Talking France

We simply cannot not discuss the 88 million euro jewellery heist at France's most famous museum The Louvre in this week's episode. How could it happen? Some blame lax security, others blame funding cuts, some blame Macron of course, whilst our politics expert recons France just has too much treasure to look after it all. 

And France's government is hanging by a thread. Can it get a vital budget through parliament before Father Christmas comes?

And we'll find out France's new civics test for residency and citizenship applicants is all about and find out about France's cycling boom and why there's a new move to keep bikes off the pavements.

And we'll explore how to make the best impression if you're invited into a French home.

Host Ben McPartland is joined by The Local France's Emma Pearson, Gen Mansfield and John Lichfield.

READ MORE:

• OPINION: Louvre jewel theft shows the France is simply too rich
• French government confirms civics and language test exemptions for over 65s

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You'll be glad to know things have become just a little clearer since last week when it comes to what is going on in France. Just a little.

We have a new government, we kind of have a new prime minister, we've had a major retreat by the French president Emmanuel Macron, and we have a crucial few weeks ahead of us in France, during which, I don't think it's an exaggeration to say,  the future of the country is at stake.

We'll bring you all the latest of course on the chaos and crisis in French politics.

And we'll find out why thousands of Parisians have been sent text messages warning them of a catastrophic flood and look at the latest battle to protect the treasured French cheese Camembert.

And we'll give you the rundown on the best places in France to see incredible street art. It's not the Louvre of course.

Host Ben McPartland is joined once again by The Local France's Emma Pearson, Gen Mansfield and John Lichfield.

READ MORE:

• OPINION - Macron has slammed France into reverse gear with pension surrender
• The small French village that hosts the world's only street art theme park

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Talking France is back with a new episode, slightly earlier than planned because France has another meltdown. Forgive us for the title, but listen to the episode and you'll understand why we chose it.

Even in a country that has made its name as Europe's political madhouse over the last year or so, this latest crisis took us all by surprise.

Yes, France's new prime minister quit this week, just hours after naming his government. The country still doesn't have a budget and it's drowning in debt. What the heck is going to happen next? We'll look into our crystal ball.

Away from politics we'll find out where all the eggs have gone in France, if it's Ok to be late when meeting French people and we'll tell you all you need to know about France's sacred "secu" - that's the social security system that looks after us all.

Host Ben McPartland and I'll be joined as usual by The Local France team: Emma Pearson, Gen Mansfield and politics expert John Lichfield.

READ MORE:

OPINION: France is in a dark place, it may get darker

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A former French president is set to spend some time behind bars in prison, quite a bit of time actually. Yes Nicolas Sarkozy, remember him, he’s been up to no good. Again. We'll hear about France's reaction to poor old Sarko being sent down and ask why are France's centre-right, law and order loving, politicians so... crooked? (Not all of them of course)

We'll also lament the demise of Paris's, perhaps even the world's most famous avenue - The Champ-Élysées. Is it now the worst street in the French capital?

We'll get the latest on the anti-government protests and strikes and find out if France will ever actually get one - a government that is.

We'll explore a must-visit French world heritage site in Dordogne and bring you up to date with France's roll out of the EU’s new border checks this autumn. Do Brits really need to prove they have medical insurance to get into the country?

Host Ben McPartland is joined by The Local France's Emma Pearson, Gen Mansfield and John Lichfield.

Further reading:

• OPINION: Sarkozy case poses a question - why are French conservatives so crooked?
• Six prehistoric sites in France you have to visit
• What's the deal with EES and medical insurance for British tourists in France?
• Step-by-step: How to renew the Brexit carte de séjour in France

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This week we’ll look at whether France’s new prime minister can do anything to appease the obstinate opposition in parliament and whether he’s got any chance of calming the growing anger on the streets.

We’ll also find out why protests in France always spark a row over numbers, how Americans are being ripped off in Paris, why the French state may no longer pay for your 18-day trip to a thermal spa and why bullfighting is still legal in parts of France.

And stay to the end to find out how the French are obsessed with sexing up their film titles in English.

Host Ben McPartland is joined as ever by the team at The Local France, Emma Pearson, Gen Mansfield and John Lichfield.

Essential reading:

• KEY DATES: The strikes planned in France in September and October 2025
• American tourists charged extra in Paris restaurants, newspaper sting shows
• Puns, sex and urban legends: How English film titles are translated into French
• France plans to cut state-funded spa treatments for chronically ill patients
• How to avoid taxi scams in Paris

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On this week's show we'll bring you up to date with the turmoil in France, which shows no sign of calming down. The country has another new PM, but another day of strikes, protests and potential clashes looms large. Is there any way the crisis can be resolved?

