Holly Ellyatt, CNBCMay 20, 2013 15:05

More than 8,000 French households' tax bills topped 100 percent of their income in 2012, according to a French newspaper report. Citing data from France's finance ministry, the business newspaper Les Echos reported on Friday that in addition to those taxed at over 100 percent last year, almost 12,000 households paid taxes worth more than 75 percent of their 2011 income and that a further 9,910 households were taxed at more than 85 percent of their income.

Elysee Treaty: France and Germany celebrate 50 years of friendship

Jessica PhelanJanuary 22, 2013 09:31

Despite the professions of friendship, the anniversary falls at a tense time for the allies.

France: 75 percent "millionaires' tax" declared unconstitutional

Jessica PhelanDecember 29, 2012 12:49

President François Hollande's so-called "millionaires' tax," which would have imposed a 75-percent tax rate on France's top earners, has been declared unconstitutional.

Hollande says he will fix French economy in two years

Daniel DeFraiaSeptember 10, 2012 09:28

Hollande won May's election with 51.6 percent of votes. Recently his ratings slid below 50 percent.

French to raise top tax rate to shocking 75%

Samuel Blackstone, Business Insider August 3, 2012 14:28

Francois Hollande, the newly elected socialist president of France, looks set to achieve one of his main campaign goals and will impose a 75% tax rate on people earning more than $1.23 million per year, reports the Washington Post. It's thought that the tax, which is a marked increase from the previous rate of 48%, will be implemented by next year, according to AFP.

Jessica PhelanMay 25, 2012 05:56

Chatter: Mr Hollande goes to Afghanistan

France's new president makes a surprise stop in Kabul, Spain prepares to bail out a bank... again, and flying as a fat person just got a lot more comfortable.

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Graphic. (Antler Agency/GlobalPost)

France's new president makes a surprise stop in Kabul, Spain prepares to bail out a bank... again, and flying as a fat person just got a lot more comfortable.

Jessica PhelanMay 15, 2012 06:49

Chatter: France gets a new president

François Hollande is sworn as France's new president, and hits the ground running.

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Graphic. (Antler Agency/GlobalPost)

Francois Hollande has been sworn in as the new president of France.

He was inaugurated at the Elysee in Paris this morning, becoming the first Socialist in 17 years to occupy the presidential palace. But he'll barely have time to collect the keys before heading to Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Marine Le Pen to abstain in French presidential vote

Jessica PhelanMay 1, 2012 08:37

"I will give neither trust nor a mandate to these two candidates," Le Pen told a rally in central Paris today. "On Sunday, I'll vote blank."

Michael GoldfarbMarch 21, 2012 14:07

Toulouse murders: the end game leads to more questions

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Leaders of France's Jewish and Muslim communities met with President Nicolas Sarkozy today. The shootings in Toulouse at a Jewish school on Monday by Muslim fanatic has shocked the whole country and leaders from every level of society are trying to show solidarity. (Franck Prevel/AFP/Getty Images)

The suspect is cornered. As I write this it seems only a matter of time before he either gives himself up or ends things in a suicide by cop action.

But it is clear that this event is, in the words of French political commentator Agnes Poirier, "France's 7/7." July 7th, 2005 was the day jihadi suicide bombers killed more than 50 people in London.

France: National Front's Marine Le Pen allowed to run for president after winning endorsements

Jessica PhelanMarch 13, 2012 08:32

"I will be running in the presidential election," Le Pen tweeted. "The system that wanted to stop me just lost a battle."