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INSIDE FRANCE

Inside France: Language tests, wine prices and Europe’s newest country

From a racist outburst in the French parliament to language tests for foreigners, via the cheapest wine in France and Europe's 'new' country, our weekly newsletter Inside France looks at what we have been talking about in France this week.

Published: 5 November 2022 08:57 CET
Inside France: Language tests, wine prices and Europe's newest country
Photo by Martin BUREAU / AFP

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.

Immigration has come back onto the political scene in France this week, after a relatively long break – which even mostly included the elections earlier in the year, when all polling showed that voters were more concerned about the cost-of-living and other day-to-day issues.

But the appalling murder of a 12-year-old girl in Paris in which the main suspect is a woman who was living in France illegally has seen it hit the headlines again, with far-right activists parading with the girl’s picture (until her devastated parents begged them to stop) and France’s hardline interior minister announcing a new immigration bill.

READ ALSO French exam for foreigners – what we know so far

The upshot of all this is that foreigners in France are again facing the possibility of a language exam in order to get a residency card. While few people would argue with the general idea that foreigners in France should learn French, the prospect of a written test is a deeply stressful one for many – particularly the elderly and those who struggle with exams.   

Racist outburst 

Despite a political landscape that many see as moving firmly to the right, there was shock and condemnation on Thursday after a racist outburst in parliament from one of the newly-elected MPs of the far-right Rassemblement National party.

Grégoire de Fournas, of Marine Le Pen’s RN party, insisted that he yelled “Qu’ils retournent en Afrique” (they should get back to Africa) and not “qu’il retourne en Afrique” (he should get back to Africa) – and that he was referring to the migrants that black MP Carlos Bilongo was asking a parliamentary question about, and not the MP himself.

Either way, it’s embarrassing for Le Pen, whose main goal over many years has been to ‘detoxify’ her party. Although I would suggest that anyone who is shocked by this did not read Le Pen’s 2022 manifesto. 

Good news on the economy

Inflation in France is the lowest in the EU, new data reveals, but that doesn’t mean that French residents haven’t also had to deal with rising prices, especially for food and petrol. In fact, as The Economist journalist Sophie Pedder spotted, wine is now cheaper at the pump than petrol.

This type of arrangement is common in southern France at vineyards and markets – you take along your own container and fill it with wine from the ‘pump’ for the bargain price of between €1.50 – €2 a litre.

It’s fair to say that the wine you get isn’t exactly a grand cru, but in most cases it’s perfectly drinkable.

The average price of petrol at the pump in France is currently €1.70. 

Piss-take of the week

And have you ever heard of the country of Listenbourg?

Before you start to worry about your lack of geographical knowledge, know that Listenbourg doesn’t actually exist.

It’s a fake country, made up by jokers on the internet, apparently in France or at least on French-speaking accounts, and adopted by a surprising number of people and companies – here’s the official account of the Paris 2024 Olympics announcing the arrival of the Listenbourg team.

And the reason for this? I’m sorry to say that it’s taking the piss out of Americans, and their perceived lack of geographical knowledge of Europe (although, in fairness, most Europeans can’t accurately place US states on a map).

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.

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INSIDE FRANCE

Inside France: Violence, QR codes and stuffed animals

From violent unrest in a French territory to the QR codes required at the Paris Olympics, via D-Day and weird taxidermy, our weekly newsletter Inside France looks at what we have been talking about in France this week.

Published: 18 May 2024 07:38 CEST
Inside France: Violence, QR codes and stuffed animals

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.

High tension

After a relaxed week with a double holiday and most of the country taking a break, it seems that the news has come roaring back this week – first a highly dramatic jailbreak that left two prison officers dead and a fugitive at large, then the worst rioting in 30 years on the French island of Nouvelle Calédonie which left five people dead, and finally a man shot dead by police while apparently trying to set fire to a synagogue in northern France. It seems that there’s barely been time to breathe. 

These three things are, of course, not connected and in the case of Nouvelle Calédonie have followed years of political and ethnic tensions on the Pacific islands.

But it’s not surprising that people feel a bit punch-drunk at this series of events. Already right-wing parties are attempting to make capital out of this ahead of the European elections – a favourite tactic of the far-right in recent years has been trying to portray France as in the grip of an uncontrolled wave of crime and violence.

While no-one would deny that France has crime and that there are problems with violence, the statistics do not bear out this image of a ‘lawless’ country’. 

QR codes

Talking of security, the big topic in Paris this week has been whether we need QR codes to get around the city during the Olympics, after the security plan for the Games was unveiled in detail.

For many people this will bring back bad memories of Covid restrictions, attestations and health passes – although once you dig into the detail of the Games QR codes you realise that they won’t actually affect all that many people.

The areas that they cover are limited and the most onerous restrictions are only in place for the week leading up to the Opening Ceremony. You can find a complete guide to whether you need a code, and how to get one if you do, HERE.

Talking France

We look at the QR code situation on this week’s Talking France podcast, as well as France’s economic reality, the quirks of the French health system and the new ‘drive like a woman’ campaign.

Plus John Lichfield talks about his involvement in projects to commemorate D-Day in his Normandy home, and why the 1944 landings still hold such a special place in French hearts. Listen here or on the link below. 

Get stuffed

But my biggest question about France remains unanswered – why is weird taxidermy furniture so popular? If you’ve spent time at a French brocante you will likely have come across stuffed animal parts made into a variety of items from coathooks and ashtrays to – as below – chairs or stools.

Answers on a postcard, please.  

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.

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