From the beginning of parliamentary debates on the right to die to a strike by public sector workers and the start of the Cannes film festival, plus the Eurovision song contest, here’s what is happening in France this week.
Monday
Politics – As part of a law on the end of life care and the right to die, MPs in the National Assembly will begin debating two private members’ bills – one on assisted dying, the other on palliative care – after they passed committee stage at the beginning of the month.
READ ALSO French MPs to examine two bills on end-of-life care and assisted dying
Sport – Despite PSG’s Champions Cup final run, French professional club football is not in the greatest place right now, so football fans here will watch French FA president Philippe Diallo’s press conference on the future of the domestic game with interest.
Tuesday
Walkout – The CGT, UNSA, FSU, Solidaires, and CFE-CGC unions have called a civil servants’ strike for Tuesday to demand improved working conditions and pay – amid concerns over the government’s planned budgetary guidelines, as well as fears of massive job cuts and the weakening of public services. The walkout call may also affect schools.
Cannes, Cannes – The 78th film festival opens in the resort on the south coast of France on May 13th and runs to May 24th. It is, of course, all about the movies – but it’s also about the glamour … and the star spotting.
This year, the very eagerly awaited Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning will be screened, out of competition, as will Spike Lee’s latest Highest 2 Lowest, and Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut Eleanor the Great, while Robert De Niro is set to receive an honorary Palme d’or at the opening ceremony.
Juliette Binoche will preside over the film festival’s jury, running the rule over an impressive list of films including Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme, Richard Linklater’s New Wave, and Eddington, by Ari Aster.
READ ALSO 12 things that may surprise you about the French Riviera town of Cannes
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Courts – Kim Kardashian is set to testify at the trial of 10 people suspected of a 2016 robbery which saw some $10 million worth of jewellery stolen from the reality TV star and influencer.
Courts II – A verdict in the sexual assault trial of actor Gérard Depardieu will be handed down.
Political TV – French President Emmanuel Macron faces a live TV grilling from TF1’s Gilles Bouleau, as well as a number of personalities on major national and international issues.
Wednesday
Appeal trial – Two women convicted of defamation over false claims that Brigitte Macron is a trans woman will begin their appeals process on Wednesday.
Friday
Ceremony – The City of Marseille and the family of Bernard Tapie will inaugurate a statue and esplanade in the name of the controversial former businessman, politician and Olympique de Marseille boss.
Sport – The final day of rugby’s regular ProD2 season kicks off – all eight matches will kick off at 9pm.
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Saturday
Leadership Race – Nominally centre-right party Les Républicains hold a congress this weekend to elect a new president. Leader of the party in the Assembly Laurent Wauquiez and current Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau are the front-runners.
Song Contest – You can watch France compete in the Eurovision song contest in Basel, Switzerland this year. The semi-finals take place May 13th and May 15th, but France – represented by Louane, performing her song Maman – goes straight through to the finals every year as one of the ‘big five’ who fund the contest. Watch the video here.
Night at the Museum – About 3,000 French museums, art galleries and cultural venues are set to open late into the night on Saturday, May 17th, staging special events and interactive shows as they join in this year’s Nuit européenne des musées.