Francois Hollande
France’s new right
The result in France in the first round of the Les Républicains party’s primary elections marks the political death of…
The EU hasn’t settled the ‘German question’. It’s reopened it
‘No one can seriously deny that European integration brought an end to Franco-German conflict and has settled the German question…
Hollande equals Thatcher? If only
Have you ever tried discussing the merits of gun control with a Texan, or of deregulated labour markets with a…
François Hollande has found a shameful saviour
France’s president is looking more hopeless than ever. But French politics is such a mess that he’ll probably survive
François Hollande’s own personal state of emergency
His response to the Paris terror attacks has left the French president increasingly isolated and unpopular
It is time to join the fight against IS in Syria
The Islamic State is as monstrous an enemy as we have seen in recent history. It crucifies and decapitates its…
Portrait of the week
Home After the killings in Paris, David Cameron, the Prime Minister, said that seven terrorist attacks on Britain had been…
François Hollande hasn’t seized the moment. Marine Le Pen might
Hollande isn’t seizing his chance. Marine Le Pen might
François Hollande could still win. And this is why
How France’s wobbly pudding of a president could still win again
France’s favourite bedtime story: a sanitised version of the French Revolution
The great conundrum of French history is the French Revolution, or rather, the sequence of revolutions, coups and insurrections during…
Susan Hill’s French notebook: My struggle to avoid local cuisine
An overnight stop on the Ile de Ré taken between the St Malo ferry and the Quercy, where we always…
Portrait of the week
Home A Bill to enable a referendum on whether voters wanted Britain to ‘remain’ in the European Union figured in…
Left-wing populism is on the rise - and may take Ed Miliband to No10
Would-be leaders of the left are harnessing the mood of angry populism
The really shocking thing about Michel Houllebecq’s Soumission — he rather likes Islam
News of Michel Houllebecq’s Soumission caused such a stir that the book was pirated online before publication. David Sexton reports on the latest literary event in France
Le French bashing has spread to France. Are things really that bad?
The popular sport has spread to France. Are things really that bad, wonders Jonathan Meades
Is Nicolas Sarkozy headed back to the Elysée – or to jail?
Destiny is calling Nicolas Sarkozy. But it’s not clear whether he’s heading back to the Elysée – or to jail
Rona Fairhead will be good for the BBC – but who was so keen to nobble her rival?
Hats off to Rona Fairhead, the former Financial Times executive who will succeed Lord Patten as chairman of the BBC…
Europe's leaders worship Mario Draghi. They should listen to him instead
European Central Bank President Mario Draghi secured a place in history by his demonstration, on 26 July 2012, of the…
It’s not just left-wingers who think the bosses’ pay boom is unhealthy
The FTSE100 index stands precisely where it did in the first week of December 1999. Whichever way you look at…
Why a City job should be graduates’ last resort
August is the season for conversation about career choices. Every holiday party seems to include new graduates or next year’s…
The man who could sell the British public on fracking
Iain Conn, who will succeed Sam Laidlaw as chief executive of Centrica, would have been a dead cert for the…
It’s time to face down the greatest intellectual threat of our era (oh, and Ed Miliband)
As you’re reading this, I will still be recovering from the dinner I’m due to attend this week to celebrate…
France's political system is crumbling. What's coming next looks scary
The desperate state of its politics seems to signal the end of the Republic
What is David Cameron’s big idea?
In almost a decade as Conservative leader, David Cameron has tended to avoid talking about his political philosophy. He has…
George Osborne is entitled to look smug
The popular pastime for financial commentators this season is sticking pins in George Osborne. To those on the left who…
