Latest news: France
Star struck Tokyo
The latest Michelin guide dished out a total of 191 stars to 150 restaurants in Tokyo, making it the most starred city in the world, beating Paris. The stars are awarded to establishments excelling in cuisine, service and décor. Paris still has the greatest concentration of top-rated restaurants however and boasts ten three Michelin-starred establishments. This latest guide is the first time Michelin has ventured into Asia.
Health care latest
For those worried about how the new health-care ruling affects expats in France, there is a new website dedicated to challenging the ruling. The site, www.frenchhealthissues.eu contains a list of frequently asked questions, useful links as well as updated information on how to lobby your local or European MP. Those who wish to find out more about the law can also consult the Living France forum on www.livingfrance.com
Power to the people
The French government is to sell off a stake in Électricité de France, the state-owned power supplier, to fund higher education. A small percentage of shares – between 2.5 and 3.7 per cent – will be sold to raise some €5 billion (£3.61 billion) which will be spent on universities. The move is part of Sarkozy’s wider plan to boost the national economy and reduce state debt levels and budget deficits to be in line with EU norms. The state currently owns 87 per cent of the utility giant and is required by law to retain at least 70 per cent.
Caught in the middle
The centre of French politics has been shaken up by the creation of a new party, MoDem. The Mouvement Démocrate replaces the Union pour la Démocratie Française (the UDF), home of the centrists for nearly 30 years. MoDem is headed by François Bayrou who came third in May’s presidential elections after Ségolène Royal and the victorious Sarkozy. The former education minister gained 18 per cent of the vote in the elections and was elected unopposed to lead the new party.