Opinion and Analysis
Read the latest opinion and analysis from France.
OPINION: French student protests are now an ideological battle over university access
The rebellious lycée students have won - writes John Lichfield - the government has found a billion euros for schools down the back of the education minister’s sofa.
OPINION: France's far-left rioters will usher in a far-right government
An uneasy calm has returned to the shattered streets of French cities since the weekend - writes John Lichfield - but the explosion of violence seen on Saturday is not over.
OPINION: France is hurtling towards a precipice of debt
Attention in France is largely focused on student and other protests - but John Lichfield argues that the Budget debates beginning in parliament represent a much clearer and more present danger for the country.
INTERVIEW: We need to see the bigger picture, Le Pen is going after the rule of law
Many of France's far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen's policies are contrary to French law and the constitution, so does that mean they will never happen? We spoke to legal scholar and specialist in human rights and civil liberties Dr Rim-Sarah Alouane to find out more.
OPINION: French high school student protests are a sign of a country in crisis
How did a protest at a single French high school over a lack of teaching staff escalate so fast into nationwide, sometimes violent, protests? John Lichfield argues that the lycée protests are just a symptom of a country in deep trouble.
OPINION: Relax, mum, France isn't in flames it's just a bin on fire
If you're following via foreign media you'd be forgiven for thinking France is (once again) going up in smoke, but The Local's Emma Pearson says that the largely peaceful French student protests are to be admired rather than feared.
OPINION: Macron must tackle French fuel prices or risk populist oil fire in 2027
As fuel prices in France rise well above the levels that sparked the Gilet Jaunes movements, John Lichfield believes it's unlikely the yellow vests will return in force, but it all boosts the chances of a populist victory in next year's presidential election. Can the French government do anything?
OPINION: France is in deep trouble over its debt
As the French government prepares its latest budget, another political crisis seems inevitable - but John Lichfield argues that France is now in deep trouble over its spiralling debt.
OPINION: In the French far right, the rift widens between Le Pen and Bardella
The party is still leading the polls for next year's French election, but as John Lichfield reports there are increasing tensions within the far right Rassemblement National party, particularly between Marine Le Pen and her deputy Jordan Bardella.
OPINION: Le Pen looks unbeatable, but her own arrogance and laziness may be her undoing
As the 2027 French presidential election campaign gets underway in earnest, polls show Marine Le Pen with a commanding lead - John Lichfield looks at whether a far right victory is really a foregone conclusion.
OPINION: Being corrected by the French can be hard to take - but it really is helpful
For language learners, it's a common experience to have your grammar or pronunciation corrected while speaking to a French person. It is a - mostly - well-meaning habit, but as Emma Pearson explains, it can also take some getting used to.
OPINION: Drought will plunge France into a food prices crisis
Looking out from my garden in the Norman hills, I can see a corner of a Europe-wide catastrophe unfold - writes John Lichfield. My village resembles the Oklahoma dust bowl circa 1936.
Fournitures scolaires: The dreaded French school stationery lists
Every year, parents of school-age children in France are sent a lengthy and complicated list of stationery that they must purchase before schools restart in September - Helen Massy-Beresford offers parental tips on navigating the technicalities while also saving money.
OPINION: Musk is a greater threat than Putin to France's 2027 election
Russian disinformation campaigns are already targeting some of the candidates in next year's French presidential election, but as John Lichfield writes - many in France are more worried about the influence of Elon Musk.
OPINION: As French wildfires still burn, the 'blame the Greens' deflection has begun
From conspiracy theories to attempts to blame Green politicians, the blame game for the French wildfires has begun - writes John Lichfield - and is likely to continue until next year's elections.
OPINION: France's August shutdown is a tradition that needs to be defended
Trying to get anything done in France in August can be frustrating as the country shifts into holiday modes and shops and offices close up - but Emma Pearson argues that this tradition reveals important values and should be defended - even against France's own politicians.
'Let the people judge me’: How Marine Le Pen and Nigel Farage learned a potent populist tactic from Donald Trump
As Marine Le Pen prepares herself for her great election gamble, French academic Emile Chabal explores the similarities with populists Nigel Farage and Donald Trump - and whether these tactics will work in France.
OPINION: French politicians are failing their trial by wildfire
Will this summer's repeated fatal heatwaves and enormous wildfires cause French politicians to get serious about tackling climate change? Don't bet on it, says John Lichfield.
OPINION: France should learn from the success of its wonderful multi-racial football team
Talented French footballers - many drawn from the multi-racial suburbs - have become a net export for the country. France itself could learn a great deal from the success of its grassroots sports operation, writes John Lichfield.
OPINION: Le Pen has not 'defeated the system', but she may yet win French presidency
Marine Le Pen may have been convicted for a second time for organising a conspiracy to steal millions of euros from the EU, but the scandal has likely boosted the far right's chances of victory in next year's French presidential election, writes John Lichfield.
OPINION: France's air conditioning debate threatens to drown out climate action
Marine Le Pen does not believe in global warming - writes John Lichfield. She believes in air-conditioning.
OPINION: Crowded field in France's 2027 election won't necessarily hand victory to the far-right
The field for France's presidential election in 2027 currently resembles the starting line-up at the Paris or London marathon, writes John Lichfield.
OPINION: The French are right to shun air conditioning - even during heatwaves
France's heatwaves always spark debates on air conditioning - which much of the country remains deeply resistant to. Some argue that warming temperatures make widespread AC inevitable, but The Local's editor Emma Pearson explains why she thinks the French are right to resist.