Welcome to our latest episode of Talking France - a weekly podcast by The Local. If you enjoy the podcast please take the time to leave a review on Apple, Spotify or Google or if you have any feedback please email us at [email protected].

All our in-depth articles are available at our website thelocal.fr

Is the long battle over pension reform in France finally coming to an end? Everything could depend on the nine wise men and women, who sit on a very important council.

In this week's episode we find out more about them, what they might have to say and what could happen next in the fight over pension reform.

One person you’ll certainly want to get to know if you live in France is your local mayor - at least if you live in a small village. But just how powerful are France’s 35, 000 mayors and what exactly do they do?

It’s April, the sun is shining, the flowers are blooming so that means its tax declaration season in France. We find out some ways you can save on your French tax bill and also some interesting perks the French taxman offers in return for your money.

We will also look at the risk of more devastating wildfires in south western France this year and hear about the government’s new plan to tackle them.

We’ll also find out why Paris is called the city of light and learn the nicknames of some other French cities.

Host Ben McPartland will be joined by the engine room of The Local France - Editor Emma Pearson, journalist Gen Mansfield and politics expert John Lichfield.

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