Le Pen has transformed the face of politics in France, writes Christine Ockrent

Far-right French presidential contender Marine Le Pen made "a serious mistake" by denying that France was responsible for the round-up of Jews during the Second World War, her main rival said.

Nine months before the presidential election, the candidates could well be the unpopular incumbent, Francois Hollande, his equally unpopular predecessor, Nicholas Sarkozy, and the far-right’s Marine Le Pen, says Noah Barkin

The race to be the next president of France could come down to voting for whoever will do the least damage, writes Noah Barkin. 

Even allied nations are suspicious of one another, but only greater trust in the gathering of information will prevent terrorist attacks from becoming commonplace, says David Wise

Bill Linnane meets up for an exclusive interview with members of the Hennessy dynasty and finds out why the Irish connection is still strong with the famous brandy producing family.

In Brazil, another generation of France’s mix of ‘black, blanc, beur’ (black, white, Arab) will try to unite the country through football, writes Eoin O’Callaghan.

Europe correspondent, Ann Cahill, delivers her weekly briefing on Euro affairs from the European Parliament.

To mark the end of the elections, Dave Kenny picks the top 10 political gaffes of all time

France’s Socialist government will not resign and will press forward with tax cuts and other reforms despite a record victory for the French far right in European parliament elections, the prime minister said today.

Nelson Mandela worked his magic once more yesterday, uniting friends and foes alike in a global outpouring of grief as they mourned the death of the anti-apartheid icon.

The selection of Frenchman Cyril Roux as financial regulator and deputy Central Bank governor in succession to Matthew Elderfield has caught a few people on the hop, although the appointment has received a broad, if cautious, welcome.

She was Britain’s first female leader, a strong woman who battled her way to the top of a male-dominated political system — but don’t call Margaret Thatcher a feminist.

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has denounced charges against him in connection with a probe into illegal party funding as “unfair and unfounded”.

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been charged with taking financial advantage of France’s richest woman as part of a probe into illegal party funding, a move supporters say is aimed at preventing his political comeback.

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been formally placed under investigation over claims that he illegally took donations from France’s richest woman on the way to his 2007 election victory.

On Friday night, former US President Bill Clinton addressed the annual dinner of the Worldwide Ireland Fund at Ballymaloe House in Cork. In the audience were Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney and 250 delegates from around the world. The following is an abbreviation of his 30-minute unscripted address

Winning came easy but François Hollande now has to learn to govern, writes Michael Mainville

IN setting a record score for the far right in Sunday’s French presidential election, Marine Le Pen has set the stage for her National Front to try and break into parliament at a legislative election in June.

SHAMED former French leader Jacques Chirac has been found guilty of corruption and given a suspended jail sentence, becoming France’s first ex-president to be convicted for his crimes.

Former French president Jacques Chirac was found guilty today of embezzling public funds in a trial over illegal financing of the conservative party he led for a long time.

Former French prime minister Dominique de Villepin has been acquitted by an appeals court of charges that he took part in a murky smear campaign against his arch-rival, President Nicolas Sarkozy.

FORMER French president Jacques Chirac will not be required to attend his corruption trial after his lawyers said the 78-year-old is suffering memory lapses.

Former French president Jacques Chirac is unable to attend his own corruption trial because he suffers from a failing memory, his lawyers claimed today.

The trial of former French President Jacques Chirac on corruption charges is set to open today.

A MAN in a crowd grabbed French president Nicolas Sarkozy by the shoulder and nearly knocked him to the ground before being tackled by security officers and detained.

Former French President Jacques Chirac will go back on trial in September on corruption charges linked to his time as mayor of Paris.

THE corruption trial of France’s former president Jacques Chirac can go ahead, a top appeals court ruled, rejecting a constitutional challenge.

THE trial of former French president Jacques Chirac on corruption charges has been postponed until June.

The trial of former French President Jacques Chirac on corruption charges has been postponed until June.

JACQUES Chirac became the first former French president to go on trial as a court heard charges he embezzled public funds while he was mayor of Paris in the 1990s.

Former French President Jacques Chirac is due to face trial on corruption charges today.

THE last US veteran of World War I, who lied about his age to join the army in 1917, has died, ending America’s living connection with the Great War.

Senior American officials believed Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin could have known about the plan to murder dissident former spy Alexander Litvinenko in London, the latest leaked US diplomatic cables have revealed.

France’s former president Jacques Chirac has been ordered to stand trial in a second party financing case dating back to his 1977-1995 time as Paris mayor.

Former French President Jacques Chirac has been ordered to stand trial in a second corruption case regarding his 1977-to-1995 tenure as Paris mayor, officials said today.

FORMER French President Jacques Chirac is to stand trial next March in a party financing scandal – and become the first leader of modern-day France to face a court.

Former French President Jacques Chirac is to stand trial next March in a party financing scandal – and become the first leader of modern-day France to face a court.

THE city of Paris pulled out of a corruption case against former French president Jacques Chirac yesterday after he agreed to pay €2.2 million lost to municipal funds because of a financing scandal while he was mayor.

The city of Paris pulled out of a corruption case against former French president Jacques Chirac today after he agreed to pay €2.2m lost to municipal funds because of a financing scandal while he was mayor.

The Secret life of France

The British National Party’s Adam Walker and other European right-wing politicians today visited a Japanese shrine that has drawn outrage for honouring war criminals.