#FRANCE: Outgoing Pres. Hollande Says It's His "Last Duty" To Prevent Le Pen Victory

[world politics news]

Pres. François Hollande says it is his "last duty" to prevent Marine Le Pen from winning the election this year and leading Paris out of the EU. Le Pen, who is leading in the polls, has vowed to ditch the euro as France’s currency if elected and hold a referendum on the country’s membership of the European Union. Hollande has battled high unemployment throughout his five-year term and has suffered low poll ratings.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#FRANCE: BREAKING: Pres. Hollande Announces He Won't Seek Re-Election

[world politics news]

Facing historically low polling numbers, French Pres. François Hollande has announced in a live TV broadcast - and later on twitter - that he will not seek re-election in next spring's presidential election. Hollande defended his record as president before declaring that he will not be a candidate again. In the past year, unemployment has soared in France. Former Prime Minister François Fillon and National Front Leader Marine LePen are now seen as the two front runners in the election.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#FRANCE: Newcomers, Veteran Pols, Launch 2017 Presidential Campaigns

[world politics news]

Former Pres. Nicolas Sarkozy, 61, has announced his long-expected attempt to return to the presidency in next year's French presidential election - something no president has ever done in modern times. He hopes to draw voters away from two other leaders on the right, both of them veterans of French politics. Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Front, is riding high in the polls as discontent over Muslim migrants and terror fears have risen. Former Prime Minister and current Bordeaux Mayor Alain Juppe, 71, is also in the race. Also running is France's rebel Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron, a Rothschild banker who stepped down to run last week. Pres. Francois Hollande is deeply unpopular but has hinted he may run again.

Pictured: Pres. Francois Hollande, left, and Former Pres. Nicolas Sarkozy.

#UK: France's Pres. Insists UK Maintain Free Movement Of People With EU To Keep Free Trade Privileges

[world politics news]

Theresa May was warned by the French president, François Hollande, at their first meeting in Paris that the UK cannot expect access to the single market if it wants to put immigration controls on EU citizens. At a joint press conference in the Élysée Palace, Hollande made it clear that the new British prime minister was facing a choice about whether to accept free movement of people in return for free trade.

#FRANCE: Pres. Hollande Calls For "Profound Change" In The #EU After #Brexit

[world politics news]

Pres. Francois Hollande has said Europe faces "immense danger" and has called for a "profound change" in the European Union in the wake of Britain's exit from the crumbling bloc as calls for a Frexit heightened.

#FRANCE: Pres. Holland "Won't Back Down" On Labor Bill Despite No Conf. Vote, Protests

[world politics news]

Pres. Francois Hollande has ruled out withdrawing the labor market reforms which have sparked street protests for weeks and led to a vote of no-confidence in the government. France faced a week of strikes in protest at a reform the government says will make the notoriously rigid labor market more flexible but which opponents say will erode job security.