Les Décodeurs

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In Graphs

Bayrou's tenure as PM was the fourth shortest of France's Fifth Republic

François Bayrou stayed in office for three times longer than his predecessor, Michel Barnier.

Published yesterday at 7:07 pm (Paris), updated yesterday at 8:05 pm Manon Romain Pierre Breteau

In Depth Subscribers only

After French PM's ousting, what happens next?

French Prime Minister François Bayrou's government was ousted by the Assemblée Nationale on Monday, leaving President Emmanuel Macron as the sole guarantor of the state's continuity.

Published yesterday at 7:06 pm (Paris), updated yesterday at 8:09 pm Noa Moussa

In Depth Subscribers only

Did Macron really add €1 trillion to France's national debt?

While this figure often cited by opposition parties is misleading, France's debt has risen significantly under Emmanuel Macron's presidency, partly due to his tax policy decisions.

Published on September 7, 2025, at 3:24 am (Paris) Maxime Vaudano

News Subscribers only

French former MEP Jérôme Rivière convicted of aggravated tax fraud

The former lawmaker was found guilty of having withheld €387,000 from French tax authorities through offshore arrangements in Hong Kong.

Published on September 4, 2025, at 3:31 am (Paris) Abdelhak El Idrissi Anne Michel

In Graphs Subscribers only

Israeli settlement in the West Bank has accelerated since October 7, 2023

While the population of Israeli settlers in the West Bank has grown steadily for more than 50 years, the number of illegal outposts has surged dramatically in the past two years.

Published on September 3, 2025, at 5:00 pm (Paris) Pierre Breteau

In Depth Subscribers only

How Republicans and Democrats are redrawing US congressional maps to their advantage

The battle over redistricting is intensifying in the US ahead of the crucial November 2026 midterm elections, with maneuvers from Texas to California likely to shape the outcome.

Published on August 31, 2025, at 6:01 am (Paris), updated on September 1, 2025, at 11:05 am Manon Romain

In Depth Subscribers only

Is France's debt situation as worrying as PM François Bayrou claims?

The French prime minister justifies the €44 billion in budgetary efforts he is demanding for 2026 by citing the worrying state of public finances. But is the situation really that dire?

Published on August 29, 2025, at 5:00 am (Paris), updated on August 29, 2025, at 10:54 am Romain Imbach Léa Prati

In Graphs

Will France's government collapse? Do the math with our simulator

To survive the confidence vote on September 8, Prime Minister François Bayrou must secure a majority of votes cast in the Assemblée Nationale. Abstentions and absences will not be counted.

Published on August 28, 2025, at 11:35 am (Paris), updated on August 28, 2025, at 11:49 am Pierre Breteau Maxime Vaudano

News Subscribers only

How Ligue 1 became one of the most unstable leagues for coaches

According to calculations by Le Monde, since 2010, an average of 13 football coaches have been dismissed or have resigned each year in Ligue 1.

Published on August 17, 2025, at 11:30 am (Paris) Assma Maad Adel Miliani

News Subscribers only

Four misconceptions about tanning, sunburns and their effects on the skin

'Sunscreen is pointless for darker skin.' 'Sunburns help you tan.' 'Swimming soothes burns.' Every summer, misconceptions about sun exposure persist despite scientific evidence to the contrary.

Published on August 16, 2025, at 3:06 am (Paris), updated on August 16, 2025, at 9:53 am Romain Geoffroy Adel Miliani

In Depth Subscribers only

How France's 1975 amicable divorce law transformed gender relations

On July 11, 1975, France authorized divorce by mutual consent, marking a turning point for couples.

Published on August 2, 2025, at 5:00 am (Paris) Iris Derœux Léa Prati

News

How is the strength of an earthquake measured?

Intensity, magnitude, the Mercalli scale: Since the 1960s, seismologists have stopped using the famous Richter scale, preferring to use a moment magnitude scale, which is based on physical measurements.

Published on July 30, 2025, at 11:45 pm (Paris), updated on July 31, 2025, at 7:45 am Romain Imbach

News Subscribers only

Suing the state in France: How does this universal right work in practice?

Climate, health, femicides: Lawsuits against the state have surged in recent years. Beyond securing compensation for victims, these legal procedures primarily aim to raise public awareness and drive change.

