'

https://x.com/michaelh992/status/1816762489977094201
1816762489977094201
Gliniasty also addressed the far left threat: "There's a tradition in France of black blocs, every time there's a demonstration they destroy, they break things. In fact, France has been facing these problems for several years now, and we haven't managed to solve them. And so now, of course, it's getting out of hand."

Let's not forget that France and the rest of Europe have seen a significant influx of migrants from third-world countries over the years. There is a risk that some of these migrants could be members of known terrorist groups with intentions to destroy the West.

The sabotage incident, with the saboteurs unknown at this point, should be a wake-up call to the US ahead of the elections.

[Gwin Ru]

...

... hanging by a few nails:

Political chaos in France after Macron refuses to name PM from leftwing coalition (https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/26/chaos-in-france-after-macron-refuses-to-name-prime-minister-from-leftwing-coalition)

More talks to take place on Tuesday as president attempts to find a PM who can command cross-party support


https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ab35db41e9b2ffa504ac247674554c13eb047d87/0_37_6000_3600/master/6000.jpg?width=480&dpr=1&s=none

Lucie Castets, the NFP candidate to be prime minister, talks to the media after leaving the talks at the presidential palace. Photograph: Raphaël Lafargue/ABACA/Rex/Shutterstock


Kim Willsher (https://www.theguardian.com/profile/kim-willsher) in Paris
Mon 26 Aug 2024 22.00 CEST
Last modified on Tue 27 Aug 2024 10.37 CEST

France has been plunged into further political chaos after Emmanuel Macron (https://www.theguardian.com/world/emmanuel-macron) refused to name a prime minister from the leftwing coalition that won the most parliamentary seats in the snap election last month.

The president had hoped consultations would break the political deadlock (https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/19/macron-hoping-new-round-of-talks-can-break-french-government-deadlock) caused by the election that left the Assemblée Nationale divided into three roughly equal blocks – left, centre and far right – none of which has a majority of seats.

After two days of talks with party and parliamentary leaders to break the stalemate and allow him to name a prime minister with cross-party support, Macron’s decision not to choose the New Popular Front’s candidate was met with anger and threats of impeachment.

In a statement released on Monday evening, the Elysée described the discussions on Friday and during the day as “fair, sincere and useful” but said they had failed to result in a workable solution.

A government formed by the leftwing alliance the New Popular Front (NFP) – comprising France (https://www.theguardian.com/world/france) Unbowed (LFI), the Socialist party (PS), the Greens (EELV) and the Communist party (PCF) – would lead to an immediate vote of no confidence and a collapse of the government, Macron said explaining his decision.
“Such a government would immediately have a majority of more than 350 MPs against it, effectively preventing it from acting,” Macron added. “In view of the opinions expressed by the political leaders consulted, the institutional stability of our country means that this option should not be pursued.”
Macron announced another round of consultations with party leaders and veteran politicians to start on Tuesday.
“At this unprecedented time in the Fifth Republic, when the expectations of the French people are high, the head of state calls on all political leaders to rise to the occasion by demonstrating a spirit of responsibility,” the statement read.
The president added:
“My responsibility is to ensure that the country is neither blocked nor weakened.”
After the announcement, the NFP said it would not take part in further talks unless to discuss it forming a government. The ad hoc leftwing alliance saw off the threat of the far-right National Rally (RN) in the second round of the July legislative election. The coalition gained the most seats in the 577-seat assembly, and has said any new prime minister should come from its ranks.

NFP has put forward Lucie Castets (https://www.lemonde.fr/en/politics/article/2024/07/24/how-france-s-left-agreed-on-unknown-civil-servant-lucie-castets-as-candidate-for-prime-minister_6696507_5.html), a 37-year-old economist and director of financial affairs at Paris City Hall, as its candidate. After Monday’s announcement, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the LFI president, accused Macron of creating an “exceptionally serious situation”.
“The popular and political response must be swift and firm,” Mélenchon said. LFI called for demonstrations urging the president to “respect democracy” and said it would present a motion of impeachment of Macron.

“The president of the republic does not recognise the result of universal suffrage, which placed the New Popular Front at the top of the polls,” it said in a statement.

“He refuses to appoint Lucie Castets as prime minister. Under these conditions, the motion of impeachment will be presented by LFI MPs. Any proposal for a prime minister other than Lucie Castets will be subject to a motion of censure.”Marine Tondelier, secretary general of the Greens, said the president’s action was “a disgrace” and “dangerous democratic irresponsibility”.

