Royal Takes on Socialist `Elephants' in French Presidential Bid

Sept. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Segolene Royal, campaigning to be France's first woman president, has graced the front of every major newsweekly -- and two celebrity magazines -- since declaring her possible candidacy last year. One cover this summer had her in a turquoise bikini.

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Chirac's New TV Network Aims to Project French Language, Clout

Dec. 6 (Bloomberg) -- In 2002, as the U.S. drowned out French objections to the invasion of Iraq, President Jacques Chirac had an idea: create a global television channel to promote the Gallic point of view.

Four years later, Chirac, 74, is set to open a new front in his effort to stem his nation's declining influence in world affairs when France 24, an around-the-clock television network in French and English, goes on the air tomorrow.

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French Lawmakers Scrap Disputed Youth-Labor Contract

April 12 (Bloomberg) -- French lawmakers approved a compromise youth-labor law after they voted to officially bury a disputed version President Jacques Chirac scrapped two days ago.

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Veolia's Proglio Denies Chirac Vetoed Suez Ambitions

March 5 (Bloomberg) -- Veolia Environnement SA Chief Executive Officer Henri Proglio said he didn't cave in to political pressure from French President Jacques Chirac to abandon talks on a joint bid for Suez SA with Italy's Enel SpA.

``I wasn't forbidden to do anything,'' he said in an interview in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he is accompanying Chirac on a trip designed to improve trade ties with the world's biggest oil producer. ``I represent a private company. I don't need approval.''

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Chirac Says France Wants to End Ban on Nuclear Exports to India

Feb. 17 (Bloomberg) -- France supports ending the international ban on nuclear-technology exports to India, allowing companies such as Areva SA to supply plants to meet India's growing energy needs, President Jacques Chirac said.
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Chirac's Trip to India May Be Overshadowed by Mittal

Feb. 16 (Bloomberg) -- French President Jacques Chirac, visiting New Delhi next week, may find his call for increased trade overshadowed by the uproar over Indian businessman Lakshmi Mittal's attempt to take over a European steelmaker.
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European Economies: ECB Raises Inflation, Growth Forecasts

Nov. 30 (Bloomberg) -- The European Central Bank raised its 2006 inflation and economic growth forecasts for the 12 countries sharing the euro, a person familiar with the matter said. The bank has signaled it's preparing to increase interest rates as soon as tomorrow to keep inflation under control.
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