Published on July 30, 2025, at 5:00 am (Paris), updated on July 30, 2025, at 5:57 am Noa Moussa

Investigation Subscribers only

Brief ownership of Malta-based Unibet subsidiary could be costly for gambling giant FDJ

By acquiring Unibet, FDJ United briefly inherited Trannel, a Maltese subsidiary embroiled in major legal disputes in Europe, before urgently selling it off to an opaque entrepreneur. That sale could end up costing France's leading gambling company.

Published on July 29, 2025, at 2:01 pm (Paris) Jérémie Baruch

Op-Ed Subscribers only

'The Epstein case is a new version of the classic conspiracy against authentic America'

Political scientist Julien Giry, an expert on American conspiracy theories, explores the conspiracy logic triggered by the death of the businessman and the political exploitation that ultimately put Donald Trump on the defensive.

Published on July 20, 2025, at 10:01 am (Paris) Julien Giry

Explainer Subscribers only

A day off or not? Making sense of France's public holidays

With 11 public holidays each year, France falls slightly below the European average. Prime Minister François Bayrou has proposed scrapping two of them, arguing this would save €4.2 billion annually.

Published on July 19, 2025, at 5:30 am (Paris), updated on July 19, 2025, at 9:38 am Romain Geoffroy, Romain Imbach, Pierre Breteau and Manon Romain

Investigation Subscribers only

Billionaire investigated for alleged illegal funding of Le Pen's RN party

Le Monde has learned that investor Pierre-Edouard Stérin was questioned by judicial police in June 2024 for his suspected role in a system of electoral loans to the far-right party in 2020 and 2021.

Published on July 10, 2025, at 5:04 pm (Paris), updated on July 10, 2025, at 5:33 pm Abdelhak El Idrissi Clément Guillou

Investigation Subscribers only

Frontex unlawfully shared thousands of people's personal data with European police

In the name of combating migrant smugglers, the European Union's border surveillance agency spent years collecting information on migrants and civil society activists deemed 'suspect,' before passing it on to Europol, the EU police cooperation agency.

Published on July 7, 2025, at 3:58 pm (Paris), updated on July 7, 2025, at 4:14 pm Apostolis Fotiadis Lola Hierro Ludek Stavinoha

Investigation Subscribers only

European Parliament accuses far-right members of illegally funding nonprofits

For years, far-right parties, including Marine Le Pen's Rassemblement National, distributed money to various associations, using funds intended for their parliamentary group's operations. The European Parliament deems the practice illegal.

Published on July 3, 2025, at 4:37 pm (Paris) Jérémie Baruch, Clément Guillou, Anne Michel, Vincent Nouvet and Maxime Vaudano

Investigation Subscribers only

Far-right RN and allies face new embezzlement scandal at European Parliament

The now-defunct far-right Identity and Democracy group, which included Marine Le Pen's Rassemblement National, misused €4.3 million in operating funds, according to a confidential report revealed by Le Monde and its partners.

Published on July 3, 2025, at 12:58 pm (Paris), updated on July 3, 2025, at 4:44 pm Jérémie Baruch, Clément Guillou, Anne Michel, Vincent Nouvet and Maxime Vaudano

Investigation Subscribers only

Former Interpol official wanted by French authorities arrested

Vitalie Pirlog is suspected of using his knowledge of the international agency to have red notices against around 30 fugitives suspended. Wanted under a French arrest warrant, he was arrested in the United Arab Emirates.

Published on June 21, 2025, at 2:30 pm (Paris) Jérémie Baruch Abdelhak El Idrissi

Explainer

How close is Iran to having nuclear weapons?

Israel has bombed strategic sites in Iran, which it said could soon produce a nuclear weapon. Tehran had announced it was increasing its production of enriched uranium, amid stalled talks with the United States.

Published on June 19, 2025, at 10:31 am (Paris), updated on June 19, 2025, at 6:05 pm Pierre Breteau Zoé Multeau Manon Romain

Long Read Subscribers only

Artificial intelligence consumes massive amounts of energy. Here's why

From developing models to their everyday use, generative AI has proven to be extremely energy-hungry. Le Monde breaks down the reasons behind this voracious demand, as their user base continues to expand.

Published on June 14, 2025, at 8:30 pm (Paris), updated on June 14, 2025, at 8:54 pm Léa Prati Romain Geoffroy

News Subscribers only

French NGO sues arms producer Eurolinks, seeking truth on alleged components delivery to Israel

Following several press reports, the French League for the Defense of Human Rights wants the courts to clarify whether the Marseille-based company is responsible for supplying Israel with parts used to link machine gun bullets.

