Evening Update 10 November 2025
Nicolas Sarkosy is set to be released from prison after a decision by the Paris Court of Appeal this afternoon. He has been incarcerated for the past twenty days. However, the former president remains under judicial supervision. He is prohibited from leaving France and is not allowed to contact French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin or any of the witnesses in his case. Sarkosy was found guilty of knowingly allowing his associates to seek election campaign financing from former Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi. He has always maintained his innocence, saying today that he would never confess to something he “didn’t do”.
President Macron is scheduled to meet the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, tomorrow. The meeting will be the first between the two leaders since France officially recognised the Palestinian State in September. The Elysees said that they would discuss the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the next steps in the peace plan.
Gendarmes in Cannes have arrested six people and seized 170 kg of cannabis as well as several weapons and vehicles. The Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes said that the operation had dealt “a significant blow to drug trafficking”. Meanwhile, authorities in the Var have raided a local cannabis trafficking operation. Gendarmes in Bargemon seized nearly 5 kg of cannabis and several illegally held weapons during an anti-drugs operation.
Staff are on strike at the Jean Giono middle school in the Saint-Roch district of Nice today. They are protesting at their working conditions. The strike follows industrial action taken by staff at the school last week.
Radiologists in private practice in France are taking industrial action today. They are protesting at reductions in tarrifs imposed by the health insurance system.
Five apartments have been destroyed by fire during a rap video shoot in a suburb of Lyon. Authorities allege that the fire was started when fireworks were directed at police. The local mayor said that it is “a miracle” that no lives were lost.
It looks like some unusually warm weather is on the way for some areas of France this week. Meteo France have said that a southerly airflow around midweek will be “remarkably warm” for the season and temperatures could reach 20°C in Burgundy.
A reminder that tomorrow, the 11th of November, is a public holiday in France. Local government offices will be closed in observance of Armistice Day.