[ExomatrixTV]

France’s 🇫🇷 Government COLLAPSES—4 Scenarios for What’s Next!:

x9rZOLUdG48
France's Government Collapses... 🇫🇷 Political chaos grips France as Macron’s fragile coalition crumbles under a dramatic no-confidence vote. What’s next for a divided National Assembly? 🤔 From fiery leftists to far-right ambitions, we’ll unpack the drama, debt crises, and what this means for the EU. Don’t miss the 4 wild scenarios we’ve identified for France’s future! 🕵️‍♂️📉


thelocal.fr/20241125/will-the-french-government-fall-by-christmas (https://www.thelocal.fr/20241125/will-the-french-government-fall-by-christmas)



france24.com/en/europe/20241202-french-pm-barnier-to-force-budget-bill-through-parliament-49-3-risking-no-confidence-vote (https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20241202-french-pm-barnier-to-force-budget-bill-through-parliament-49-3-risking-no-confidence-vote)



politico.eu/article/marine-le-pen-emmanuel-macron-michel-barnier-vote-political-crisis-france-finances (https://www.politico.eu/article/marine-le-pen-emmanuel-macron-michel-barnier-vote-political-crisis-france-finances)



politico.eu/europe-poll-of-polls/france (https://www.politico.eu/europe-poll-of-polls/france)



politico.eu/article/emmanuel-macron-france-economics-business-tax-increases-spending-cuts-budget-crisis (https://www.politico.eu/article/emmanuel-macron-france-economics-business-tax-increases-spending-cuts-budget-crisis)

[Mark (Star Mariner)]

If it wasn't kind of tragic it might be funny...

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https://x.com/MailOnline/status/1879148411846357419

[Ravenlocke]

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1906739098246664227

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https://tass.com/world/1936713?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=smm_social_share

FACTBOX: What is known about Marine Le Pen’s sentence

In accordance with the court decision, Marine Le Pen will have to wear an electronic bracelet for two of the four years

PARIS, March 31. /TASS/. Head of the parliamentary faction of the National Rally Party Marine Le Pen has been sentenced to four years in prison and a five-year ban on running for office after being found guilty of embezzling EU funds.

TASS has assembled the main facts about the French politician's case.

The sentence

- Le Pen was sentenced to four years in prison and is barred from running for political office for five years.

- In accordance with the court decision, Le Pen will have to wear an electronic bracelet for two of the four years.

- She was also ordered to pay a fine of 100,000 euros.

- According to the BFMTV television channel, due to the immediate disenfranchisement, Le Pen will not be able to run in the French presidential election in 2027.

About the case

- The investigation into embezzlement began in 2014.

- The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) then demanded that Le Pen reimburse 339,000 euros.

- The politician was accused of paying the salaries of the head of her office Catherine Grisez and security guard Thierry Legier from the funds of the European Parliament, while they were employed by her party.

- According to the investigation, Le Pen allegedly orchestrated a financial scheme whereby EU funds were embezzled under the guise of paying non-existent assistants in the European Parliament.

- In addition to Le Pen, also found guilty were the mayor of Perpignan Louis Aliot and the former vice-chairman of the National Rally Bruno Gollnisch.

- The prosecutor's office called for giving Le Pen five years in prison and depriving her of her voting rights for the same period.

Le Pen's position

- Le Pen rejected the charges brought against her. During one of the court hearings, she accused the prosecutor of "attempting to destroy the party."

- The day before the verdict was announced, the newspaper La Tribune du Dimanche published a short comment by the politician, in which she expressed hope that it would not come to depriving her of the right to be elected and hold elective office.

Reaction in France

- The verdict is a hit not only against Le Pen, but also against French democracy as a whole, said Jordan Bardella, head of the National Rally party.

Reaction from Russia

- The Kremlin considers the situation around Le Pen's verdict to be the internal affair of France. But in general, it sees democracy decaying in Europe, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said answering a question from TASS.

- The verdict against the head of the parliamentary faction of the National Rally party shows the "agony of liberal democracy," Russia’s Foreign Ministry’s Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, told TASS.

- France is plunging into "stormy uncharted waters" and may face protests similar to those in Romania after presidential candidate Calin Georgescu was barred from running, former Austrian Foreign Minister and head of the G.O.R.K.I. center at St. Petersburg State University Karin Kneissl said.

- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban also spoke out in support of Le Pen.

