François Hollande | GlobalPost

French president signs gay marriage bill into law

Agence France-PresseMay 18, 2013 06:45

France on Saturday became the 14th country to legalise same-sex marriage after President Francois Hollande signed the measure into law following months of bitter political debate. Hollande acted a day after the Constitutional Council threw out a legal challenge by the right-wing opposition, which had been the last obstacle to passing the bill into law. The legislation also legalises gay adoption. But while gay rights groups hailed the move, opponents of the measures have vowed to fight on.

France to sign gay marriage bill into law on Saturday

Agence France-PresseMay 17, 2013 22:30

French President Francois Hollande was set to sign a gay marriage and adoption bill into law Saturday after it was cleared by the Constitutional Council which turned down a challenge by the right-wing opposition. Hollande, who had made "marriage for all" a key election pledge, made the announcement saying it was "now time to respect the law and the Republic" after the top French institution cleared the bill. The first gay wedding can be held 10 days after Hollande signs it into law.

Hollande vows to 'go on offensive', push euro government

Agence France-PresseMay 16, 2013 14:45

Embattled President Francois Hollande vowed Thursday to "go on the offensive" by pushing for a new eurozone government and tackling France's economic woes after the country fell into recession. During a wide-ranging press conference, Hollande promised measures to combat rising unemployment and boost investment in France, as well as initiatives to reform Europe and foster growth in the 17-nation eurozone.

France's first lady arrives in Mali

Agence France-PresseMay 16, 2013 04:15

France's first lady Valerie Trierweiler arrived in Mali late Wednesday for a tour of the war-torn nation described as "part of a mission for children and women". Upon arrival at Bamako airport the partner of President Francois Hollande said her presence was "a very good symbol" as her husband and the Malian leader attended a donors conference in Brussels Wednesday. At the Brussels meeting, international donors pledged a bigger than expected 3.25 billion euros to help the former French colony recover after Islamist rebels nearly overran the troubled country.

France's Hollande anticipates 'zero growth' 2013

Agence France-PresseMay 15, 2013 12:45

French President Francois Hollande said Wednesday that he now anticipates "zero growth" for 2013, after the eurozone's second largest economy plunged into recession. "It is likely that there will be zero growth in 2013," Hollande told a press conference in Brussels, while his government in Paris has tipped 0.1 percent growth for the year. bur-rt/rl

French president to make state visit to Japan June 6-8

Kyodo News InternationalMay 6, 2013 23:15

French President Francois Hollande will visit Japan between June 6 and 8 as a state guest to enhance bilateral relations, including security and economic cooperation, the Japanese government said Tuesday. Hollande, who will become the first French president to make a state visit to Japan in 17 years, is planning to meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during the trip. The two leaders "aim to build special partnership between Japan and France," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference.

As popularity falls, Hollande preps 10-year plan to invest 20B euros in infrastructure, energy

The Canadian PressMay 6, 2013 11:00

PARIS - French President Francois Hollande is defending the record of his first year in office and promising to unveil a 10-year plan to invest 20 billion euros ($26 billion) in infrastructure, digital technology and clean energy. After a special Cabinet meeting Monday, his spokeswoman clarified that some of that money would come from projects already announced. She said the rest of the details would have to wait for the plan's announcement. Amid a stagnating economy and rising unemployment, Hollande has seen his popularity plummet since he was elected last May 6.

Under-fire Hollande meets ministers on election anniversary

Agence France-PresseMay 6, 2013 04:30

French President Francois Hollande was to meet with his government to plan the months ahead on Monday, as he marks the first anniversary of his election under a cloud of record unpopularity. Hollande, Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and the Socialist government's 37 ministers were to meet to set the administration's reform agenda for the coming months. In an interview late Sunday, Ayrault admitted the government had made mistakes in its first year.

Anti-government street protests mark Hollande's first year anniversary

Agence France-PresseMay 5, 2013 15:31

Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Paris on Sunday to mark Socialist President Francois Hollande's first year in office by accusing him of turning his back on the left. On the eve of the anniversary of his May 6 win last year over right-winger Nicolas Sarkozy, the Communist-backed Left Front gathered supporters for the march from the Bastille, the iconic square of the French Revolution.

Tens of thousands of leftists march in Paris to denounce president's policies as austerity

The Canadian PressMay 5, 2013 11:00

PARIS - Tens of thousands of supporters of leftist parties marched through central Paris on Sunday to express disappointment with President Francois Hollande's first year in power, criticizing the leader for reneging on his promises to rein in the world of finance and enact economic stimulus. Hollande, a Socialist, rose to the presidency last May, promising to spare France the austerity measures imposed elsewhere in Europe. And the French government has largely avoided the deep spending cuts, big tax hikes and the wide-ranging reforms of many of its neighbours.