Culture clash? My worries over long-awaited France to UK tripGillian Harvey prepares for her first return visit to the UK in four years and wonders if she is right to be apprehensive
Forget the Revolution - a posh name will still take you far in FranceNabila Ramdani explores how coveted aristocratic names show the class system is alive and kicking in France
French politics: President Macron is in office but he is not in powerSimon Heffer gives his unfiltered view on the miserable term Mr Macron now faces
‘Why I’d have moved if my area of France voted in a far-right MP’ British retiree Ian Joiner says a Rassemblement National-run administration would undermine diversity and local cultural life
Crazy world of politics as Macron’s challenges move from Right to LeftRichard Ogier explains why France’s newly re-elected president still has an uphill battle trying to navigate the country’s complicated political scene
Macron’s pledge to cut French bureaucrat jobs will cause more problemsIt is very difficult to deliver more public services with less people - and this is the paradox of politics argues Nick Inman
Annual burkini row ‘demonises’ all five million muslims in FranceJournalist Nabila Ramdani gives her view on the latest ‘Muslim dress’ saga to hit France and how the arguments against the burkini just don’t stack up
Elisabeth Borne must win at legislative elections to remain French PMSimon Heffer looks at why she is standing for election to the Assemblée nationale, what happens if she loses and what awaits her as prime minister if she wins
Are the English really guilty of Joan of Arc’s death?A far-right tradition of visiting Joan of Arc’s statue on May Day puts the medieval warrior-turned-nationalist symbol in sharp focus
Education: do French schools deserve their harsh reputation?In a system where only God gets top marks we ask an expert if French education really is restrictive or just rigorous
Failing French villages must resist quick wins and plan better futureJournalist Samantha David looks at her home village in France and how local authorities need to work together to create a long term vision
Wimbledon ban on Russian tennis stars is wrong; France has alternativeAn international lawyer argues that Britain’s decision to ban Russian tennis players recalls a dark time in American history. France has declined to ban the players for now
Empty palaces - French president no better than Russian oligarchsJournalist Nabila Ramdani looks at how luxury excess is acceptable in France where the president himself can live like a billionaire
Enjoy your victory, Mr Macron, but you and France face tough times With Le Pen and Mélenchon snapping at his heels, Mr Macron only has five years to create his legacy. Journalist Simon Heffer assesses the recent election and France’s future
‘France has chosen stability but social unrest a real risk in 2024’Political analyst Jean Viard says there are always protests two years after every election - and Mr Macron will have to work hard to limit this
If derelict French barns get roof grants, why not our houses?There are European farming grants for barn roofs and French government grants for insulation and boilers but frustratingly no help to replace the roof on your home in France, writes Samantha David
‘Le Pen’s programme remains far-right despite efforts to soften image’The presidential hopeful’s views on immigration, citizenship, Islam and democracy are all symbolic of a far-right ideology, argue political experts
Covid changed my mind about French healthcare: it is exceptionalWriter Tamara Thiessen says the system is not perfect but has many good points. She also notes the chaos of testing facilities she experienced in her native Australia
Comment: Why don’t the French like the presidents they elect?Most French presidents only survive one five year term before they are voted out, with two notable exceptions
‘We're proud to be voting in France for first time this election’After 30 years in France, journalist Jane Hanks, now has the right to vote as a French national and is taking the responsibility seriously
Comment: Macron election win would prove poor state of French politicsWhen he eventually got around to revealing his manifesto, barely three weeks before the first round, it was fabulously uninspiring
Comment: The Algerian War remains controversial in France 60 years onThe peace treaty was signed on March 18, 1962 but France still feels the impact of the war today