[Ravenlocke]

Text:

🧵 Le Pen's conviction: A symbol of EU's EXISTENTIAL FEAR of Eurosceptics? 🇪🇺⚖️

Marine Le Pen’s conviction in a Paris court on embezzlement charges raises eyebrows, revealing Brussels’ loathing of politicians who can challenge the existing order. Here's a breakdown: (1/7)

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1906758542540808699

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Text:
Former Le Pen advisor Emmanuel Leroy calls her conviction a "blatant case of denial of rights, where a candidate who, according to polls, has every chance of winning in 2027, is prevented from running.”

(3/7)
Highlighting similarities between the targeting of Le Pen and Romanian populist presidential candidate Calin Georgescu, Leroy argues Le Pen’s prosecution shows the EU’s intense fear of “anti-system forces” threatening to take power in critical states like France.

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1906758547578265607

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Text:
(4/7)
The court’s decision to bar Le Pen from running in the 2027 presidential election is “completely politicized” yet unsurprising, mirroring the treatment of leaders in Romania, Bosnia, and Moldova —where opponents to the status quo have been targeted or sidelined.

(5/7)
Le Pen’s case also highlights the prosecution’s incredible hypocrisy, Leroy says, pointing out that the same “illegal financing” charges she faced have been used by others, including current French Prime Minister François Bayrou, without any consequences.

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1906758553819308262
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Text:
(6/7)
Leroy doesn’t expect this conviction to hurt Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) party, saying supporters will understand that it’s a political conviction, not a legitimate one.

(7/7)
Unless Le Pen successfully appeals the ruling, Leroy expects RN president Jordan Bardella to step in to challenge Macron in 2027.

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1906758558537933181

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[Ravenlocke]

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1906671997058244715

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[Ravenlocke]

https://x.com/angeloinchina/status/1906734076490584112

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Text:
Marine Le Pen banned from seeking political office after EU funds misuse conviction

“What happened to you, Marine Le Pen?!”
You’ve groveled. Sold out. Become everything they demanded.
— Betrayed your father, the architect of the Front National (now RN), scrubbing his legacy to please the elites.
— Turned hardline Zionist—so eager to comply, you’d stitch a Star of David to your sleeve if asked.
— Kneeled to the EU and NATO, the very institutions your party vowed to dismantle.
— Shattered sovereignty, the CORE principle your movement was built on.
And now? After all that groveling… the globalist machine you courted will ERASE YOU. Barred from the presidency by the same elites you begged to legitimize you.
Poetic justice. You traded your spine for a seat at their table—they’re kicking you out of the restaurant.

https://x.com/angeloinchina/status/1906653401804677392

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[Ravenlocke]

Text:
‼️🇮🇹🇫🇷 The sentence against Marine #LePen, the leader of the French National Rally party, which deprives her of the right to run, is a declaration of war by Brussels, said Italy's Transport Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, the leader of the League party, Matteo Salvini.

"Those who fear the voters' decision often find solace in the courts' decision. In Paris, they condemned Marine Le Pen and want to exclude her from political life. A bad film, which we see in other countries, for example, in Romania," #Salvini wrote on social media.

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1906691889467642122

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[Tintin]

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1906739098246664227

1906739098246664227

https://tass.com/world/1936713?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=smm_social_share

FACTBOX: What is known about Marine Le Pen’s sentence

In accordance with the court decision, Marine Le Pen will have to wear an electronic bracelet for two of the four years

PARIS, March 31. /TASS/. Head of the parliamentary faction of the National Rally Party Marine Le Pen has been sentenced to four years in prison and a five-year ban on running for office after being found guilty of embezzling EU funds.

TASS has assembled the main facts about the French politician's case.

The sentence

- Le Pen was sentenced to four years in prison and is barred from running for political office for five years.

- In accordance with the court decision, Le Pen will have to wear an electronic bracelet for two of the four years.

- She was also ordered to pay a fine of 100,000 euros.

- According to the BFMTV television channel, due to the immediate disenfranchisement, Le Pen will not be able to run in the French presidential election in 2027.

About the case

- The investigation into embezzlement began in 2014.

- The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) then demanded that Le Pen reimburse 339,000 euros.

- The politician was accused of paying the salaries of the head of her office Catherine Grisez and security guard Thierry Legier from the funds of the European Parliament, while they were employed by her party.

- According to the investigation, Le Pen allegedly orchestrated a financial scheme whereby EU funds were embezzled under the guise of paying non-existent assistants in the European Parliament.

- In addition to Le Pen, also found guilty were the mayor of Perpignan Louis Aliot and the former vice-chairman of the National Rally Bruno Gollnisch.

