Talking France

France's new language test rules explained and how will the farmers' 'siege of Paris' end?

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Episode notes

The country’s farmers are staging a siege of Paris and no one quite knows how it’s going to play out, how long this siege will last for, or whether the country is headed for some serious unrest… again. We explain all the latest developments for you.

And a big law change affecting foreign residents in France has seen the government toughen the French language requirements for certain residency permits and for gaining French citizenship. It's caused a bit of a stir but we run through exactly what changes.


And as well as all that we’ll find out the story of the so-called Belly of Paris and on the subject of bellies we’ll tell why the French get all superstitious on Friday (at the same times as stuffing their faces with crêpes.)


Ben McPartland your host is joined by The Local France's Editor Emma Pearson, journalist Gen Mansfield and politics expert John Lichfield.


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