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About Patrice de Beer

Patrice de Beer is former London and Washington correspondent for Le Monde

Articles by Patrice de Beer

Bonjour Tristesse

Patrice de Beer 17 April 2013

French parliamentarians – left or right, including the Socialist Speaker of the House – stick tooth and nail to their perks. The opposition is crying out against what they call being taken back to the times of Robespierre's “Terror” under the French Revolution.

Stephane Hessel: the ultimate European

Patrice de Beer 3 March 2013

How could someone be more European than Hessel by origin, shared culture and values - his cross-border, supranational vision making us ashamed of our weaknesses, our lack of vision and courage?

Ah la Françafrique!

Patrice de Beer 22 January 2013

The present crisis raises a number of crucial questions, for France, Mali, the EU and our globalised world.

Elections in Catalonia: it takes two to tango

Patrice de Beer 28 November 2012

On Sunday November 25, the Catalan elections illustrated the fact that, in politics, nothing is ever sure. But also, and more importantly, that nothing is ever as simple as politicians would like it to be.

The French right's lose-lose election

Patrice de Beer 26 November 2012

Former president Sarkozy's UMP party is torn apart by the trial of strength between former PM Fillon and Party chair Copé. Both have claimed victory in last week's extremely tight election, pointing to several cases of fraud. Many fear this might result in an implosion of the party and a reconfiguration of the French right.

Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia: changing but unsinkable

Patrice de Beer 16 October 2012

It is too easy for armchair analysts, in the cosyness of their far away study, to deliver a death sentence to the historical reputation of a man who did what he thought was the only, the final thing to be done.

“Idiots trying to trap other idiots”

Patrice de Beer 21 September 2012

The choice is difficult: none of the alternatives easy to accept. But is it not the case that those who riot in the Arab world or in our own capitals represent only a minute fraction of the billion plus Muslims in the world? Even if many were indeed shocked by this mockery.

Homage to Catalonia (revisited)

Patrice de Beer 14 September 2012

As Catalans massively take to the streets of Barcelona to demand independence, we are reminded that the Catalonian question is far from settled. And the current economic crisis exacerbates old, underlying tensions.

The Olympics madness

Patrice de Beer 8 August 2012

Nationalism, chauvinism and greed have overtaken the Olympic games to an absurd degree, says Patrice de Beer.

François Hollande and France: the big test

Patrice de Beer 19 June 2012

The new French president has consolidated his authority with a decisive win in the legislative elections. But the challenges he faces now get much steeper

The loneliness of the long distance politician

Patrice de Beer 13 June 2012

Sarko’s lack of fluency in English will probably stop him from joining the even better-paid world circuit of guest speakers, unlike Bill Clinton or Tony Blair.

France, a political tightrope

Patrice de Beer 23 May 2012

The aftermath of the presidential election is also the prelude to a parliamentary vote whose outcome is crucial to Francois Hollande's leadership, says Patrice de Beer.

François Hollande and France: the big deal

Patrice de Beer 8 May 2012

A new socialist president brings the promise of change to France and Europe, says Patrice de Beer.

France: towards a new right

Patrice de Beer 1 May 2012

The first round of France’s presidential election leaves the incumbent president, Nicolas Sarkozy, in a tight corner. Its result also presages a longer struggle over the future shape of the country's political right, says Patrice de Beer.

France: a politics out of time

Patrice de Beer 3 April 2012

The tragedy in Toulouse has changed the atmosphere of France's presidential-election campaign. The emergence of a left-wing candidate makes the first-round outcome even harder to predict. But beneath the drama, the country's politics remain far behind a changing society, says Patrice de Beer.

France's election: looking for light

Patrice de Beer 6 February 2012
France's disillusion extends beyond the country's president to its political class, economy and sense of social direction. The beneficiaries may include the far-right Marine Le Pen as well as the centre-left François Hollande, says Patrice de Beer.

2011, the two winners

Patrice de Beer 22 December 2011
The hopes of liberation from dictatorship and penury shine less brightly at the end of this year of movement, says Patrice de Beer.

Nicolas Sarkozy: on the precipice

Patrice de Beer 5 October 2011
An insipid economy, a tornado of scandal, anaemic support, an alienated core, internecine war on the right, a show of opposition unity - France’s president faces a perfect storm all of his making. But are these really Sarkozy’s last days, asks Patrice de Beer.

The French left and 2012

Patrice de Beer 24 August 2011
The ending of the legal case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn leaves France’s socialists still looking for a strategy - and a candidate - able to defeat Nicolas Sarkozy in 2012. They have a tough legacy to overcome, says Patrice de Beer.

The scandal of France: power and shame

Patrice de Beer 8 June 2011
The arrest in New York of the head of the International Monetary Fund and leading French politician on charges of sexual misconduct is a confusing and revelatory moment in France's public life. Whatever the legal outcome of Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s case some uncomfortable truths have to be faced, says Patrice de Beer.

This week's guest editors

openGlobalRights editors

Our guest editors James Ron, Leslie Vinjamuri, Sophie Arie and Archana Pandya introduce this week's theme of:

Emerging powers and human rights.

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European Union stars in Paris. Flickr/notarim. Some rights reserved.

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