D-Day anniversary, a key university deadline, a religious celebration, more strikes, and an important product launch are in the diary for this week in France.

Monday

University applications – The tense wait for nearly 1 million students looking to go to university in September is almost over. From 7pm on Monday, they will learn whether they have a firm offer of a place, a conditional one, or have been rejected. In any case, there will be decisions to make because these initial offers must be accepted or rejected by June 5th.

Politics – Parliament will debate a proposal to posthumously promote Alfred Dreyfus to the rank of Brigadier General.

READ ALSO French lawmakers want Dreyfus promoted 130 years after scandal

Motorway – MPs will also debate a bill ‘on the imperative public interest of the motorway link between Castres and Toulouse’ as part of a two-pronged legal and political effort to restart and continue works shut down by a Toulouse court in February.

READ ALSO Work on controversial autoroute in south-west France to resume after court stay

Tuesday

Anjou Festival – The second-biggest outdoor theatre event in France kicks off on Tuesday, and runs to June 28th. Details of the full programme of dramatic events are here.

Housing crisis – in an effort to solve the housing crisis in France, MPs will debate a law making it simpler to transform offices, former public buildings, or other professional premises into housing.

Wednesday

Strike threats – CGT-Chéminots, the largest trade union representing workers at France’s national rail service SNCF, has called for strike action on June 4th, 5th – coinciding with a general strike call – and 11th. Keep an eye on The Local’s strike section for updates.

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Thursday

Tax deadlines – Inhabitants of the French départements numbering 60-96, as well as the overseas territories, must turn in their French tax declarations by 11.59pm on June 5th. They are the last to have to declare – residents of all other départements, as well as those who live outside France but have French income, should have submitted their declarations in May.

General Strike – The CGT union has called for a nationwide general strike as part of the ongoing protest against 2023’s pension reforms and the proposed elimination of the 10 percent tax deduction for retirees, which is due to be discussed in Parliament on the same day. Keep an eye on The Local’s strike section for updates.

Gamers assemble – Nintendo’s long-anticipated Switch 2 console launches in France. Some stores have said they will open early for anyone who can’t wait to get their hands on one. Meanwhile delivery staff will deserve tips for all the pre-ordered ones due they’re ferrying to their destinations from today.

Friday

D-Day – June 6th marks the anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France, a sombre day marked by a series of official ceremonies.

Route one – France’s roads watchdog Bison Futé has issued a nationwide red travel warning for Friday, for the long Pentecost weekend getaway.

Eid al-Adha – is the second of the two main festivals in Islam, alongside Eid al-Fitr. Celebrations and observances start on June 6th and carry on through to June 10th. These are known as the Tashreeq days.

University applications II – Between June 6th and June 10th, candidates with conditional offers will be asked to rank those they wish to keep. This will allow their preferences to be taken into account to move waiting lists forward more quickly. The intention is for as many high school students as possible to have one or more admission offer before the baccalaureate exams later this month.

Channel hopping – Several channels move to a different number on the remote. The reorganisation follows the stripping of the licence from several right-wing TV stations that were sanctioned for repeated breaches of the French editorial code. News channels will regroup from channels 13 to 16 while France 4 will move to the fourth position on your EPGs.

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Saturday

Sport – The finals of the Roland-Garros tournament (sometimes known as the French Open) take place on June 7th and 8th.

More sport – It’s the end of the regular Top 14 season, with all seven matches due to kick off at 9.05pm in a race to the play-offs. Earlier in the evening, the ProD2 final takes place at Stade Ernest Wallon in Toulouse, to decide who will win promotion to the top division, and who gets another shot, at home against the side that finishes 13th in the Top 14, next weekend.

Nuit Blanche – Paris celebrates its annual Nuit Blanche, when venues across the capital stay open all night and free indoor and outdoor cultural events across the city. 

Sunday

Long weekend reminder – Good news! Potentially. Monday is Pentecost, which is a public holiday in France, so you may be able to enjoy a workday lie-in tomorrow. Or not because you may be working for free…

READ ALSO Why do many in France work for free on Pentecost public holiday?