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Inflation crosses 3% as purchasing power hits sixty-year low

France is grappling with an historic cost of living crisis, marked by inflation reaching 3% in September, its highest point since February 2024. Real wages have been declining since 2019, leading to two consecutive years of reduced purchasing power, a situation not witnessed since 1960. Household consumption also saw a 0.5% decrease in August, signaling a broader economic slowdown.

Amidst these economic pressures, public service unions reported a significant mobilization of 300,000 people protesting against underfunding, wage freezes, and deteriorating working conditions. This comes as concerns grow over civil servants earning less than the minimum wage, further exacerbated by rising inflation.

In political news, the controversy surrounding alleged antisemitic writings by Jordan Bardella, President of the National Rally, has intensified. Mediapart, the publication that revealed the allegations, reported receiving threats from the National Rally and Marine Le Pen, the party's parliamentary leader. Bardella has filed a defamation lawsuit, while Mediapart journalists indicate more revelations are forthcoming. Separately, the Gard and Hérault departments have been placed on red vigilance for severe rain-flooding.

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Cost of Living Crisis and Economic Decline

France is facing its most significant cost of living crisis since 1960, with real wages declining since 2019 and purchasing power diminishing for two consecutive years. Inflation reached 3% in September, the highest since February 2024, driven mainly by energy prices. This economic strain is also reflected in a 0.5% drop in household consumption in August and is impacting small businesses, with some customers resorting to installment payments for services.

Public Service Protests Intensify Over Wage Freeze

Hundreds of thousands of public sector workers, estimated at 300,000 by the CGT union, mobilized across France to protest against public service underfunding, wage freezes, and poor working conditions. Unions highlighted that many civil servants earn less than the minimum wage, and their financial situation is worsening due to inflation, demanding tangible improvements beyond verbal appreciation.

National Rally Threatens Mediapart Amid Bardella Antisemitism Allegations

Following Mediapart's revelations about alleged antisemitic writings by Jordan Bardella, President of the National Rally, the party has issued threats against the publication, with Marine Le Pen, the party's parliamentary leader, making "grave threats." Mediapart is responding with a special broadcast and insists on the public's right to know, while Fabrice Arfi, an investigative journalist at Mediapart, indicates that further revelations are expected. Bardella denies the allegations, calling…

2027 Presidential Race: Attal Criticizes LFI, Retailleau Questions EU Law

The 2027 presidential election is seeing early political maneuvering. Gabriel Attal, General Secretary of Renaissance, criticized La France Insoumise (LFI) for allegedly using young people as "political cannon fodder." Meanwhile, Bruno Retailleau, President of The Republicans and a conservative presidential candidate, is causing discomfort among the European right by challenging the primacy of European Union law and outlining a vision for European construction that differs from Marine Le Pen's.

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