B-Side: Élysée-come, Élysée-go
Summary
Quiet Riot B-Side features guest Olivier Muriel discussing France’s escalating student strikes over crumbling schools and the political fallout for Prime Minister Sébastien Le Cornu. The conversation analyzes the 2027 presidential election landscape, focusing on Marine Le Pen’s legal battles, the internal power struggles within the far-right, and the potential for a "Republican Front" against the National Rally. The episode also touches on broader European economic challenges and concludes with a lighthearted segment on British mudlarking.
Topics discussed
Intro: UK-EU relations and France's response
Show intro and context on UK politics
Olivier's tips for visiting London and French culture
Overview of the French student strikes
Causes of the uprising: infrastructure and education
Police violence and human rights concerns
Political fallout and government response
Historical context: Cahiers de Doléance and cynicism
Long-term structural issues in French education
How the French presidential election works
Marine Le Pen's legal status and candidacy
Polling and the 'Republican Front' strategy
Sponsor segment: Shopify
Jordan Bardella scandal and anti-Semitic allegations
Internal power struggles within the National Rally
European debt crisis and economic policy
Feature: Emmylou Vaxby and mudlarking on the Thames
Outro and sign-off
Listen ad-free on Castria