From the latest shenanigans in the French parliament to the competing ideas about the super-rich, via street art, croissants and the nation’s new favourite local mayor, Inside France looks at all the latest news and talking points from France.
Inside France is our 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.
What to do with the rich
France’s ‘Lecornu II’ government has lasted a whole week – defeating two no-confidence motions in parliament on Thursday – something of a miracle of stability by recent standards.
It did come at the cost of freezing the 2023 pension reform, however, and there are no guarantees that it will see out the end of the year – now the tough negotiations begin on trying to put together a 2026 Budget.
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Having saved prime minister Sébastien Lecornu’s skin in the confidence votes, Parti Socialiste seems to have the parliamentary whip hand, so we could see a more leftist flavour to next year’s budget.
Lecornu does, however, seem determined to resist the Zucman tax, the proposed two percent tax on the wealth of the super-rich that might (depending on whose calculations you use) go quite some way towards digging France out of its financial hole.
READ ALSO: Explained: France’s proposed ‘Zucman tax’ on the super-rich
It remains popular with the wider French public, and even the UK’s Financial Times newspaper – traditional reading matter of the rich – ran a column this week supporting Zucman’s ideas.
Meanwhile, the graffiti artists of Paris’ 19th arrondissement have some more direct suggestions for what to do with the super-rich.
Street art showing a guillotine and the words ‘the worst scum are the ones wearing suits’. Photo: The Local
If you’re a fan of street art, you might like to add this to your to-visit list – the French village that hosts the world’s only street art theme park.
New faces
In an attempt to avoid the more obvious political schemers, Lecornu has decreed that he will not have in his government anyone who has ambitions for the 2027 presidential race.
READ ALSO: Who’s who in France’s (latest) new government
This means that the entirely horrid Bruno Retailleau departs the cabinet – although he did find time on his way out to publish one final decree making immigration processes more difficult for foreigners in France.
Instead there are a few technocrat appointments, such as Paris police chief Laurent Nunez as Interior Minister, and some what we might call political outsiders – including local mayor Michel Fournier, who found out on the TV news that he had been appointed the Minister for Rural Affairs.
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He then responded in the most French manner possible – “Pfft, bah voilà”, adding to BFM TV: “My wife was very interested, because she was watching a film on the other TV.”
Michel Fournier a appris par la TV qu’il était ministre. “Ma femme était très intéressée, car elle regardait un film sur une autre télé.” Ça donne une idée du sérieux qui étaye tout ça. www.bfmtv.com/politique/go…
— Jean-Marc Lafon (@jmlafon.bsky.social) 16 October 2025 at 07:14
Talking France
We discuss the latest in the Talking France podcast, plus what the freeze of the pension reform means for the country and for Emmanuel Macron – as well as Paris flood plans, the best camembert and croissants in France and that street art theme park. Listen here or on the link below.
Tales of the city
If you’re looking for a Paris exhibition recommendation, I really enjoyed the Gens de Paris expo at the Musée Carnavalet. It uses census data from 1926, 1931 and 1936 to give an incredibly detailed look at the lives of Parisians of the period – from population data to photographs to films and clothing. It’s history nerd heaven!
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Really recommend the truly fascinating Gens de Paris 1926-1936 expo at Musée Carnavalet. A treasure trove of fascinating detail on the lives of Parisians, based on census data
— Emma Pearson (@emmapearson.bsky.social) 11 October 2025 at 13:56
Inside France is our 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.