Host Ben McPartland is joined this week by The Local's Emma Pearson, Genevieve Mansfield, and John Lichfield to discuss all the latest news in France.
We start off with the latest on France's political crisis, and whether France might really move into a more consensual, less confrontational political model.
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Even though France is not facing a US-style shutdown, we discuss the different groups who will benefit - and lose out - from emergency legislation that would roll over the 2024 budget into the upcoming year.
Our team also paints a picture of Paris' unique skyline, with its grey-blue zinc rooftops, which were recently recognised in the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage. But are the historic zinc roofs really worth celebrating?
Plus, have you ever felt like you're one person when speaking one language and someone else entirely when speaking another? The Talking France team looks at the latest research on how your personality might change depending on the language you are speaking.
And finally - a new and somewhat contentious ranking came out this week comparing the performance of train operators across Europe. We chat about how French trains stack up against other rail companies across the continent.
Talking France is a free podcast made possible by the generous support of paying members of The Local - you can find more about becoming a subscriber here.
Extra reading
- OPINION: French politicians are finally talking about compromise and cooperation
- Taxes, pensions and bills - What France's budget crisis means for your wallet
- UNESCO gives heritage status to Paris' zinc roofs - but is that actually a good thing?
- OPINION: Your personality changes when you speak another language, but that’s not always a bad thing
- COMPARED: The best and worst train operators in Europe
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