Spotlight on France

Podcast: PM woes, tourists 'overtake' Montmartre, when Martinique became French


Listen Later

As France gets its fifth prime minister in three years, demonstrators who responded to a call to block the country talk about feeling ignored by the government. Residents and business owners in Paris' picturesque Montmartre neighbourhood hit out at overtourism. And the brutal history of France's colonisation of the Caribbean island of Martinique, one of five French overseas departments.

For many critics of French President Emmanuel Macron, his nomination of close ally Sebastien Lecornu to replace François Bayrou as prime minister is a slap in the face, and further proof that the government is ignoring people's wishes.  Participants in a movement to shut down the country on Wednesday talk about feeling unheard, and draw comparisons with the anti-government Yellow Vest movement from 2018-2019. (Listen @0')

Tourists have long been drawn to the "village" of Montmartre, with its famed Sacre Cœur basilica, artists’ square, winding cobbled streets, vineyards and pastel-shaded houses. But the rise of influencers and instagrammers who post picture-postcard decors, as featured in hit films and Netflix series, have turned it into a must-see destination. With tourists now outnumbering residents by around 430 to one, the cohabitation is under strain. Béatrice Dunner, of the Association for the Defence of Montmartre, is calling on local authorities to follow the example of Amsterdam and tackle overtourism before it's too late. (Listen @13')

On 15 September 1635, a group of French colonists claimed the Caribbean island of Martinique, establishing a plantation economy reliant on slavery. Its economic and cultural legacy continues to shape the island today as an overseas department. (Listen @6'35'')

Episode mixed by Cécile Pompeani

Spotlight on France is a podcast from Radio France International. Find us on rfienglish.com, Apple podcasts (link here), Spotify (link here) or your favourite podcast app (pod.link/1573769878).

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Spotlight on FranceBy RFI English

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

34 ratings


More shows like Spotlight on France

View all
The New Yorker Radio Hour by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

The New Yorker Radio Hour

6,793 Listeners

Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,608 Listeners

The Political Scene | The New Yorker by The New Yorker

The Political Scene | The New Yorker

4,039 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,802 Listeners

Politics Weekly UK by The Guardian

Politics Weekly UK

263 Listeners

The Audio Long Read by The Guardian

The Audio Long Read

850 Listeners

Culture in France by RFI English

Culture in France

0 Listeners

The Sound Kitchen by RFI English

The Sound Kitchen

1 Listeners

InnerFrench by innerFrench

InnerFrench

1,725 Listeners

International report by RFI English

International report

2 Listeners

Africa: Stories in the 55 by RFI English

Africa: Stories in the 55

0 Listeners

Spotlight on Africa by RFI English

Spotlight on Africa

0 Listeners

World Music Matters by RFI English

World Music Matters

5 Listeners

Cinefile by RFI English

Cinefile

0 Listeners

EU Confidential by POLITICO

EU Confidential

102 Listeners

Mid-East Junction by RFI English

Mid-East Junction

2 Listeners

Today in Focus by The Guardian

Today in Focus

982 Listeners

Westminster Insider by POLITICO

Westminster Insider

38 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

15,849 Listeners

Journal en français facile by Français Facile - RFI

Journal en français facile

168 Listeners

Politics Weekly America by The Guardian

Politics Weekly America

206 Listeners

The Foreign Affairs Interview by Foreign Affairs Magazine

The Foreign Affairs Interview

455 Listeners

Talking France by The Local France

Talking France

66 Listeners