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INSIDE FRANCE

Inside France: Blood sausages, union divisions and ‘the French’

From emerging splits in the opposition movement to France's planned pension reform to debate about whether 'the French' is a demeaning label (plus an unfortunate moment with a blood sausage), our weekly newsletter Inside France looks at what we have been talking about in France this week.

Published: 28 January 2023 09:03 CET
Inside France: Blood sausages, union divisions and 'the French'
Photo: Alain JOCARD/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.

The French

This week we’re talking about the French – or are we? This extract from the style guide of Associated Press, suggesting that ‘the French’ is a demeaning label, has gone wildly viral in France. 

Their point regarding labels like ‘the poor ‘ or ‘the mentally ill’ is clearly a good one and one that we try to follow at The Local, but their suggestion that they are replaced with the ‘people with’ format for the French has lead to some confusion and much laughter. Even the French Embassy in the US got in on the act.

AP has since deleted their tweet and apologised for the choice of examples. One thing I’ve always wondered though – why does the English language talk about ‘a German’, ‘a Swede’ ‘a Dane’ etc but not ‘a French’? Answers on a postcard please. 

Unfortunately placed sign of the week

It might have been better if the Loire village of Genilac hadn’t put these signs right next to each other – the one on the left calls on people to give blood, while the one on the right advertises the village’s blood-sausage festival. We’re sure all those sausages are made with animal blood.

Picture flagged up by the always funny Complots Faciles (easy conspiracies) account, which takes the piss out of conspiracy theorists with their hashtag Nous Sachons (we know).

United we stand?

On a more serious note, we’re also talking about strikes, of course. The government was reportedly worried by last week’s action – specifically the high turnout for demos in small towns which usually don’t do a lot of protesting (unlike in Paris, where we’re always on the street about something).

The next big strike will be on January 31st, but more and more of the smaller unions are declaring their own unlimited or renewable strikes into February.

Pension strikes: What to expect on January 31st

While the pension reform will undoubtedly be a major challenge for the government, it could also be difficult for the union leadership as they battle to keep their members united.

You can listen to us talking about strikes – as well as restaurant recommendations, sexism, film stars, basketball and France’s enduring love affair with comic books – in this week’s Talking France.

Map of the week

France’s longest border is with Brazil? Yep, because of French Guiana. If you come across a bizarre geographical fact about France, it’s usually to do with the overseas territories – for example, did you know that France has 12 different time zones?

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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