The Debate

By FRANCE 24 English

The Debate episodes

May 21, 2018 Populist takeover: Italy approves unprecedented coalition
It's official. Italy's raising anchor and setting sail for unchartered waters...with Europe's boat rocked by an unprecedented populist coalition. President Sergio Mattarella is set to approve unknown law professor Giuseppe Conte as prime minister of a government where the leader of the anti-establishment Five Star movement and the far-right League are touting a flat tax, welfare payments to poor families, a pivot towards Russia and the deportation of half-a-million migrants. Produced by Daniel BARNEY, Selina SYKES and Van MEGUERDITCHIAN
0 min
May 17, 2018 With friends like Trump... What's Europe's answer to 'America first'?
It's Donald versus Donald. The president of the European Council let loose on trade tariffs and the Iran nuclear deal ahead of an EU leaders' dinner in the Bulgarian capital on Wednesday. A fighting speech, but how does it help those trying to salvage the Iran deal? Already French giant Total has warned its new mega gas project with the Iranians is in jeopardy. How can the EU respond when the US owns the currency used to trade oil? What will Europe do? Produced by Charles WENTE, Alessandro XENOS, Van MEGUERDITCHIAN.
0 min
May 16, 2018 Maduro's Venezuela: Can Chavez successor ignore international pressure?
Venezuela is a democratic country with no runaway inflation, no collapsing health services, no population flight. That's what incumbent Nicolas Maduro told FRANCE 24's Marc Perelman in a free-ranging interview ahead of next Sunday's presidential poll where the main rivals are either boycotting or behind bars. Maduro insists his is a "democratic country", admits Venezuela does have economic problems, but blames them on outside forces. So how should the international community respond? Produced by Charles WENTE, Alessandro XENOS, Van MEGUERDITCHIAN.
0 min
May 15, 2018 To peace or catastrophe? Tensions rise in Gaza after US embassy moves to Jerusalem
A terrible massacre or a state defending itself? The killing of at least 60 civilian protestors on the Gaza-Israel border has sparked outrage worldwide - except for in Israel and the United States. The bad feeling was, of course, further stoked by the inauguration of the US embassy on Monday, moved to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. Where does this latest deadly event leave the possibility of relaunching a peace process? Produced by Daniel BARNEY, Tatiana REITER, and Van MEGUERDITCHIAN.
0 min
May 14, 2018 US embassy in Jerusalem: New era for the Middle East?
The United States officially recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel with the inauguration of the US embassy in the holy city on Monday, an event that coincided with Israel's 70th anniversary. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital will help bring peace to the Middle East. But on the Palestinian border, more than 50 people were killed by Israeli army fire. Is this a turning point for the Middle East? Produced by Daniel BARNEY, Tatiana REITER and Van MEGUERDITCHIAN.
0 min
May 10, 2018 Israel-Iran escalation: Could Syria strikes lead to all-out war?
Could all-out war come sooner rather than later between Israel and Iran? And will that war happen in Syria? Wednesday night saw the Golan Heights' heaviest fighting since 1974. This came after air strikes on targets south of Damascus. In both cases, the direct confrontation took place between Israel and the Iranian forces which are in Syria to prop up the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Will it all escalate? Is a direct confrontation with Iran really what Donald Trump wants? Produced by Andrew HILLIAR, Alessandro XENOS, Van MEGUERDITCHIAN.
0 min
May 09, 2018 Dead deal? Iran and Europe scramble to keep nuclear accord alive
Does Donald Trump have both Iran and Europe over a barrel? As the US walks away from the 2015 nuclear deal, will Iran build up its militarization? Already, hardliners there are cheering. The US is reimposing sanctions on anyone dealing with Iran with US dollars. How can Europe's signatories stay in? How should they respond? Will Trump's move on Iran stoke brewing trade battles and alter transatlantic relations? Is it a personal defeat for Emmanuel Macron, who tried to convince Trump to stay in? Produced by Daniel BARNEY, Tommaso MAZZANTI and Van MEGUERDITCHIAN.
0 min
May 08, 2018 Lebanon's winds of change: Hezbollah and allies gain, Hariri's support slides
Voters cast ballots on Sunday in Lebanon's first parliamentary elections since 2009, with early results showing Lebanese PM Saad Hariri's party losing a third of its seats while Hezbollah made gains. Watch our special edition of the FRANCE 24 Debate from Beirut. Produced by Michele BARBERO, Tommaso MAZZANTI and Van MEGUERDITCHIAN.
0 min
May 08, 2018 Make or break: Trump to announce Iran deal decision
We'll know at the top of the hour whether Donald Trump walks away from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. He's certainly in sync with a new national security advisor and secretary of state - both hawkish and squarely on the side of Israel and Saudi Arabia. We'll look at Trump's options: the chances that decertifying an agreement that enforces strict inspection of Tehran's nuclear sites will escalate tension in the region... and also at Europe's options. Produced by Yi SONG, Tommaso MAZZANTI and Laure FOURQUET.
0 min
May 03, 2018 ETA disbands: Can Spain heal after decades of bloodshed?
They hadn't fired a gun since 2011. Now the Basque separatists ETA have officially dissolved. But will there genuinely be closure? With many militants still behind bars and more than 800 people killed by ETA, the Spanish prime minister claims it was police, not peace mediators, who ended decades of conflict. It may be the end of one of Western Europe's last armed movements, but you only need to look east to Catalonia to find separatism and regional revolt against the nation state on the rise. Produced by Michele BARBERO, Tommaso MAZZANTI and Van MEGUERDITCHIAN.
0 min

About The Debate

From the publisher's feed

A live debate on the topic of the day, with four guests. From Monday to Thursday at 7:10pm Paris time.

Share The Debate

Sign up to save your podcasts

The Debate

The Debate episodes

About The Debate

More shows like The Debate

Global News Podcast

The Gray Area with Sean Illing

Fareed Zakaria GPS

Intelligence Squared

Newshour

Amanpour

The Documentary Podcast

The Interview

arts24

People & Profit

Access Asia

Talking Europe

The 51%

Fashion

Inside Europe

Tech 24

Down to Earth

Business

Inside the Americas

Europe Rendezvous

The World This Week

GZERO World with Ian Bremmer

Reporters

Focus

Banlieue Project

The Ezra Klein Show

The Observers

Press Review

Ones and Tooze

The Observers Direct

The Foreign Affairs Interview

The Global Story