Published on June 12, 2025, at 11:54 am (Paris) Anne Michel

In Graphs Subscribers only

How the serve became key in modern tennis

In tennis, a strong serve provides a decisive advantage – even at the French Open, where the court's clay surface typically dampens the power of first serves.

Published on June 1, 2025, at 2:00 pm (Paris) Lara Pino Lerro

Investigation Subscribers only

EU-Israel scientific collaborations face criticism over potential military use

Israeli companies and universities are involved in hundreds of research projects funded by the European Union. Left-wing politicians and NGOs fear that European money could help enhance Israel's military capabilities.

Published on May 31, 2025, at 5:08 pm (Paris), updated on June 9, 2025, at 3:24 pm Maxime Vaudano

In Graphs

Does it really rain at every French Open?

The Parisian Grand Slam tennis tournament takes place almost entirely outdoors, and weather-related interruptions are common.

Published on May 28, 2025, at 7:00 pm (Paris), updated on May 28, 2025, at 9:16 pm Benjamin Bruel Anne-Aël Durand Maxime Ferrer

Investigation Subscribers only

French election authorities scrutinize Jordan Bardella's 2024 European campaign funding

Documents from the National Commission for Campaign Accounts reveal that the far-right candidate borrowed over €4 million from individuals. Some of these loans potentially contravene electoral law.

Published on May 22, 2025, at 2:57 pm (Paris), updated on May 26, 2025, at 11:55 am Abdelhak El Idrissi Anne Michel

Explainer Subscribers only

How the Elysée adapted its communication style to tackle Macron cocaine rumor

To counter rumors that Emmanuel Macron had used cocaine, France has shelved its traditional diplomatic communication to issue a sharp and sarcastic online response, much like Ukraine's official accounts.

Published on May 16, 2025, at 5:30 am (Paris), updated on May 16, 2025, at 6:02 pm William Audureau

News

The Elysée debunks rumor that President Macron hid cocaine

Pro-Russian X accounts have attempted to use blurry photos to portray a used tissue as a bag of the drug. This slanderous rumor has been a recurring accusation against the French leader since he was first elected in 2017.

Published on May 12, 2025, at 4:43 pm (Paris) William Audureau

Investigation Subscribers only

Banking secrecy: Switzerland clamps down on journalists but uses their revelations

A law in the country prohibits exploiting banking data leaks without any exception for public interest. Yet Swiss authorities have relied on the press to scrutinize the malpractices of banks, as revealed by our new investigation into Reyl.

Published on May 9, 2025, at 1:37 am (Paris), updated on May 9, 2025, at 7:47 am Maxime Vaudano

In Depth Subscribers only

'Conclave': Is the film faithful to reality?

Edward Berger's thriller portrays a relentless and twist-filled campaign to elect the new pope, with some deviations from the practices and rules of conclaves.

Published on May 8, 2025, at 4:00 am (Paris), updated on May 8, 2025, at 11:23 am Maxime Vaudano

News Subscribers only

French prosecutors seize properties of Ukrainian business executive's family

Oleksandr Boguslayev, the son of the former head of a leading Ukrainian aviation company accused of collaborating with Russia, is suspected of laundering millions of euros in real estate on the French Riviera. He was taken into custody and his assets have been seized by French authorities.

Published on May 2, 2025, at 4:30 pm (Paris) Abdelhak El Idrissi

News Subscribers only

War in Ukraine: Here is what Kyiv's allies and opponents propose to obtain peace

Diplomatic initiatives are multiplying to end the conflict, but significant disagreements persist among Ukrainians, Russians, Americans and Europeans regarding the conditions for a lasting peace.

Published on April 26, 2025, at 4:59 am (Paris) Assma Maad

In Graphs Subscribers only

Five charts to understand how China can retort to Trump's trade war

Donald Trump has reignited his trade war against China. But Beijing has several tools at its disposal to defend itself, including its control of the yuan, domination of the rare earths market, and the US Treasury bonds it holds.

Published on April 21, 2025, at 6:00 pm (Paris), updated on April 23, 2025, at 9:56 am Léa Prati Lara Pino Lerro

Explainer Subscribers only

Why are diplomatic relations between France and Algeria so strained?

Western Sahara, deportation of immigrants, the Boualem Sansal case: an analysis of the tensions poisoning Franco-Algerian relations since the summer of 2024.

