World

Brussels, my love? Is France becoming the sick man of Europe?

Published

2 years ago

August 31, 2024

Brussels, my love? Is France becoming the sick man of Europe?

This edition of our weekly talkshow focuses on the political stalemate in France, the fallout of the latest terrorist attack in Germany and the start of the Paralympics.

Returning from their August vacation, the French realise they still don’t have a new government. Weeks after the second round of the general elections, talks between President Macron and the political parties have just started in earnest and are already at a standstill. How does a paralyzed France affect decision-making in Europe?

Stefan Grobe and his guests get to the bottom of this: Maria Tadeo, Brussels-based correspondent covering the EU, Peter Hefele, policy director at the Wilfried Martens Centre, and Jérôme Quéré, managing director at the think tank Confrontations Europe.

As the EU gears up for a new legislative term, France is risking becoming “the sick man of Europe”. Weeks after snap legislative elections which ended in gridlock, the country’s political class is still navigating in the dark. A solid majority coalition? Mired in petty finger-pointing. A new prime minister? Nowhere in sight.

President Emmanuel Macron, once seen as Europe’s visionary leader, is looking like a lame duck who nobody wants to follow. Declaring a “truce” for the time of the Paris Olympics, Macron has just recently had talks with the political parties to find a way out of the dead end and form a new government.

But instead of a conciliatory tone, Macron adopted a hardened stance by refusing to appoint a prime minister from the left-wing alliance that won the most parliamentary seats in last month’s elections.

Macron wants to project strength, but it’s France’s paralysis that worries many in the European Union. A Union that is desperately looking for guidance.

The second topic: The mass stabbing by a rejected Syrian asylum seeker that left at least three people dead in the city of Solingen last week has caused shock, consternation and anger in Germany. Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his government is coming under increased pressure to be tougher on immigration, as the political far right has been milking the attack for their own purposes from the beginning.

At the same time, the EU Commission is carefully defending the integrity of the Schengen Area, the passport-free zone of 450 million citizens, arguably the most tangible achievement of European integration.

Finally, participants discussed the start of the Paralympic Games in the French capital this week. 4400 athletes from 128 countries participate, each of them with a physical or a cognitive disability.

For many, it’s more about compassion and understanding and less about the competition, simply because disabled people are much farther behind in society. Can the Paralympics change that? Or is it just a feel-good moment that will leave the disabled with their problems alone again once the Games are over? And what can we all learn as a society from the Paralympics?

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World

Protesters come out for Iran in spots across Europe

Published

56 minutes ago

March 7, 2026

Press Room

Protesters come out for Iran in spots across Europe

Published on
07/03/2026 – 21:58 GMT+1

Lion-emblazoned flags of pre-revolution Iran fluttered in cities across Europe as protesters gathered on Saturday to express support for the Iranian people amid the ongoing war with the US and Israel.

Many of the demonstrators, including in Berlin, Stockholm and Paris, voiced support for the exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s last shah, who presents himself as an alternative after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli-American strike.

In London, people demonstrated against the war while some others marched in support of Khamenei.

Between 5,000 and 6,000 people attended the “Hands Off Iran” march, according to the Metropolitan Police, chanting “stop the bombing now, now, now”.

Paris saw two demonstrations: one supporting the son of the late shah to head up a transition, and another denouncing that scenario.

“I support Pahlavi who is calling for a revolution,” Masoud Ghanaatian, a 35-year-old student said at a protest in southern Paris, where participants carried photos of the late shah’s son and waved US, Israeli and pre-revolution Iran flags.

“He’s a democrat. He can oversee a transition and promises to organise elections.”

But other protesters wearing yellow vests reading “Free Iran” showed off stickers on their hands that read “No Shah, no Mullah”.

Hundreds of pro-Pahlavi demonstrations also gathered in Stockholm, holding up pictures of him and his late father.

In Amsterdam, protesters marched along one of the city’s canals, holding up Israeli, American and pre-revolution Iran flags, as they called on the government to invite Pahlavi to the country and to close the Iranian embassy.

Shortly after dawn in Britain, anti-war protesters gathered at the entrance of an air force base in Fairford, southwest of England, holding signs reading “Hands off Iran,” “Peace” and “Yanks go home”.

US President Donald Trump has promised to help rebuild Iran’s economy if Tehran installs someone “acceptable” to him to replace its late supreme leader.

Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, said the US would have no role in selecting Khamenei’s successor.

“The selection of Iran’s leadership will take place strictly in accordance with our constitutional procedures and solely by the will of the Iranian people, without any foreign interference,” he added.

Additional sources • AFP

World

One week into Iran war, the dangers for the US and Trump multiply

Published

11 hours ago

March 7, 2026

Press Room

One week into Iran war, the dangers for the US and Trump multiply

One week into the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran that has plunged the Middle East into turmoil, President Donald Trump faces a growing list of risks and challenges that raise questions about whether he will be able to translate military successes into a clear geopolitical win.

World

Iran warns European countries will be ‘legitimate targets’ if they join conflict

Published

12 hours ago

March 7, 2026

Press Room

Iran warns European countries will be ‘legitimate targets’ if they join conflict

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An Iranian official warned that any European countries that enter the conflict against Iran will become “legitimate targets” for Tehran’s retaliation.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi made the remark to France24 as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday apologized to neighboring countries that have been attacked by the regime.

“We have already informed the Europeans and everybody else that they should be careful not to be involved in this war of aggression against Iran,” Takht-Ravanchi told the network. “If they help, I’m not trying to name any country, but if any country joins in the aggression against Iran, joins America and Israel in the aggression against Iran, definitely they will be also the legitimate targets for Iranian retaliation.”

“This war has imposed on us, and we will continue to defend ourselves to the best of our abilities,” he added. “We have an obligation to defend our people and that is what exactly we are doing.”

Then-Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations Majid Takht-Ravanchi speaks to the media outside Security Council chambers at the U.N. headquarters in New York, on June 24, 2019. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)

Takht-Ravanchi also claimed Iran was “negotiating in good faith” in talks with the U.S. about its nuclear program, before America launched Operation Epic Fury and Israel began Operation Roaring Lion on Feb. 28.

“We are sincere. We are sincere in our endeavor to arrive at a peaceful conclusion of this issue,” he told France24.

AFTER THE STRIKES, HOW WOULD THE US SECURE IRAN’S ENRICHED URANIUM?

A group of men inspect the ruins of a police station struck during the U.S.–Israeli military campaign in Tehran, Iran, on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Vahid Salemi/AP)

Pezeshkian said Saturday that any future attacks coming out of Iran would only be in response to attacks against the country.

“I should apologize to the neighboring countries that were attacked by Iran, on my own behalf,” he said, according to The Associated Press. “From now on, they should not attack neighboring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked by those countries. I think we should solve this through diplomacy.”

Damage is seen in Bnei Brak, Israel, on March 3, 2026, following an Iranian missile barrage. (Nir Elias/Reuters)

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Pezeshkian made the apology during a prerecorded televised speech on Saturday after Iran launched repeated strikes on Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman.

Despite the vow, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Defense said on Saturday that the country’s air defense systems intercepted 16 ballistic missiles, 15 of which were destroyed while one fell into the sea.

Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Pritchett and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Greg Norman is a reporter at Fox News Digital.