From political drinks parties to ferocious mountain dogs, via the latest from the presidential election campaign and some musing on the ‘poor Europeans’, here’s a look at what we have been talking about in France this week.
Inside France is editor Emma Pearson’s weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in France that you might not have heard about. It’s published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox, by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article.
Divisions over drinks
“The French will not forgive us any form of unnecessary division”.
These are apparently the words that prime minister Sébastien Lecornu used to welcome his political colleagues to an apéro that he hosted this week.
Leaving aside for a moment what an absolutely terrible social event that clearly was, the ship has very much sailed on ‘division’, unnecessary or otherwise.
In fact, we seem to have reached the point already where no proposed legislation should be taken seriously, due to the high likelihood that it is political posturing or manoeuvring as part of someone’s presidential campaign for 2027.
We’re still a year away from the election, but several informal deadlines have been set already as the political groups attempt to whittle down the enormous number of potential candidates.
The left are still planning a ‘primary of the united left’ this autumn, although the number of people actually taking part is getting smaller by the day, while autumn is also tagged as the likely time for a few of the weaker candidates on all sides to be leaned on to drop out.
Meanwhile, February 2027 is being seen as a sort of informal deadline for the groups to pick a candidate, with the centrist dual between Edouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal predicted to be settled by the spring.
The one group not involved in these types of psychodrama is the Far Right, and that is because the courts have helpfully imposed their timetable – in July Marine Le Pen will find out whether her ban on standing for office following her conviction for embezzlement will stand or not. And therefore whether she or Jordan Bardella will be the Rassemblement National candidate.
But for the rest of the parties, it’s full steam ahead on plotting, scheming, spatting and divisions. Governing the country? Likely to come a very distant second.
Still, it’s not like we’re not used to the drama – I was tidying The Local’s office this week and found the Post-It notes containing out inter-office sweepstakes on how long the last three prime ministers (Lecornu, François Bayrou and Michel Barnier) would last in the job.
Not saying the last 2 years of 🇫🇷 politics have been crazy, but tidying the office and found our sweepstakes for how long the 3 latest prime ministers would last . . .
— Emma Pearson (@emmapearson.bsky.social) May 6, 2026 at 8:19 AM
Talking France
We discuss the latest from the presidential race on the new episode of Talking France, as well as new driving laws, where the French go to get food and most hated insects on the planet – mosquitoes. Listen here.
Relative values
This article from America’s Wall Street Journal has been raising a few laughs this week, with its bold title What happens when Europeans find out how poor they are?
The below reaction, from the British prime minister’s cat Larry (or perhaps just a social media account pretending to be him? Who can say) is fairly typical of the European response.
A good question for all Europeans to ponder at some stage during five weeks of paid holiday
— Larry the Cat (@number10cat.bsky.social) May 6, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Away from the more serious questions of whether GDP is a good way to measure the ‘wealth’ of residents of a country, there’s also the question of values – what do we value more? Money, or intangible things such as leisure opportunities, time with friends and family or a social security safety net?
France prides itself on l’art de vivre – the art of living – and many of the things that would come under this heading are either free (leisure time with friends and family, walking in the countryside) or inexpensive (visiting a museum, enjoying a good meal).
This feels especially pertinent as we head into the second of France’s three (or four for some people) public holidays in the month of May alone, in addition to the five weeks of annual leave that all French employees enjoy.
READ ALSO: The perks and benefits that employees in France enjoy✎
It’s also worth pointing out that even with all this time wasted in enjoying life, France has the world’s seventh largest GDP. Could it move up to sixth or even fifth place with less time at the beach and less healthcare? Maybe. But would that make its people happier? French shrug . . .
You can find a round-up of the funniest European reactions here.
Animal video of the week
And let’s finish up with some wholesome animal content . . .
Not now Shiela 🥰 I’m on Duty
— ContempraInn 🌹 (@contemprainn.bsky.social) April 29, 2026 at 6:53 PM
The dog is a Patou, widely used by farmers in the Pyrenees and the Alps to guard their flocks against wolves. They look cute and cuddly, but can be very fierce (as you would have to be to take on a wolf), so hikers are advised to steer clear, and keep dogs on leads around these powerful animals.
READ ALSO: Patou: What hikers need to know about France’s mountain dogs✎
Inside France is editor Emma Pearson’s weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in France that you might not have heard about. It’s published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox, by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article.
