French far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen announced her candidacy for the 2027 presidential election on Tuesday evening via television, just hours after an appeals court upheld her conviction for embezzlement but cleared the way for her to run. On Wednesday, she kicked off her campaign in La Flèche, near Paris, alongside party president Jordan Bardella. The court decision rejected her request for an electronic tag reduction and confirmed a fine, but rejected the attempt to ban her from seeking office. Her campaign faces significant uncertainty given the conviction, yet polling suggests her candidacy resonates with substantial segments of the French electorate.
The French government held its regular Council of Ministers meeting at the Élysée Palace on Thursday, July 9. Minister of Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin and other cabinet officials attended amid ongoing parliamentary scrutiny and the persistent challenges from the heatwave affecting France. The meeting comes as the government continues managing a politically fractious situation with multiple no-confidence pressures.
The Paris stock exchange's CAC 40 index continued its mixed performance through early July, with trading patterns reflecting broader European market sentiment. On July 8, the index declined 0.98%, with TotalEnergies and banking stocks seeing particular pressure. The index continues to navigate around the 8,000-8,500 point range as investors assess economic outlooks amid the summer slowdown and persistent inflationary concerns.
France defeated Morocco 2-0 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final on Thursday evening, booking a place in the semi-finals. Kylian Mbappé, who missed a first-half penalty, made amends by assisting and scoring in the second half, while Ousmane Dembélé added France's second goal in the 66th minute. The match was played in sweltering heat, but Les Bleus delivered a masterclass performance with Morocco unable to register a single shot on target. This marks France's third consecutive World Cup semi-final appearance.
Tadej Pogačar won the grueling Stage 6 of the 2026 Tour de France on Thursday, claiming victory at the summit of Gavarnie-Gèdre. The 186.2-kilometre mountain stage featured the legendary Col du Tourmalet and Col d'Aspin climbs, testing the world's best cyclists in scorching heat. Pogačar's decisive performance moved him closer to overall victory, while yellow jersey wearer Torstein Træen lost significant time and fell out of serious contention for the title.
Quentin Tarantino's long-anticipated complete cut of Kill Bill—titled Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair—premiered in French cinemas on July 8, 2026. This definitive 4-hour-35-minute version reunites both films with newly restored footage and a 15-minute intermission, delivering the film exactly as Tarantino originally envisioned it. The release marks a major event for cinephiles across France, who can now experience the full saga in its intended form on the big screen.
The 25th edition of Japan Expo, Europe's largest Japanese culture festival, opened its doors on Thursday, July 9, at Parc des Expositions de Paris-Nord Villepinte for a four-day celebration of pop culture, anime, music, and gaming. The festival draws hundreds of thousands of visitors annually and features performances, vendor halls, video game tournaments, and exclusive announcements from major studios and publishers. This year's edition promises a packed schedule with concerts, esports competitions, and fan-favorite panels exploring the latest developments in Japanese entertainment.
Jazz à Vienne, one of Europe's most prestigious jazz festivals, showcased its 2026 lineup including seven-time Grammy Award winner Jon Batiste, who performed his only French festival appearance on July 8. The festival continues its tradition of bringing world-class jazz musicians to the Roman theater in Vienne, with bass legend Marcus Miller and pianist Terence Blanchard also featured prominently. The event represents a major draw for jazz enthusiasts across France and Europe.