- The prosecutor's office called for giving Le Pen five years in prison and depriving her of her voting rights for the same period.

Le Pen's position

- Le Pen rejected the charges brought against her. During one of the court hearings, she accused the prosecutor of "attempting to destroy the party."

- The day before the verdict was announced, the newspaper La Tribune du Dimanche published a short comment by the politician, in which she expressed hope that it would not come to depriving her of the right to be elected and hold elective office.

Reaction in France

- The verdict is a hit not only against Le Pen, but also against French democracy as a whole, said Jordan Bardella, head of the National Rally party.

Reaction from Russia

- The Kremlin considers the situation around Le Pen's verdict to be the internal affair of France. But in general, it sees democracy decaying in Europe, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said answering a question from TASS.

- The verdict against the head of the parliamentary faction of the National Rally party shows the "agony of liberal democracy," Russia’s Foreign Ministry’s Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, told TASS.

- France is plunging into "stormy uncharted waters" and may face protests similar to those in Romania after presidential candidate Calin Georgescu was barred from running, former Austrian Foreign Minister and head of the G.O.R.K.I. center at St. Petersburg State University Karin Kneissl said.

- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban also spoke out in support of Le Pen.

This is quite involved.

Arnaud Bertrand, who is a very reliable commentator, lays out some more (https://x.com/RnaudBertrand/status/1906944008448098311) of the background to this although, and with fair reasoning, how Cristine Lagarde can get caught embezzling funds but attain the position of ECB chair? Well, I think we can guess how :facepalm: :)


"I'm seeing many terrible takes on Le Pen by people who obviously don't know the first thing about what happened, so here's a summary that's as neutral as I could make it.

Consider reading it first before arguing one way or another.

After a legal saga that dragged on since 2015, a French court finally delivered its verdict in what's known as the "European Parliament Assistants Case" against Marine Le Pen and her Rassemblement National colleagues.

They found Le Pen guilty of misappropriation of public funds and handed her what can only be described as a political death sentence: 4 years prison (2 years suspended, 2 years at home under electronic monitoring), a €100,000 fine, and most devastatingly, 5 years of ineligibility for public office with immediate execution.

That last part is absolutely crucial because it means she can't run for president in 2027, appeal or no appeal.

The whole case centers on the fact that between 2004 and 2016, FN members of the European Parliament (MEPs) were using their EU parliamentary assistant allowances to pay people who were actually working for the party rather than on EU business.

At the European parliament, each MEP gets around €23,392 monthly to hire assistants, and the FN/RN created a system to funnel that money into party operations, which is illegal.

Tellingly, many of these "assistants" were on both the European Parliament payroll AND the party's organizational chart, and some never even met the MEPs they supposedly worked for.

The court determined the amount diverted totaled €2.9 million.

The investigation began all the way back in 2015 when European Parliament president Martin Schulz referred the matter to the European Anti-Fraud Office after noticing that 20 of the 24 FN parliamentary assistants appeared on the party's organizational chart.

The French justice system opened their formal investigation in 2016, and the case involved 27 defendants - nine former FN/RN MEPs including Le Pen herself, twelve parliamentary assistants, four other FN/RN officials, and the party itself as a legal entity.

Le Pen wasn't the only one who got convicted. The Rassemblement National party itself got hit with a €2 million fine. Eight other former MEPs were all convicted, alongside twelve parliamentary assistants and three RN officials.

The prosecution's case was pretty straightforward: the party created a systematic scheme to divest EU funds for party benefit. They had mountains of evidence showing assistants working primarily or exclusively for the party while being paid by the European Parliament.

The operation wasn't just a one-off - it was a years-long scheme that was centrally managed by the party leadership.

On the defense side, they insist all assistants performed "real work" (which is true, just not the work they were paid for, which is the whole point), claim political persecution and argue there was no personal enrichment (which is correct).

They also compare the way they're treated to that of the MoDem party—the party of current Prime Minister François Bayrou—which faced similar charges. They argue their case demonstrates a double standard in French justice, since MoDem officials received much lighter sentences for similar offenses.

This is somewhat correct given that members of both parties were found guilty of essentially the same crime—using European Parliament funds to pay for party work.

However, the scale and nature of the operations were quite different. The RN operation involved €2.9 million compared to MoDem's €204,000. The RN maintained their system for 12 years across 46 contracts, while MoDem's operation lasted for a shorter period with 10 contracts. Perhaps most importantly, MoDem officials stopped the practice voluntarily without legal intervention, while the RN only ceased when the European Parliament started investigating.

