Lawyer who defended French PM found dead

A French star lawyer whose clients ranged from Panama's former dictator Manuel Noriega to former prime minister Dominique de Villepin has been found dead near his private island home in Brittany.

Sarkozy charged over funding from heiress

Odile Duperry Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been charged with taking advantage of the elderly L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt to help fund his 2007 election campaign.

Sarkozy takes to Facebook to denounce charges

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has denounced charges against him in connection with a probe into illegal party funding as "unfair and unfounded".

Women rule in the battle to be mayor of Paris

Henry Samuel, Paris The battle to become mayor of Paris is shaping up as an all-female affair as two former colleagues of Nicolas Sarkozy tussle to lead the centre-right against the Socialist favourite, with a Green...

A field of females in Paris mayor contest

Henry Samuel The battle to become mayor of Paris is shaping up as an all-female affair.

Let them eat cutbacks: 'Marie-Antoinette syndrome' alive in France

Henry Samuel French President's partner Valerie Trierweiler has been accused of succumbing to the Marie-Antoinette syndrome of frivolity and luxury while a gloom-racked France toils.

Sarkozy firming as comeback candidate

Henry Samuel Nicolas Sarkozy intends to run to become president of France again in four years' time, his former foreign minister has claimed.

Sarkozy claim points to new tax uproar

Henry Samuel PARIS: France is rife with speculation - hotly denied - that the former president Nicolas Sarkozy plans to set up an £800 million ($1.2 billion) private equity fund in London.

1193 cars torched in NYE French tradition

Hundreds of empty, parked cars go up in flames in France each New Year's Eve, set afire by young revellers, a much lamented tradition that remained intact this year with 1193 vehicles burned,...

France's unwelcome annual tradition

The government has decided not to hide how many cars are being torched to "celebrate" the new year.

French President under fire over lawsuit intervention

HENRY SAMUEL The French President, Francois Hollande, has provoked outrage by writing to a court that is hearing a defamation case brought by his partner.

Hollande letter on lawsuit outrages

Henry Samuel Paris FRENCH President Francois Hollande has provoked outrage by writing to a court that is hearing a defamation case brought by his partner.

Bruni savaged on Twitter for feminism remarks

PARIS: Carla Bruni-Sarkozy has been caught in the eye of a Twitter storm after telling French Vogue her generation had no need for feminism.

Sarkozy moves to save party from implosion

Henry Samuel PARIS: Nicolas Sarkozy has stepped in to try to stop warring rivals from killing off France's main right-wing party.

French right picks leader after election chaos

Angelique Chrisafis Jean-Francois Cope has defeated Francois Fillon by a handful of votes to take the helm of France’s right-wing UMP party after a vote that descended into farce.

Private life in public: the former justice minister known as 'the lady', her eight alleged lovers and the row over the paternity test

Devorah Lauter The former French justice minister Rachida Dati had up to eight lovers in the year she fell pregnant with her daughter, including Nicolas Sarkozy's brother, a lawyer for the alleged father has...

'Unpinned grenade': French first lady caused nothing but trouble working for magazine, author says

Henry Samuel in Paris VALERIE TRIERWEILER'S boss says she has caused "nothing but trouble" at the magazine where she works since becoming France's First Lady, according to a new book.

France joins queue for same-sex marriage

Angelique Chrisafis Plans to introduce gay marriage and adoption rights have been approved by France's government amid growing protest from the right and religious leaders.

John Garnaut.

The fear of freedom

John Garnaut. At first glance it is surprising that Liu Yuan, who is seen to be the boldest and most ambitious general in the People's Liberation Army, was so unnerved by the ''Jasmine Revolutions'', which last...