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This week we are, what the French describe as "l'entre deux tours" which means between two rounds.

I'm referring to the crucial French local elections that are taking place. We are between the first and the decisive second round on Sunday. There's a lot to decipher amid the political shenanigans that are happening in France right now, but we'll try and clear it all up and look ahead to Sunday's vote.

We'll also head to different parts of France in this week's episode to find out about some great towns to move to - mainly because property there is affordable.

Have a listen and see which of these less well known French towns takes your fancy.

We'll also discuss the French government's plan to get us all eating well - but do they really expect us to follow their advice?

And one of the many banes of a French language learner's life is the silent letter! Why are there so many, how can we possibly learn them all? We'll get some expert tips and explanations.

I'm Ben McPartland and I'll be joined for this episode of Talking France by the team at The Local, Emma Pearson, Emma Albright and our French politics decoder John Lichfield.

We are recording this on Tuesday March 17th so a Happy St Patrick’s Day to all our Irish listeners both in France and Ireland, I know we have a fair few so a special "Cead Mile Failte" to you all - which means ‘100,000 welcomes’ in Irish.

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This week, well the news in France has been dominated by the war in the Middle East. We'll explain the ongoing impact that the conflict is having on daily life here and we'll look at how President Emmanuel Macron is handling France's role in the crisis.

We'll also focus this week on one of France's most beautiful cities and explore why Americans are moving there in droves.

But we'll start this week by bringing you the latest on France's key local elections, look at where the tight races are and what they mean to the French people.

Plus stay with us to the end and we'll bring you all the French lingo you need to understand les elections municaples.

I'm Ben McPartland your host and I'll be joined as usual by the team at The Local France, Emma Pearson, Emma Albright and politics expert John Lichfield.

Bonjour to all our regular listeners, thanks for sticking with us. And a warm bienvenue to any new listeners tuning in. Just in case you weren't aware this podcast is produced by the team at The Local France and is only possible thanks to our paying members, so please join and help us continue to bring you the big talking points from France each week as well as dozens of weekly articles on thelocal.fr

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France right now is pretty much either water or under metres of snow, depending on where you are in the country so we'll start by getting the latest on the extreme weather that continues to lash the country.

The big story in France this week has been the killing of a young far-right activist in Lyon after violent clashes that have been blamed on a group on the extreme left. We'll look at all the reaction and finger-pointing that has followed and the fears there may be more violence to come as we head towards the 2027 presidential election.

We'll also hear the stories of young people and pensioners who have been denied French citizenship because of tightened rules around income and bring you the final details about a new healthcare fee many foreigners in France will have to pay in future.

And we'll explain why the upcoming salon d'agriculture is such a key date in the French cultural and political calendar - even if there are no cows this year.

And there's nothing worse for French learners than being betrayed by all those false friends, but why are there so many of them? We’ll find out.

Host Ben McPartland is joined as usual this week by the team at The Local France, Emma Pearson, otherwise known as EmmaP - Emma Albright, otherwise known as Emma A and our politics expert John Lichfield.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.