The tentative attempt by Catalonia to secede from Spain has failed - at least for now. But the attachment of the Catalan people to their identity is so strong that the fight for independence is far from over. The Catalonian regional elections on Dec. 21 are likely to take place in a very agitated, if not violent, context. The province of Catalonia has just lived through … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: To Be or Not To Be [Independent] — The Catalonian Question
Letter From Paris: The State of the Continent – A Snapshot of European Politics
Is the far right forging ahead in Europe? The political landscape of the European Union (EU) has shifted somewhat to the right during the past few months. At the core of this trend is the fear of losing one's identity following the recent surge of migrants. Angela Merkel's decision in 2015 to open wide Germany's borders - and hence Europe's - has had a lasting impact. Max … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: The State of the Continent – A Snapshot of European Politics
Letter From Paris: (Old Hand) Putin Meets (New Kid) Macron With Surprising Results
The hour-long press conference held jointly by long-standing Russian President Putin and newly-elected French President Macron in the Palace of Versailles on May 29, was a spectacle not to be missed. Putin had been absent from the high-powered week during which US President Donald Trump met with heads of state at the new NATO headquarters in Brussels and at the G7 … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: (Old Hand) Putin Meets (New Kid) Macron With Surprising Results
Letter From Paris: And Then There Were Two … Candidates Left for French President
Out of a chaotic and divisive campaign to elect the president of France came a surprisingly middle-of-the-road and constructive vote. Emmanuel Macron, age 39, Europhile leader of the En Marche (EM) movement climbed to the first place with 24.01 percent of the votes. Marine Le Pen (Front National or FN), received 21.3 percent, both therefore qualifying for the run-off election … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: And Then There Were Two … Candidates Left for French President
Letter From Paris: Erdogan Wins Presidential Superpower in Turkey’s Rigged(?) Referendum
The good news about the victory of Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the April 16 referedum, increasing his constitutional powers to govern, is that his accession to the European Union (EU) has become more unlikely. If he wins another referendum on whether to restore the death penalty, that will be "crossing the red line," French president François Holland said and it will remove … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: Erdogan Wins Presidential Superpower in Turkey’s Rigged(?) Referendum
Letter From Paris: Paris, Berlin Need to Work Together as the EU Determines its Future
For the French, Germany can be a source of admiration or of irritation . The Franco-German "couple" has been the pillar of the European Union (EU.) The couple worked beautifully until the departure respectively of Francois Mitterand in 1995 and Helmut Kohl in 1998. Today more than ever, the two countries need to spearhead initiatives to bring about a new Europe. Marcel … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: Paris, Berlin Need to Work Together as the EU Determines its Future
Letter From Paris: The Netherlands to the Rescue
Thank goodness for The Netherlands! Their March 15 vote for their House of Representatives was exactly what Europe needed at this point - the reassuring voice of a founding member of the European Community (EU) expressing its belief in Europe while being open to the world. The result was greeted with a sigh of relief by pro-Europeans. It was another sign -- after the … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: The Netherlands to the Rescue
Letter From Paris: The ‘Centre Pompidou’ Turns 40
The Musée National d'Art Moderne (MNAM), better known as the Centre Pompidou - that crazy structure with tubes, exhaust pipes, chimneys and metal rods in bright primary colors - is celebrating 40 years of existence. Its revolutionary architecture oriented toward multidisciplinary activities, which turned it into what virulent opponents called a "supermarket for the arts," … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: The ‘Centre Pompidou’ Turns 40
Letter From Paris: Another Presidential Race, But French-Style This Time, Filled With Pride, Passion, Power, Intrigue
The presidential campaign in France is undergoing a series of twists and turns, often spectacular, sometimes violent. Traditional politics are going through a crisis and may come out rejuvenated from the turmoil. The rest of Europe is watching the developments with anxiety because its future is at stake. By the end of February, five candidates were still in the race: … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: Another Presidential Race, But French-Style This Time, Filled With Pride, Passion, Power, Intrigue
Letter From Paris: A European in Washington
On Jan. 27, Theresa May was the first foreign leader to visit the White House during Donald Trump's era. The prime minister's red dress matched the US president's red tie and they both seemed determined to cheer each other for the wonderful things they were about to accomplish together. On the eve of Brexit, it was crucial for the British visitor to obtain US support. For … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: A European in Washington
Letter From Paris: How France Copes With Ongoing Terrorism Threat
Two years after the "Je suis Charlie" massacre, how does it feel to be in France today with the threat of terrorism? Numbers seem to speak for themselves: France, which is the most visited European country, saw a decrease last year of almost 50 percent in the number of tourists visiting - from 84 million to 42 million - while website commentaries lament empty hotels, … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: How France Copes With Ongoing Terrorism Threat
Letter From Paris: Extraordinary ‘Shchukin Collection’ Currently on View in Paris Attracts Massive Crowds
It is the first time ever that the masterpieces of the Russian art collector Sergei Ivanovich Shchukin have traveled abroad as a collection. Until now only separate works have been seen in the West. In the 1979 "Paris-Moscow" major retrospective at the Pompidou Center - a huge exhibition from Soviet state museums - there was no mention anywhere of the origin of the art … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: Extraordinary ‘Shchukin Collection’ Currently on View in Paris Attracts Massive Crowds
Letter From Paris: A Transition Like No Other … And a French Take on Trump
We Americans are always interested in knowing what the world is thinking of us. From my listening post in Paris, I can say that for months the Europeans have followed the US presidential elections with fascination. With only a few days left until Jan. 20, everyone here is watching the transition between a cerebral Democrat president and a "sanguine, non- principled" … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: A Transition Like No Other … And a French Take on Trump
Letter From Paris: Like UK’s Cameron, Italian PM Matteo Renzi Gambles His Future on a Referendum … and Loses
On Dec. 4, 2016, 60 percent of Italians responded "No" to the referendum question on constitutional reforms posed by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. His aim was to modify the electoral laws, thus reducing the role of both the Senate and regions, and thereby enhancing his own power. This was a dangerous attempt at undoing the safeguards built into the 1948 constitution and intended … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: Like UK’s Cameron, Italian PM Matteo Renzi Gambles His Future on a Referendum … and Loses
She’s Back! Nicole Logan is Here Again With Another ‘Letter From Paris’
We are absolutely delighted to welcome back Nicole Prévost Logan and her Letter From Paris column! Nicole stayed longer than usual in Essex this year in order to see the outcome of the election and celebrate Thanksgiving. She has now returned to Paris and here is her first column of the 2016-17 series. We know this will please the many readers who have been asking about … [Read more...] about She’s Back! Nicole Logan is Here Again With Another ‘Letter From Paris’