The Debate

By FRANCE 24 English

The Debate episodes

October 31, 2017 The security of France: Has the state of emergency become permanent?
New anti-terror laws here in France enter into force on November 1st. They give the police a specific series of powers to combat the terror threat. It will be easier to carry out searches of suspicious premises and search through personal effects, border checks will become enshrined in practice, while house arrests will be far simpler to designate and enforce. Much of the new laws make elements of the state of emergency permanent. So has the French government gone too far? Produced by Charles WENTE, Alessandro XENOS, Christopher DAVIS.
42 min
October 30, 2017 Trump and Russia: What is the Manafort connection?
Donald Trump's former campaign manager has been charged with conspiring to defraud the United States. A total of 12 charges have been filed against Paul Manafort, who resigned as Trump's campaign manager in August 2016 amid claims he was lobbying for pro-Russian forces in Ukraine. The allegations against Manafort include conspiracy to launder money and violating federal lobbying and banking laws. So what does all this mean for Trump? Produced by Daniel BARNEY, Alessandro XENOS, Christopher DAVIS.
44 min
October 26, 2017 Direct rule or independence? Catalonia crisis comes to a head
It was another day of suspense in Catalonia, with the distinct feeling that time is running out on Spain's worst political crisis in four decades. Regional president Carles Puigdemont twice delayed what was widely thought would be the announcement of snap elections. It's now all about Madrid's next move. Produced by Michele BARBERO, Selina SYKES and Christopher DAVIS.
46 min
October 25, 2017 Kenya on edge: Was the presidential re-run worth it?
Was Africa's first-ever annulment of a presidential election worth it? Ten weeks later, the opposition is boycotting this time and Kenya's Supreme Court - the same that cancelled the August 8 vote - failed to muster the needed quorum to hear an appeal on postponement on the eve of the re-run, this while another court condemned further improprieties at the IEBC. Produced by Daniel BARNEY, Selina SYKES and Chris DAVIS.
45 min
October 24, 2017 Russia's fresh face: Ksenia Sobchak's surprise presidential run
Russian socialite-turned-journalist-and-activist Ksenia Sobchak has staged her first press conference since last week's surprise announcement that the former "It Girl" with 5.3 million Instagram followers is bidding to unseat her late father's former protégé at Saint Petersburg city hall - that’s Vladimir Putin. Is she a serious challenger to Russia's incumbent president next spring? Or a convenient foil in a race where - officially for now - the only credible challenger is barred from running? Produced by Daniel BARNEY, Selina SYKES and Chris DAVIS.
45 min
October 23, 2017 City power: The growing clout of big urban areas
Some 40 mayors from around the world are here in Paris for a City Lab conference - a way to network, share ideas and flex the collective muscle of municipal decision-makers. Many on this continent wonder: are identity politics becoming more local? There's a growing rift within those urban areas. As hip and cool city centres become magnets of attraction for those who embrace the new world order, they're also becoming magnets of resentment for all those who live far away from the bright lights. Produced by Daniel BARNEY, Selina SYKES and Christopher DAVIS.
44 min
October 19, 2017 Moment of truth: Spain sets in motion direct rule over Catalonia
Since 10 am local time, Spain has entered unchartered waters. Madrid's deadline for Catalonia's leader to renounce independence has come and gone. So what will Madrid do now? Call in the army? Arrest regional president Carles Puigdemont? The escalation around the staging of that banned October 1st independence referendum is entering a new phase. Produced by Charles WENTE, Alessandro XENOS, Christopher DAVIS.
48 min
October 18, 2017 One-man rule? China's Xi Jinping consolidates grip on power
Xi Jinping has been showing the rank and file who's the boss at the opening of the 19th congress of the Chinese Communist Party, one that's set to further consolidate his grip on power. Xi is already China's most powerful leader in decades, but could he use the world's biggest political party and its 89 million members to cement that grip and stay in power beyond the customary two terms? And to what end? Produced by Charles WENTE, Alessandro XENOS, Christopher DAVIS.
46 min
October 17, 2017 France's Weinsteins: Watershed moment in fight against sexual abuse?
In France, reaction has been particularly sharp to the Harvey Weinstein scandal. On the one hand, there are the allegations of harassment, assault and rape against the movie producer. And then there's the fact that all of Hollywood and Cannes knew about it - for decades. And that's probably why the story's gone beyond moguls and movie stars, with French journalist Sandra Muller launching the hashtag "balance ton porc" ("make your pig squeal" or "rat out your pig"). Is this a watershed moment? Produced by Michele BARBERO, Alessandro XENOS, Christopher DAVIS.
47 min
October 16, 2017 Europe’s newest face: Kurz’s election win indicates rightward shift for Austria
French President Emmanuel Macron no longer holds the bragging rights to the title "Europe's fresh face". Sebastian Kurz, the 31-year-old leader of Austria's Christian Democrats and the winner of Sunday's snap election now holds that distinction. So what can we expect from this new leader whose ideas were supported by one quarter of the vote? The issues of immigration dominated his campaign and he openly embraced the prospect of forming a coalition with the far-right. Produced by Daniel BARNEY, Alessandro XENOS, Christopher DAVIS.
41 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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