French Fifth Republic

French President Emmanuel Macron and his far-right rival Marine Le Pen were on April 11 preparing for two weeks of tough campaigning after they reached a run-off of presidential elections that promises to be far tighter than their encounter five years ago.

French lawmakers approved a bill on Thursday to completely remove the word "race" from the country's law books, but the initiative has been blasted as naïve and useless by right-wing opponents.

PARIS (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Paris on Saturday to protest against the stream of economic reforms brought in by French president Emmanuel Macron since coming to power a year ago.

It is often said that in their president the French like to elect a king. But for one to be able to rule he also needs a parliamentary majority, a wish French voters have consistently granted in the Fifth Republic.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has named a group of relative unknowns to senior government cabinet posts over traditional allies after a series of high-profile resignations.

As a spokesman announced the names of ministers appointed, political analysts said many voters would be left asking: “Who?”

President Emmanuel Macron's allies from the under-fire MoDem party quit the government, complicating what had been billed as a routine ministerial reshuffle days after his party emphatically won parliamentary elections.

France's justice minister Francois Bayrou, a key ally of President Emmanuel Macron, told AFP Wednesday he was quitting the government, as his party battles a funding scandal.

French Defense Minister Sylvie Goulard announced her resignation yesterday over a fake jobs scandal that has hit her small centrist MoDem party, allied with President Emmanuel Macron's party.

French President Emmanuel Macron's trailblazing centrist party on June 19 savored an election victory that gave it a strong majority in parliament, redrawing the country's political map and giving the young leader a strong hand to implement business-friendly reforms.

French President Emmanuel Macron won a large majority in the lower house of parliament Sunday, freeing his hand to implement far-reaching reforms.