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Perspective

Politics

'People have been buying into the detoxification of the National Rally', French politics expert says

A French politics observer says the allegations of anti-Semitism against the head of France's far-right National Rally have really damaged the party. Andrew Smith from Queen Mary University of London says people have been buying into the detoxification of the party, despite its legacy as an anti-Semitic and racist outfit. But that makes this week's allegations against Jordan Bardella even more shocking. Bardella is accused by the investigative news website Mediapart of sending a series of anti-Semitic remarks from 2013 to 2015. Andrew Smith spoke to us in Perspective.

World

'Putin's goal is to prolong his power in Russia': Journalist Roman Badanin

A journalist who has spent more than 20 years investigating Russian leader Vladimir Putin and who is recognised as perhaps Russia's finest investigative journalist has told FRANCE 24 that Putin's aim with the war in Ukraine is simply to prolong his power inside Russia. Roman Badanin has just published a book, "Le Tsar en personne" or "The Tsar in person" which delves into exactly how Putin's mind works. Badanin says Putin acts like a gang member, and his attitude is that "if you beat me, I will beat you even harder". The book is so far out in Russian and French, with an English version to foll

World

Author Katie Kitamura on why her book 'Audition' is also 'made by the reader'

The author Katie Kitamura, whose latest book has been nominated for both a Pulitzer and Booker Prize, has spoken to FRANCE 24 about her aim for the book to have been written by herself, but also with the reader alongside her. "Audition" tells the story of an acclaimed actress whose life is turned upside down when a charismatic young man tells her he is her son. Kitamura says we all play different parts in our lives, and she is fascinated by the way they all interact. She spoke to us in Perspective.

World

Thomas Chatterton Williams on how Covid-19, George Floyd protests affected US social justice

An acclaimed American author has spoken to FRANCE 24 about his theories on how American society's opinion and ideas of social justice have changed since the presidency of Barack Obama. Thomas Chatterton Williams says the left became disillusioned during Obama's second term, and in later years amid the George Floyd protests and Covid-19 pandemic the discourse shifted – initially for the left, but this also impacted the right. The ripples of those times are still resonating today. His latest book is entitled "Summer of Our Discontent: The Age of Certainty and the Demise of Discourse".

Politics

Greenland agreement 'doesn't really give the US many more rights', expert says

As the US, Denmark and Greenland itself sign an agreement on Greenland's security, we've been asking what difference it will actually make. Our expert says the deal won't really give the US many more rights, but that US President Donald Trump wanted to prevent at all costs the tiny risk of Greenland turning towards China. He adds that for Trump voters, if you inflate the risk, people will talk about it and see you're acting. We spoke in Perspective to Mikaa Blugeon-Mered, Senior Researcher on Hydrogen and Arctic Affairs at the Canada Research Chair in Clean Hydrogen at the University of Québec

Politics

Sorbonne Professor Hans Stark: 'Merz is in a very, very fragile situation'

The far right AfD claims it has become Germany’s new “people’s party”. The statement comes after AfD claimed its second regional election win in as many weeks, ramping up pressure on the poorly performing CDU and Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The far-left party also advanced, winning its third regional election thanks to its latest victory in Berlin. Perspective spoke to Hans Stark, professor in contemporary German civilization at Sorbonne University, who said that Merz is now in a very fragile situation, but that there is no obvious candidate to take over from him.