LAST Monday evening the leader of the Libertas group, Declan Ganley, was the celebrated guest of right-wing British Tories at Westminster.

Irish voters have endeared themselves to "misguided" far-right groups by rejecting the Lisbon Treaty but the country still wants to wed its future to the European Union, Taoiseach Brian Cowen said today.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was today challenged to name a date for his country’s referendum on the European Union’s Lisbon Treaty.

Reacting to news that Jean Marie Le Pen is to come to Dublin next month to campaign against the Reform Treaty, Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald said Mr Le Pen’s politics are not welcome and he will most likely end up helping the 'yes' campaign.

French far right leader Jean Marie Le Pen has said he is prepared to come to Ireland to oppose the referendum on the EU Reform Treaty.

FRANCE’S next president, Nicolas Sarkozy, will have to wait until after the parliamentary elections in six weeks’ time before he knows if he can introduce the changes he has promised the country.

Tomorrow sees the start of the most fascinating French presidential election in decades, reports Europe Correspondent, Ann Cahill.

THE EU Constitution has been put on hold awaiting the outcome of the French presidential election but the four main candidates have been careful to avoid any major debate with the public on the issue.

FRENCH renaissance? More like a French revolution. Zinedine Zidane reborn?

A WOULD-BE assassin pulled a rifle out of a guitar case yesterday and fired at least one shot as French President Jacques Chirac passed during the annual Bastille Day military parade.

A would-be assassin pulled a rifle out of a guitar case today and fired at least one shot as French President Jacques Chirac passed during the annual Bastille Day military parade.

Right-wing politician Pim Fortuyn, who led his anti-immigration party to prominence in Dutch politics, was shot six times and killed today as he left a radio interview.

French President Jacques Chirac has been re-elected in a landslide victory over extreme-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, according to exit polls.

Jean Marie Le Pen prepared his supporters for defeat at his final press conference in Paris yesterday.

French soccer star Zinedine Zidane today urged people to vote against Jean Marie Le Pen.

French President Jacques Chirac has rejected the idea of a live television debate with his far right opponent in next month's elections.

The French Ambassador to Ireland says he is confident that voters in his country will do the right thing when it comes to the Presidential election.

A furious war of words erupted between nationalists at Stormont today after an SDLP minister claimed the French presidential election should serve as a reminder to those alarmed at the prospect of further Sinn Fein and DUP gains at the ballot box.

The leader of France’s extreme right National Front party Jean Marie Le Pen has achieved a stunning first round presidential election result forcing voters to choose between him and conservative incumbent Jacques Chirac.