Published on April 18, 2025, at 4:00 am (Paris), updated on April 22, 2025, at 5:40 pm Les Décodeurs

Explainer Subscribers only

What makes Wes Anderson's style so unique?

The American filmmaker has created around 20 short and feature films with his own colorful and poetic touch. But what makes his films so distinctive? After 19 hours of viewing, Le Monde's Les Décodeurs offer you a brief guide to the world of Wes Anderson.

Published on April 14, 2025, at 8:00 pm (Paris), updated on April 14, 2025, at 8:09 pm Pierre Breteau

Explainer

Tariffs and stock markets: A glossary to help understand the crisis sparked by Trump

Capitulation, protectionism, safe haven asset, bear market: Le Monde put together a glossary of vocabulary to grasp the economic stakes behind US President Donald Trump's tariff increases.

Published on April 10, 2025, at 7:30 pm (Paris), updated on April 13, 2025, at 2:15 pm Léa Prati Romain Imbach William Audureau

News Subscribers only

'Dark Bank': US judge clears extradition of suspect in money laundering case to France

A man suspected of having laundered over €1 billion was arrested in Texas, in August 2024, at the request of French investigators. The final decision to extradite him to France is now in the US Secretary of State's hands.

Published on April 9, 2025, at 2:28 pm (Paris) Abdelhak El Idrissi

Investigation Subscribers only

Swiss bank Reyl under investigation for negligence on dirty money

Confidential documents reveal that Reyl has housed politically sensitive figures' wealth without consistent respect for anti-money laundering rules. It is currently under investigation by the Swiss financial regulatory authority.

Published on April 9, 2025, at 10:29 am (Paris) Maxime Vaudano

Explainer Subscribers only

What Marine Le Pen was accused of in her fake jobs trial

The court highlighted the 'central role' played by the far-right in the system set up to embezzle money from the European Parliament by using funds allocated for parliamentary assistants to pay for staff working for her party.

Published on March 31, 2025, at 2:38 pm (Paris), updated on March 31, 2025, at 3:31 pm Assma Maad

News

What is celebrated on Eid al-Fitr?

On Sunday, Muslims celebrate the end of the fasting practiced during the month of Ramadan.

Published on March 29, 2025, at 6:16 pm (Paris) Anne-Aël Durand

In Depth Subscribers only

Can Europe rearm and defend itself without the US?

Making Europe capable of defending itself alone calls the use of American equipment into question. Governments will need to place solid orders over the next 20 years to achieve this goal.

Published on March 14, 2025, at 4:00 am (Paris) Gary Dagorn

In Depth Subscribers only

Trump's newspeak: A semantic war in the federal government

In just a few weeks, the US president has embarked on an impressive lexical blitzkrieg with strong ideological content.

Published on March 3, 2025, at 7:00 pm (Paris) William Audureau Maxime Vaudano

News Subscribers only

EU sanctions Promtech, company suspected of supplying Russian army

On Monday, February 24, the European Council unveiled its 16th set of sanctions, targeting a Russian company whose practices were revealed in an investigation by Le Monde last year.

Published on February 25, 2025, at 2:55 pm (Paris) Adrien Sénécat Maxime Vaudano

Interview Subscribers only

Increasingly progressive women and conservative men: Why the ideological divide is widening among young people

Far from their reputation as 'woke,' the younger generations are divided on feminist issues, which is reflected in their political affiliation, notes political scientist Anja Durovic.

Published on February 23, 2025, at 6:00 pm (Paris) Iris Derœux

Explainer Subscribers only

Why is French PM Bayrou under fire over accusations of abuse in a Catholic school?

Former pupils of a Catholic school in the Pyrenées have complained of sexual and physical abuse, and François Bayrou, who has ties to the school, has been accused by political opponents of dishonesty over his knowledge of the allegations.

Published on February 21, 2025, at 5:00 am (Paris), updated on April 24, 2025, at 2:44 pm William Audureau, Romain Imbach, Adel Miliani, Léa Prati and Maxime Vaudano

Explainer

Germany: What to know about the February 23 elections

Amid a tense political backdrop, marked by polls favoring the far right, Germany's early parliamentary elections will serve to test the new proportional representation system established last July.

Published on February 21, 2025, at 4:00 am (Paris), updated on February 24, 2025, at 11:58 am Pierre Breteau

Investigation Subscribers only

Covid-19: How a group of amateur investigators pushed the lab-leak theory

For the past five years, DRASTIC, a group of internet users with no expertise in virology, has been pushing their hypothesis of a research accident in a Chinese laboratory. Once branded as conspiracy theorists, they now have the attention of the World Health Organization and the US government.

