French weekly magazine review 03 July 2016

In a week where Britain’s decision to leave the European Union has caused a seismic shift across Europe, it is hardly surprising that the aftermath of the 23 June referendum is the focus of the French magazines this weekend.

DR

The left-wing Marianne calls Brexit “the people’s revenge”, saying that Britain's decision to leave has sent a message to Brussels that it cannot snub the will of its 500 million citizens. If Europe does not respect the aspirations of its citizens, then it must prepare itself for further violent political tremors.

Marianne is complimentary about the mark Britain has made on Europe, from the influence of the British Conservative European commissioner Leon Brittan through to prime ministers Margaret Thatcher, John Major and Tony Blair.

Journalist Hervé Nathan writes that the presence of Britain gave a guarantee to German, Polish and Dutch Conservatives that liberalism and competition would remain the alpha and the omega of the EU.

Bloody British!

Right-wing Le Figaro Magazine is less sympathetic. Its front cover screams “Bloody British!” next to a photo of Conservative Brexit-backer Boris Johnson.

Desperately trying not to sound hurt, Le Figaro Magazine condescends to take a closer look at these “strange people” who still drive on the left and invented rugby, humour and smoking.

After entering the Common Market, the British only had one thought in their minds: to impose their trade interests, the magazine believes. What they weren’t prepared for, however, was what Le Figaro Magazine terms “uncontrolled immigration” - the reason the British voted for Brexit.

A four-page spread looking at how “life is continuing in London” is headed with a photo of French football fans cheering on their team inside a British pub. Le Figaro reports that French expats, of whom there are around 300,000 in Greater London, are still optimistic in the face of Brexit misfortune.

France: the European country that smokes the most joints

Brexit is also a feature in L’Obs magazine, but it is not the cover story. Instead, the left-wing publication devotes its main feature to the ongoing debate over whether or not cannabis should be legalised. L’Obs tells its readers that France is the most repressive European country when it comes to smoking joints, despite being the country that smokes the most of them.

How should France untangle itself from this absurdity?

L’Obs devotes no fewer than 11 pages in an attempt to answer this question, giving a platform to various experts and politicians, some of whom dare to make the plea for legalisation while others, such as Health Minister Marisol Touraine, argue against.

Secretary of State for Parliamentary Relations Jean-Marie le Guen calls for a referendum on the matter, whereas Stéphane Gatignon, the mayor of Sevran, argues for controlled legalisation.

L’Obs also takes a look at “weed culture”, ganja in gastronomy and what it calls “the flourishing business” of weed in Colorado since it was legalised in the American state two years ago.

The final sentence of the 11-page feature is a quote from a 65-year-old cannabis user in the States, who says that she’s smoked it all her life and is in good health, so why should she be deprived of it?

Bye, Bye Britain

It’s back to Brexit coverage in l’Express. The right-wing magazine hails Britain’s departure as a chance to rebuild a new Europe.

Brexit is an opportunity, its editorial tells its readers. Everything is beginning, everything is possible, the magazine exclaims. Britain has been holding everyone back and, finally: hooray, they’ve gone! You can almost hear the Champagne bottles popping open in the l’Express newsroom.

“Give me my money,” l’Express quotes the former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher as saying. “Give me my power,” the soon-to-be-ex British Prime Minsiter, David Cameron, is quoted as saying. At long last, the British have got their final settlement.

Brexit as Britain's Dreyfus affair

Right-wing Le Point pictures French President François Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on its front cover with the headline: “Boldness or decadence” – after Brexit, it’s now time for to make choices concerning Europe’s fate.

In the meantime, European leaders have to unravel 85,000 pages of agreements concerning Britain and its decision to seek a divorce from the EU.

Le Point also considers what Brexit will mean to Queen Elizabeth II. Will her kingdom fall apart?

For Le Point, Brexit in the 21st century is what the Dreyfus affair was to France at the end of 19th century: everyone is required to take a position and everyone claims not to know anyone in their company who voted differently to them. A polarised country with violence in the air.