France's tax man is well nourished but there's a new plan gaining popularity that would see the country's richest pay more. But who's behind it and could it become law?

We'll also hear what you think of the French schools system? Is it rigid and old fashioned or does it help to produce well behaved, polite kids?

We'll look ahead to some of the best events in France this autumn and reveal whether the French really are better at making babies than the rest of Europe.

Host Ben McPartland is joined by the team at The Local France: Emma Pearson, Gen Mansfield and politics wizard John Lichfield.

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The French government has collapsed again after Prime Minister François Bayrou lost a vote of confidence in parliament on Monday night.

We've been here before of course, but the latest French political crisis feels even more fraught with President Emmanuel Macron running out of options and numerous strikes and opposition movements lined up for the days ahead.

What happens now? What happens in France when there's no government? What will happen to Macron himself? We'll try to answer all these questions over the next 25 minutes or so, but let's start with a look at what happened on Monday night.

Emma Pearson, Gen Mansfield and John Lichfield have easily survived a no confidence vote to be here with us to bring us all the latest news and analysis. Ben McPartland is your host.

Essential reading:

• OPINION: France may muddle through the latest crisis, but the reckoning is coming
• Bloquons Tout: Transport disruption in France on September 10th
• What happens next after French government ousted?
• 'Relief for the people': France reacts to government collapse
• What does a French Prime Minister actually do?

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Be warned, France’s strike calendar for September is quickly filling up as various unions announce industrial action that could impact, well, pretty much all aspects of life in France. We’ll look at just how much disruption and political discord lie ahead over the next few weeks in France.

And remember this could be the last Talking France episode with Francois Bayrou as Prime Minister. We’ll explore whether France has simply become ungovernable these days.

We’ll also find about one French town that has slapped a ban on people buying up property to be used as a second home. Could this be the star of a nationwide trend?

And speaking of homes, a story on The Local France has gone viral in recent weeks about a French town selling homes for just one euro. But surely there’s a catch? We’ll find out. 

And the big exposé this week is to reveal which of France’s smelly cheeses is the king of stench, the most pungent of them all. The competition is tough but we’ll name the winner.

Im Ben McPartland and with me this week will be the team from The Local France, Emma Pearson, Gen Mansfield and John Lichfield.

Essential reading:

• KEY DATES: Strikes planned in France in September 2025
• How to challenge your 2025 French property tax bills
• LISTED: New flights to and from France in autumn and winter 2025
• Phone ban and sex education: The changes in French schools from September 2025
• Brittany town bans second homes amid housing shortage
• 5 things you need to know about France's one euro homes
• VERDICT: What is the smelliest French cheese of all?

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So summer's almost over, but it's been an eventful one in France. We'll bring you up to date with what's been happening. But the thrust of this week's episode and the reason we've started the new series a week earlier than planned is that France has, once again, been plunged into, yep you can guess what I'm going to say next: a new political crisis.

The country is facing "great danger" says the PM Francois Bayrou, but is the country listening to him? We'll get all the news and analysis on the latest turmoil to hit Emmanuel Macron's government and find out what's going to happen next.

And one of the big subjects our team has been covering in recent weeks has been a major change to France's citizenship rules that has left a lot of readers anxious.

We'll explain all.

They say never change a winning team, so for this new series I've decided to stick with the same line up that has made Talking France THE podcast to listen to if you're interested in France... With me once again will be Editor Emma Pearson, journalist Gen Mansfield and French politics guru John Lichfield. Ben McPartland is your host.

Thanks for joining us for a new series of Talking France.

We hope you all had a fantastic summer wherever you were.

As a reminder, just in case you might have forgotten during the heatwaves, this is a podcast produced by the team at The Local France, thanks to our paying members, so if you like what you listen to, please sign up via The Local.fr and help keep Talking France going.

Essential reading:

• OPINION: PM Bayrou is doomed, but will his fall wake up France?
• 'Illogical, bizarre and ageist': Readers react to French citizenship changes
• Analysis: Has France really made it impossible for retirees to get citizenship?

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This final episode of the season is all about looking ahead to the summer in France. And it plans to be a hot one, in more ways than one with a raft of possible transport strikes ahead that could impact your holidays.

We'll get all the latest on industrial action, some possible political turbulence as well as look ahead to some major summer events in France and find out just how extreme the heatwaves are going to be.

And to do all this host Ben McPartland calls on The Local's editor Emma Pearson and politics expert John Lichfield. 

Extra reading:

• Planes, trains and museums: The strikes to expect in France this summer
• How hot will it get in France this summer
• OPINION: Another week, another attempt to bring down the French government

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