Tag: Macron

Brazil’s Bolsonaro fuels spat with Macron over Amazon fires

by Jordi Miro, with Allison Jackson in Rio de Janeiro PORTO VELHO, Brazil (AFP) — Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday repeated a demand for French leader Emmanuel Macron to withdraw recent remarks, as he accused France and Germany of “buying” the Latin American country’s sovereignty with Amazon fire aid. Bolsonaro’s latest comments come amid an escalating diplomatic spat between Brazil and Europe that threatens to torpedo a major trade deal. They also throw into […]

EU votes as far right seeks blow to Macron

by Alex PIGMAN BRUXELLES, Belgium (AFP) — Slovaks and Latvians cast their ballots in EU elections on Saturday as the far right hoped to clinch major gains and deny a pro-Europe victory to French President Emmanuel Macron. Polls were open in Malta, Slovakia and Latvia, with most of the bloc’s 28 member states — including big players Germany, France and Italy — to vote on Sunday, with turnout expected to be low. Polling has shown […]

Macron warns about US-China trade tensions over Huawei

PARIS, France (AFP) — French President Emmanuel Macron warned Thursday about the danger of a “technological war or a trade war” between the US and China as the countries clash over Chinese telecoms group Huawei. “Our perspective is not to block Huawei or any company, it is to preserve our national security and European sovereignty,” Macron told reporters at the Vivatech trade show in Paris. “But I think launching now a technological war or a […]

Macron, Xi call for increased EU-China cooperation

PARIS, China (AFP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Monday called for increased cooperation between the European Union and China, at a time of growing nervousness over Beijing’s massive investments on the continent. Speaking at the Elysee Palace following talks with Xi, Macron called for a “strong Europe-China partnership”, adding that this must be based on “strong multilateralism” and “fair and balanced” trade. Xi’s, for his part, stressed that […]

Xi meets Macron as French president seeks united EU front on China

by Vincent-Xavier MORVAN / Julie Pacorel BEAULIEU-SUR-MER, France (AFP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron met for dinner in the south of France Sunday ahead of official talks with the host leader seeking to forge a united European front to contend with Beijing’s advances. “Very happy to welcome President Xi Jinping and his wife to France,” Macron wrote in a tweet. “This visit will strengthen our strategic partnership and affirm […]

Macron, Merkel, Juncker and Xi to meet Tuesday in Paris

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — French President Emmanuel Macron will hold trade and climate talks on Tuesday with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The leaders will be joined by European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker as they seek “points of convergence between Europe and China”, Macron’s office said Thursday. The meeting is part of Xi’s European tour, which comes with Europe divided over his “Belt and Road” trade infrastructure project and under […]

Macron’s debate put to test as ‘yellow vests’ stage tenth protest

by Clare BYRNE Agence Franc Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — France’s “yellow vests” took to the streets on Saturday for a 10th straight weekend of anti-government protests, defying attempts by President Emmanuel Macron to channel their anger into a series of town hall debates. A police source said the authorities expected the protests to be “at least as big as last week” when over 80,000 people demonstrated over inequality, the privileges enjoyed by senior public […]

Macron calls for order after ‘yellow vest’ attack on police

by Clare BYRNE Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — French President Emmanuel Macron called for “order” on Sunday after a sixth weekend of “yellow vest” anti-government protests that saw dwindling participation and a violent attack on police in Paris. Speaking during a visit to the Saharan state of Chad where he was visiting French troops serving in a counter-terrorism force, Macron said: “There must be order now, calm and harmony. Our country needs it.” […]

Macron unveils new measures in bid to end ‘yellow vest’ revolt

PARIS, France (AFP) — Embattled French President Emmanuel Macron Monday announced a series of financial measures seeking to defuse the “yellow vest” revolt that has triggered violent protests in cities across the country. In a 15-minute televised speech from the Elysee Palace, a somber-looking president told the nation, “I accept my share of responsibility” for the crisis. The former investment banker struck a more humble tone than usual as he sought to address criticism of his […]

Macron to address the nation as calls grow to act on ‘yellow vest’ protests

by Katy Lee Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — Amid loud calls for him to end the “yellow vest” crisis gripping France, President Emmanuel Macron will address the nation Monday as authorities count the cost of weeks of anti-government protests. The president will speak to the French people at 8:00 pm (1900 GMT), his Elysee office announced — Macron’s first public comments after four weeks of nationwide anti-government demonstrations which again turned violent Saturday […]

Macron surveys damage after Paris riots, calls for talks

by Fabien Zamora and Adam Plowright Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday surveyed the damage from a day of riots across Paris and led a crisis meeting that ended with a call for further talks with anti-government activists who have staged two weeks of protests. Macron met with the prime minister, interior minister and top security service officials to forge a response to the violence that left hundreds […]

‘Allies owe each other respect,’ Macron says of Trump tweets

PARIS, France (AFP) — President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday that “allies owe each other respect,” after he was assailed on Twitter by US President Donald Trump after his visit to France for World War I commemorations. “I think he’s doing this for American politics,” Macron said in a televised interview on board France’s Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean Sea. “At every crucial moment in our history, we have been allies,” he said […]