On the Agenda: Everything that's happening in France this week
The Local France - [email protected]
Published: 4 Feb, 2019 CET.
Updated: Mon 4 Feb 2019 11:00 CET
Here's a look at the big news and cultural events that will take place in France this week.
Monday February 4th
French President Emmanuel Macron is set to visit the Essonne department in the greater Paris region of Ile-de-France as part of his national consultation (Grand Débat) tour.
The French leader will meet elected representatives from the region and local associations
The debate was launched in January in the hope of quelling months of anti-government unrest on the streets.
Photo: AFP
The defamation case brought by former MP Denis Baupin against media organisations Médiapart and France Inter is set to begin on Monday.
Baupin was accused of sexual harassment back in 2016 when he was deputy parliamentary speaker and launched legal action against his accusers.
Tuesday February 5th
The hard left CGT union is calling for a national day of strikes and demonstrations on Tuesday in response to the national consultation launched by the government and to the ongoing "national crisis".
Tuesday marks the beginning of Chinese New Year and the large Chinese community in Paris will be celebrating along with other Parisians and tourists.
People will gather on the streets of the French capital to ring in the New Year and watch colourful dragons, lions, and other creatures parade through town. Events will take place in the Marais and Belleville neighbourhoods, as well as in Chinatown. More details on the events are available here.
Photo: AFP
Wednesday February 6th
US biotech giant Monsanto is set to appeal a court ruling that found the group legally responsible for the poisoning of a French farmer with one of its herbicides back in 2012.
In the first ruling of its kind against Monsanto anywhere in the world, the French court found the company guilty of poisoning cereal farmer Paul Francois who said he suffered neurological damage after inhaling fumes while using the now banned weedkiller Lasso.
Former French President Francois Hollande will give a speech on Wednesday on social democracy in Europe at Sciences Po university in Paris.
Petrol heads from around the world will be heading to Retromobile, an event dedicated to the world's most impressive vintage cars.
The event will be hosted at the ParisEXPO center at Porte De Versailles where car fanatics can discover 550 exhibitors ranging from carmakers, auction houses, car art galleries and bodywork restorers as well as 500 vintage cars on show.
Photo: AFP
Thursday February 7th
France's national audit office will drop off its annual report at the Senate on Thursday.
A second day of national strikes is being called for in the coming week, this time by the hardline leftist trade union Force Ouvrier in response to planned reforms to public services.
And on the same day, Macron will be in the Saône-et-Loire department specifically to meet the younger members of the community.
"I have the impression that youth is a blind spot in the big debate ... It would be terrible if a big national debate did not take into account what people between the ages of 16 and 30 say," said Prime Minister Edouard Philippe.
The second Nuit de la Solidarité (Night of Solidarity) or homelessness census is set to be held by the City of Paris on Thursday.
In 2018, the project saw some 1,700 Parisian volunteers and 300 officials carry out a census of the city's homeless population overnight on February 15th, going street by street counting the number of people huddled in sleeping bags in doorways or camped out in tents.
It is hoped that the project will help the city better distribute its services.
Photo: AFP
Friday February 8th
The trial of two people accused of violence against the police is set to begin on Friday. The pair became known because Alexandre Benalla, a close advisor to the President of the Republic, attacked them during a demonstration in Place de la Contrescarpe.
The 34th edition of the Victoires de la Musique music awards will also take place in Paris on Friday.
Saturday February 9th
The Gilets Jaunes could be set to hold Act 13 of their Saturday protests however so far no details have been confirmed for the event. Watch this space.
Sunday February 10th
France and England are set to compete in the 6 nations rugby tournament on Sunday.
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Monday February 4th
French President Emmanuel Macron is set to visit the Essonne department in the greater Paris region of Ile-de-France as part of his national consultation (Grand Débat) tour.
The French leader will meet elected representatives from the region and local associations
The debate was launched in January in the hope of quelling months of anti-government unrest on the streets.
Photo: AFP
The defamation case brought by former MP Denis Baupin against media organisations Médiapart and France Inter is set to begin on Monday.
Baupin was accused of sexual harassment back in 2016 when he was deputy parliamentary speaker and launched legal action against his accusers.
Tuesday February 5th
The hard left CGT union is calling for a national day of strikes and demonstrations on Tuesday in response to the national consultation launched by the government and to the ongoing "national crisis".
Tuesday marks the beginning of Chinese New Year and the large Chinese community in Paris will be celebrating along with other Parisians and tourists.
People will gather on the streets of the French capital to ring in the New Year and watch colourful dragons, lions, and other creatures parade through town. Events will take place in the Marais and Belleville neighbourhoods, as well as in Chinatown. More details on the events are available here.
Photo: AFP
Wednesday February 6th
US biotech giant Monsanto is set to appeal a court ruling that found the group legally responsible for the poisoning of a French farmer with one of its herbicides back in 2012.
In the first ruling of its kind against Monsanto anywhere in the world, the French court found the company guilty of poisoning cereal farmer Paul Francois who said he suffered neurological damage after inhaling fumes while using the now banned weedkiller Lasso.
Former French President Francois Hollande will give a speech on Wednesday on social democracy in Europe at Sciences Po university in Paris.
Petrol heads from around the world will be heading to Retromobile, an event dedicated to the world's most impressive vintage cars.
The event will be hosted at the ParisEXPO center at Porte De Versailles where car fanatics can discover 550 exhibitors ranging from carmakers, auction houses, car art galleries and bodywork restorers as well as 500 vintage cars on show.
Photo: AFP
Thursday February 7th
France's national audit office will drop off its annual report at the Senate on Thursday.
A second day of national strikes is being called for in the coming week, this time by the hardline leftist trade union Force Ouvrier in response to planned reforms to public services.
And on the same day, Macron will be in the Saône-et-Loire department specifically to meet the younger members of the community.
"I have the impression that youth is a blind spot in the big debate ... It would be terrible if a big national debate did not take into account what people between the ages of 16 and 30 say," said Prime Minister Edouard Philippe.
The second Nuit de la Solidarité (Night of Solidarity) or homelessness census is set to be held by the City of Paris on Thursday.
In 2018, the project saw some 1,700 Parisian volunteers and 300 officials carry out a census of the city's homeless population overnight on February 15th, going street by street counting the number of people huddled in sleeping bags in doorways or camped out in tents.
It is hoped that the project will help the city better distribute its services.
Photo: AFP
Friday February 8th
The trial of two people accused of violence against the police is set to begin on Friday. The pair became known because Alexandre Benalla, a close advisor to the President of the Republic, attacked them during a demonstration in Place de la Contrescarpe.
The 34th edition of the Victoires de la Musique music awards will also take place in Paris on Friday.
Saturday February 9th
The Gilets Jaunes could be set to hold Act 13 of their Saturday protests however so far no details have been confirmed for the event. Watch this space.
Sunday February 10th
France and England are set to compete in the 6 nations rugby tournament on Sunday.
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