The Debate

By FRANCE 24 English

The Debate episodes

December 19, 2017 Today Austria... The normalisation of Europe's far-right
How did a 31-year-old get elected chancellor of Austria? And does Sebastian Kurz's meteoric rise signal a generational shift to unbridled identity politics? Kurz, a conservative, has been sworn in as part of a government that includes the return of the far-right to government - with the Freedom Party's leader his deputy and minister of civil service. The FPÖ also obtained the interior, foreign and defence ministries. Produced by Daniel BARNEY, James VASINA and Van MEGUERDITCHIAN.
45 min
December 18, 2017 The fight for the ANC: South Africa's future in the balance?
South Africa's African National Congress has a new party leader. 65-year-old Cyril Ramaphosa edged 68-year-old Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, two mainstays of the party of Mandela. It's a party that for the first time since the end of Apartheid could actually lose power in the 2019 general election if it plays its cards wrong. We'll ask why... and ask if Ramaphosa can appeal to the Born Free generation. Produced by Daniel BARNEY, Selina SYKES and Van MEGUERDITCHIAN.
42 min
December 14, 2017 May overruled: Brexit momentum thwarted by Tory rebellion
Just when it seemed the tide had finally turned in Theresa May's favour, she suffered an embarrassing defeat in the House of Commons, with parliament now having greater say on a final Brexit deal. Will that infighting back home derail Brexit negotiations? Are the differences within the Tories irreconcilable? Could Britain be headed for a political Big Bang, like the one witnessed in France this year, with a complete redrawing of the political map? Produced by Yi SONG, François WIBAUX and Van MEGUERDITCHIAN.
43 min
December 13, 2017 How to patrol the Sahara? The challenges facing G5 Sahel joint force
Timbuktu may be 4,000 kilometers from Europe's shores - yet how to keep the Sahel safe is a question that needs answers on both sides of the Mediterranean. Nearly five years after French-led forces chased radicals out of northern Mali, why is it still so hard to train and equip local soldiers? And what's the vision for developing the Sahel? As France, Germany and the G5 Sahel meet in Paris, the battle of public opinion cannot be won with only a military plan. Produced by Yi SONG, François WIBAUX and Van MEGUERDITCHIAN.
46 min
December 12, 2017 One Planet Summit: Who's going to pay for the switch to renewable energy?
It's all fine and good to denounce fossil fuels and call for the switch to renewable energy. But who's going to pay for it? Two years after the Paris Agreement, world leaders are back in the French capital for the One Planet Summit to finance that switch to renewables. So is the best approach carrot or stick? And can it all work without the United States, the world's second-biggest carbon producer? Produced by Charles WENTE, François WIBAUX and Van MEGUERDITCHIAN.
46 min
December 11, 2017 Game changer? Middle East diplomacy after Trump's Jerusalem move
Since Donald Trump decided to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital last week, the entire Middle East appears on the verge of bursting into flames. Meanwhile, against the backdrop of the ongoing crisis in Jerusalem, Russia's leader Vladimir Putin has kicked off an historic visit to Turkey and Egypt. Could Russia take a leading role in peace negotiations in the Middle East, as the US role recedes in the region? Produced by Michele BARBERO, François WIBAUX and Van MEGUERDITCHIAN.
46 min
December 07, 2017 Peacemaker? Erdogan's historic visit to Greece
Even when Recep Tayyip Erdogan is supposed to be burying the hatchet, the Turkish president still somehow manages to take on all comers. He kicked off an historic two-day visit to Greece by chastising his hosts over border lines drawn up a century ago and the slights suffered by ethnic Turks in border islands. We talk to our guests about the stakes of this visit for Turkey, Greece and Cyprus, which still awaits a breakthrough from its two patrons to sign a lasting peace deal and end partition. Produced by Yan PUSZTAI, Alessandro XENOS, Laure FOURQUET.
48 min
December 06, 2017 US President Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital
US President Donald Trump has announced that his country is recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and is moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to the disputed city. What is the logic of this decision? Is he dangling the sword of Damocles to kick-start negotiations or is he simply killing off the Middle East peace process for good? The Palestinians have responded by calling for three days of protests. How deep does the indignation really run? Produced by Michele BARBERO, Alessandro XENOS, Van MEGUERDITCHIAN.
40 min
December 05, 2017 Border bother: Theresa May scrambles to salvage Brexit breakthrough
On deadline day in Brussels, Theresa May was hoping for a breakthrough to finally take Brexit negotiations to the next level. But suddenly, the Northern Ireland’s first minister objected to a special status post-Brexit for the EU's only land border with the United Kingdom. Arlene Foster's unionist DUP party only has 10 seats at Westminster, but those 10 seats are what's propping up Theresa May's government. Will she bend or bring it down? What's Ireland's post-Brexit future? Produced by Michele BARBERO, Alessandro XENOS, VAN MEGUERDITCHIAN.
46 min
December 04, 2017 Turning point for Yemen? Ex-president Saleh killed as alliance with Houthis crumbles
There seems to have been a turning point in the war in Yemen after Houthi rebels killed former president Ali Abdullah Saleh as he fled the city following a breakdown of their alliance against the Saudi-backed government. What’s next for Yemen? According to the United Nations, the country is on the brink of starvation and its citizens feel like pawns in a regional power struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran. What should the international community do? Produced by Michele Barbero, Ivana Scatola and Francois Picard.
46 min

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

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