Published on February 18, 2025, at 6:00 pm (Paris) William Audureau

In Depth Subscribers only

Winter has been particularly gray in France. What are the health effects of a lack of sun?

Missing the sun? That's normal. A lack of natural light has consequences on physical and mental health.

Published on February 17, 2025, at 5:00 am (Paris), updated on February 17, 2025, at 11:24 am Gary Dagorn Adel Miliani

Timeline Subscribers only

How Trump and Musk set out to dismantle USAID

In just 20 days, US President Donald Trump and his close advisors have frozen the functioning of the development aid agency created in 1961.

Published on February 13, 2025, at 8:00 pm (Paris) Manon Romain Romain Imbach Romain Geoffroy

Investigation Subscribers only

Personal data for sale: The out-of-control industry of data brokers

The geolocated personal data of millions of users is aggregated by data brokers, under dubious conditions. They constitute a threat to personal privacy, reveals an investigation by Le Monde and several international media partners

Published on February 12, 2025, at 8:00 pm (Paris), updated on February 13, 2025, at 9:42 am Adrien Sénécat, Martin Untersinger, Elsa Delmas, Léa Girardot and Anne Morel

Round-up

What's in the French state's 2025 budget

On Thursday, France's budget was finally adopted after a two-month delay. Here are some of the measures in the legislation.

Published on February 7, 2025, at 5:00 am (Paris), updated on February 7, 2025, at 11:55 am William Audureau, Aude Dassonville, Iris Derœux, Maxime Ferrer, Assma Maad, Manon Romain and Maxime Vaudano

Investigation Subscribers only

On the trail of Tarik Kerbouci, the elusive French drug baron

Tarik Kerbouci, a French drug kingpin known as 'Bison,' suspected of orchestrating major cocaine shipments, has so far thwarted the law by using his networks, which stretch between France, the United Arab Emirates and Algeria.

Published on February 5, 2025, at 8:30 pm (Paris) Jérémie Baruch Abdelhak El Idrissi Thomas Saintourens

News Subscribers only

Those affected by pollution demand that Ursula von der Leyen 'ban PFAs now'

Communities and residents of polluted sites have been mobilizing across Europe in recent days in response to revelations by 'Le Monde and its partners concerning the cost of failing to take action against 'forever chemicals.'

Published on February 1, 2025, at 2:30 am (Paris), updated on February 1, 2025, at 2:11 pm Stéphane Horel

Explainer Subscribers only

What Trump did on Day 1

The US president signed 26 executive orders, 12 memoranda and four proclamations on his first day in office, January 20, on immigration, justice or even the climate. These are a look into what his presidency will be like.

Published on January 26, 2025, at 2:00 pm (Paris), updated on May 2, 2025, at 3:51 pm Grégor Brandy Pierre Breteau

News Subscribers only

PFAS: France's drinking water is massively contaminated by 'forever chemicals,' including in Paris

Two separate campaigns conducted by the Eurofins laboratory and the UFC-Que Choisir and Générations Futures associations reveal high concentrations of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA).

Published on January 24, 2025, at 5:00 am (Paris), updated on July 4, 2025, at 10:41 am Raphaëlle Aubert, Stéphane Foucart, Stéphane Horel and Stéphane Mandard

Explainer Subscribers only

Dry January: Five common misconceptions about alcohol consumption

'Wine is great for the heart, abstinence is useless, it's a youth problem...' Incorrect ideas about alcohol are hard to overcome despite scientific findings.

Published on January 17, 2025, at 8:00 pm (Paris) Romain Geoffroy

News analysis Subscribers only

Lobbying campaign against PFAS ban highlights opacity of European decision-making

The investigation into 'forever chemicals' carried out by Le Monde and its partners reveals a lack of traceability in the exchanges between public authorities and PFAS manufacturers and users.

Published on January 17, 2025, at 9:00 am (Paris) Stéphane Horel

Investigation Subscribers only

When industry manipulates science to prevent a PFAS ban

A scientific article funded by an American lobbying organization for the chemical industry, widely quoted by stakeholders to influence decision-makers, illustrates a wider strategy to create doubt.

Published on January 16, 2025, at 6:01 pm (Paris), updated on January 16, 2025, at 6:02 pm Stéphane Horel

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