Manuel Valls and the Second Chance

Of course Francois Hollande nominated Manuel Valls to Matigon, there was no other choice for him, a man whom I consider rather bland, charisma-less and incapable of sticking to a decision. After dangling the glorious suggestion of a Martine Aubry prime ministership, Francois Hollande settled for the safest pick. A change in government was needed, and after the crushing defeat that was suffered by his PS in the municipal elections, which are always used as a confidence vote to the party in power, nominating Valls looks like a sensible choice.

China in France and the Coming Changing of The Guard

This week France received the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, to great pomp and circumstance for his first ever State visit in France. No expense was spared in welcoming the head of the second most powerful country and the fastest growing economy in the world. As usual there is always a little hypocrisy involved when the head of a western country receives a Chinese delegation, there were no mention of human rights etc. a stark contrast let's say if Hollande were to receive the President of Cameroon or any other impoverished nation, human rights would be at the forefront.

A break for Francois Hollande

After getting battered in the polls, dealing with and unruly government, a charmless Prime Minister and a very down spiraling country, the president of the French Republic received good news. The unemployment rate dropped down 0.6% in October to 10.5%, the first time since Hollande has Occupied the Elysee. This is actually even better news because, it is also the first time that Hollande and his government have kept a promise that they made, they had promised a drop in unemployment for the month of October and they delivered, for politicians it does not get better that than. This of course will help his every deflating fortunes at home and show France and the rest of Europe that Francois Hollande means business, increase his credibility and strengthen his voice in European matters (against the formidable Angela Merkel). The great news are of course are only a small part as France still has many problems, the deficit, and unemployment rate that is still high and a radicalization that is increasing at a fast rate. Hollande of course still has his challenges set up for him as he still deals with his unruly government, and it remains to be seen when Jean Marc Ayeraul will be dismissed. This is definitely a step in the right direction.

Martine Aubry, Prime Minister.

Well, it seems that the shoe has dropped for Jean Marc Ayerault, after one of the MPs of the PS called for a change of the head of government on public television, the path to his dismissal began. After a fruitless meeting between Ayeraut and the PS MPs, to try and end the current intra-party rift, shocking news were revealed.

The sad saga of Francois Hollande

The president of the French Republic is certainly a person to pity and feel for. He took over a country that was in a bad economy, a crisis exasperated by the fact that the entire European continent is doing wrong. His promised change and reform have yet to materialize.

The unlucky president

Francois Hollande, president of the French Republic has once again had a bad week, a very bad week. It all began with the arrest early last week of Roma school girl Leonarda Dibriani, she was arrested on a class trip and deported to Kosovo with her family that has been illegally residing in France since 2009.