🇫🇷Week of September 28

Sophie Binet said the intersyndicale will "continue to mobilise" until it is heard, as public-sector workers struck on 29 September 2026. The CGT published the locations and times of demonstrations across France for that day. Education unions set out their main demands for the strike.123

Binet said the situation has reached a breaking point and that anger is enormous. She also called for fuel prices to be "blocked", describing the measure as costing "nothing to public finances".45

Mediapart published writings it attributes to Jordan Bardella, the president of the Rassemblement National, including the statement that "the banks are all owned by Jews." The outlet dates the writings to 2013. Bardella rejected the material as "crude forgeries" and announced legal action against the outlet.123

Laurent Jacobelli, a spokesperson for the Rassemblement National, said the writings were either "a manipulation or a crude forgery." The denial was echoed by Bardella himself, who called the material "crude forgeries."43

Bardella said he would pursue legal proceedings against Mediapart over the publication. The Rassemblement National has not commented on the specific content of the writings beyond denying their authenticity.2

Rachida Dati faced the final day of her corruption trial, where the prosecution requested a prison sentence and immediate ineligibility. The PNF (Parquet national financier) also sought a sentence that could be served outside prison, such as an electronic bracelet, according to RTL. The prosecution accused her of seeking to 'capitalize on a public mandate to rake in as much profit as possible,' as reported by Le Monde.123

In her final words to the court, Dati rejected the accusations of greed, saying 'L'avidité, j'en suis loin Monsieur le procureur' and accused the prosecution of condescension and denigration. She described the potential consequences as 'a civil death,' referring to the risks of an electronic bracelet, losing her position as mayor of the 7th arrondissement, and her career as a lawyer. Le Point reported her saying, 'Vos réquisitions et votre arrogance ne m'effraient pas.'4567

The prosecution's case centers on allegations that Dati used her public office for personal profit, with the PNF denouncing her 'volonté de capitaliser sur un mandat public pour engranger le plus de profits possible.' The requested sentence includes a prison term that could be adjusted, such as with an electronic bracelet, and immediate ineligibility from public office. The defense maintains that Dati is a victim of unfair targeting.23

Attributed claim: Coverage of Dati's final day in court varied by outlet: Le Monde (centre-left) highlighted the prosecution's sharp criticism of her profit motive, while Le Point (centre-right) emphasized her defiant response to the PNF. RTL and franceinfo (both centre) focused on her emotional plea and the concrete risks she faces, including the loss of her mayoralty and law career. The shared factual core is that the prosecution requested prison and ineligibility, and Dati proclaimed her innocence.1427

France's public debt has risen to 119 percent of GDP, a level not seen since 1946, and the country is at the centre of international concern over its finances. The yield on ten-year French government bonds has climbed above 4 percent, reaching its highest level since November 2008.123

Germany, Luxembourg and international institutions are among the main foreign holders of French debt. The surge in borrowing is attributed to the Covid pandemic, the energy crisis, tax choices and interest rates.456

Le Point warned that "the worst scenario would be a financial crisis before the presidential election," framing the debt trajectory as a risk to the electoral calendar. The French government is preparing the 2027 budget, the last before the presidential election, with a focus on reducing public spending.76

Bank of France governor Emmanuel Moulin called erasing part of the French debt "illegal, dangerous and useless," and European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde said cancelling the French debt held by the ECB would be "a pure violation" of the EU treaty. The warnings came after Jean-Luc Mélenchon proposed cancelling the debt.17

France's debt and public spending are being compared with those of its neighbours as the government prepares its 2027 budget. RetroNews recalled that concerns over French debt also followed the First World War, while RFI reported that Japan's "astronomical" public debt is a focus of concern after its elections.8910

Lycée blockades are spreading across France, with students protesting against a lack of resources and in support of a public-sector strike. The movement has pitted La France insoumise against the government. In Paris, the rectorat said fewer than ten lycées were affected.123

At the Paul-Eluard lycée in Saint-Denis, a girl was burned by hydrochloric acid, mortars were fired and police officers were injured as the situation deteriorated. A lycéen was injured in the face by a projectile fired by a police officer.45

In Seine-Saint-Denis, teachers denounced police repression against their students, saying they refuse to accept state violence as the only response. Sandrine Rousseau, speaking in front of a lycée, said it was important that lycéens mobilise against 'Macronist policies'.67

About a hundred lycéens demonstrated outside the LISA in Angoulême, saying they risked staying there and making as much noise as possible.8