Still, the stark difference in sentencing, particularly regarding immediate ineligibility, has become a big controversy, with many questioning whether the punishment truly fits the crime or reflects political considerations about keeping Le Pen out of the 2027 presidential race.

Because that's what the sentence means: Le Pen can't run for office during 5 years, which blocks her from the 2027 presidential election unless her appeal succeeds - and French appeals can take years.

Worth mentioning, according to French law, for the offense of misappropriation of public funds, ineligibility is actually mandatory. Judges only have discretion to make exceptions with a specially motivated decision.

However, whether to make that ineligibility immediately enforceable during appeals is a separate decision, and judges have complete discretion on this. This is the truly controversial part, the judges in Le Pen's case could have decided to not apply the ineligibility immediately and wait for the appeal process to conclude before enforcing it.

The timing of this verdict, coming after Le Pen's strong showing in recent elections and just two years before a presidential contest she was widely favored to win, inevitably raises questions about political motivation.

Yet we shouldn't ignore the substance either: a systematic scheme to divert public funds did occur. The French justice system has determined that such actions render someone unfit for public office, at least temporarily.

Whether voters would have reached the same conclusion if Le Pen had been allowed to run in 2027 is a question we'll probably never get an answer for—and therein lies perhaps the most profound controversy of all.

At heart this case is a question of who's sovereign in France: judges interpreting laws, or voters who may be willing to overlook certain transgressions.
6:37 AM · Apr 1, 2025
·
41.6K Views

[grapevine]

France bans Le Pen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL9klWslPDM&ab_channel=TheDuran 12:41
Here is The Duran's take on the Le Pen debacle. The consensus is that Le Pen is (probably) guilty BUT it's the motive which is the real scandal here. However, given the efforts of the Democrats to prosecute Donald Trump and the lengths they went to, this really does seem to be the current "go to" method for governments to rid themselves of any political competition. Shameful and no doubt they'll be fitting Nigel Farage up with smuggling illegal immigrants next. :silent:

[Ravenlocke]

Text:

So, let me get this straight. Le Pen faces imprisonment over €2.9M EU funds that she allegedly misused.

But IMF chief Christine Lagarde was found guilty of handing €403M of EU taxpayers' money to a tycoon, yet received no sentence and is now running the ECB.

Fascinating.

https://x.com/M_Simonyan/status/1907102019187253712

1907102019187253712

[BMJ]

On President Trumps Truth Social account Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump 4/4/25
Link: https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/114277430639309106


The Witch Hunt against Marine Le Pen is another example of European Leftists using Lawfare to silence Free Speech, and censor their Political Opponent, this time going so far as to put that Opponent in prison. It is the same “playbook” that was used against me by a group of Lunatics and Losers, like Norm Eisen, Andrew Weissmann, and Lisa Monaco. They spent the last nine years thinking of nothing else, and they FAILED, because the People of the United States realized that they were only Corrupt Lawyers and Politicians. I don’t know Marine Le Pen, but do appreciate how hard she worked for so many years. She suffered losses, but kept on going, and now, just before what would be a Big Victory, they get her on a minor charge that she probably knew nothing about – Sounds like a “bookkeeping” error to me. It is all so bad for France, and the Great French People, no matter what side they are on. FREE MARINE LE PEN!

[Ravenlocke]

Text:
🇫🇷 🔥More wild scenes from the Paris riots tonight following PSG’s historic Champions League win 🏆
The city is on fire — literally and figuratively.

#ParisRiots #PSG #UCLFinal #ChampionsLeague #France

https://x.com/PlanetReportHQ/status/1928942898113925628

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🇫🇷 - Clashes Erupt in Paris and Munich During Champions League Final

In Paris, French riot police used tear gas and batons to control crowds after PSG and Inter Milan fans clashed outside the Parc des Princes and on the Champs-Élysées.

The match, a significant event in UEFA’s premier competition, highlighted ongoing crowd control issues, reminiscent of past finals, including tear gas use against Liverpool fans in 2022 and transport chaos for Manchester City fans in 2023.

Munich, hosting its first final since 2012, struggled with its strained rail infrastructure, a recurring issue after the 2024 European Championships.

This unrest overshadowed the high-stakes final, with PSG’s strong performance led by Desire Doue’s sensational goal, as reported by The Telegraph

https://x.com/theinformant_x/status/1928915443076706443

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