Talking France is back with an update on all things protest-related in the country, why it might soon be easier to get a doctor’s appointment in rural France, and where in the country locals speak the ‘purest’ French.
Host Ben McPartland is joined by The Local France’s Emma Pearson, Emma Albright, and politics expert John Lichfield to discuss the latest from France.
You can find the Talking France podcast on Spotify, Apple or the French platform Deezer or on World Radio Paris. You can download it here or listen to the full episode on the link below.
First, we take a look at an intense week of protests in France and what to expect in the coming days. Then we turn to tear gas – or lacrymo, as the French call it – and the growing concerns over the police’s use of it.
We also look at whether the French government is increasingly restricting the right to protest, with several demonstrations having their requested routes blocked or changed.
It’s no secret that getting a doctor’s appointment can be a real challenge if you live in rural France. But that could soon start to change.
The French health ministry has promised several million additional appointment slots over the coming months, with doctors being sent closer to the patients who need them. We explain how the scheme will work and whether it could make a difference.
For centuries, the Loire Valley and city of Tours has had a reputation for elegant pronunciation, with some even claiming that locals speak the best French in the country. The reputation is linked to historical roots, dating back to the 16th century, when the French spoken in the region was considered a model of good pronunciation.
But is there really such a thing as the ‘purest’ French?
We’ve also got some good news for anyone travelling between France and the UK with food in their luggage. The UK and EU have agreed on a treaty that will remove checks on food products containing animal ingredients – including meat, cheese and dairy. And speaking of cheese, we’ve got a poll on the website asking you to tell us which French cheese is your favourite.
And finally, we finish with gentilés – the French word for the names given to people who live in a particular town or city. Some are fairly straightforward, like Parisiens or Bordelais, while others are considerably more complicated, unusual and sometimes even quite funny.
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