French press review 30 June 2016

The repercussions of Britain's decision to leave the European Union continues to make headlines in the French press today. Both left and right-wing publications carry stories on what Brexit will mean for Britain, France and the rest of Europe.

DR

The finanical paper, Les Echos, features an interview with French President François Hollande, who is proposing new tax measures on employment.

In response to a question about Britain's departure from the EU, Hollande tells Les Echos that there has indeed been a recovery in France since the Brexit, as well as an early reversal of the unemployment curve.

He says that growth will exceed 1.6 percent this year, which will allow France to create at least 200,000 jobs.

But he warns that Brexit will have an unfavorable impact for the UK and it is through a possible recession in the UK that there may be a risk to the euro area and for France.

The Brexit theme continues among the pages of Liberation.

The left-wing paper reports on a rally held yesterday in front of the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh, where around 5,000 Scots demonstrated to express their desire to remain in the EU.

Libération says it was treated to men in kilts, whisky flasks and even the Ode to Joy, the European anthem, played on bagpipes during yesterday's demonstration.

The chants included "Cheese, not Farage!" in reference to Leave supporter and Ukip leader Nigel Farage, as well as "Hey, hey, Theresa May, migrants are here to stay!" - a reference to the Conservative Home Secretary, Theresa May.

A total of 62 percent of Scots voted to remain in the EU in the 23 June referendum and, according to Liberation's headline, they now feel betrayed by England.

Brexit repercussions  

Centrist Le Monde reports on yesterday's summit in Brussels, during which European leaders warned the UK that it could not negotiate access to "map" the single market after leaving the European Union and rejected any hint of London restricting the free movement of people.

The paper quotes European Council President Donald Tusk announcing that EU leaders clearly stated that access to the single market requires acceptance of the four fundamental EU freedoms, including the freedom of movement.

Le Monde explains to its readers that the issue of immigration, especially from eastern Europe, played a key role in the UK's referendum campaign, which led to nearly 52 percent of voters supporting Brexit.

Questions on the Calais-Dover border

Another Brexit angle in the daily Le Parisien, concerns the Calais border, which will remain closed with the Franco-British treaty of Le Touquet in force.

François Hollande is quoted as saying that "challenging the agreement of Le Touquet on the pretext that the UK has voted for Brexit and will therefore enter into negotiations to leave the European Union does not make sense".

The agreement moved the British-French border to Calais, thereby preventing illegal immigration to the UK.

The renegotiation of this treaty, signed in 2003, is being called for by two prominent right-wing politicians: Alain Juppé, a candidate in the Republicans party primary ahead of the 2017 presidential elections, and Xavier Bertrand, president of the Hauts-de-France region. Both men challenge the idea of carrying on "as if Brexit has no meaning".

Hollande drops in opinion polls

A break from Brexit news in the right-wing Le Figaro with a story about Hollande's approval rating. It's fallen to a new low of 12 percent, according to Le Figaro Magazine, with just a year to go until the French presidential elections.

Never has the president of the republic's approval rating fallen so low, Le Figaro Magazine exclaims.

Le Figaro Magazine claims that Hollande has left Prime Minister Manuel Valls to play the "bad guy" when it comes to the labour law reforms that have sparked protests across the country, while Hollande himself has waltzed off to prove himself the most fervent supporter of the French football team.

Christian music in France

According to Catholic La Croix, the singer Grégory Turpin has noted a significant gap between the actual success of his new album and his place in the ranking of best sellers.

A case, La Croix says, that has highlighted the mutual ignorance between popularity measuring agencies and Christian music distribution networks.

The paper quotes Turpin saying that, as a result, France is unable to quantify the turnover of Christian music.

The aim is not so much to be at the top, Turpin adds, but to be able to communicate Christian music and measure its importance.