News Digest: New Year, New Government Plus Meet the FrenchEntrée Team!

The big pre-Christmas news in France was, of course, the appointment of the country’s fourth prime minister of the year, François Bayrou, the head of the centrist Mouvement démocrate (MoDem). Bayrou got straight to work, announcing the new government just two days before Christmas, and with parliament returning to session this week, it’s time to familiarise yourself with the country’s new ministers.

There are a few familiar faces, with Minister of Defence Sébastien Lecornu and Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot both keeping their jobs, as did Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau and Minister of Culture Rachida Dati. Former Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne is back, now appointed as Minister of Education, alongside another former Prime Minister, Manuel Valls, as Minister of France’s Overseas Territories. Gérald Darmanin, former interior minister under three of Macron’s Prime Ministers, also returns to government, this time as Minister of Justice.

The government’s first task of the new year will be to pass the hugely controversial 2025 Budget – the downfall of predecessor Michel Barnier – and all eyes will be on the newly appointed Finance Minister, Éric Lombard, former CEO of the Caisse des dépôts et consignations.

The UK’s new ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) system is being rolled out in stages, and starting tomorrow, Wednesday, January 8^th, all citizens of non-EU/EEA countries will require one. This includes Americans, Canadians, Australians, and New Zealanders that travel to the UK on the way to or from France. From April 2^nd, it will apply to all EU and EEA citizens, too, making it essential for any Brits travelling with their non-British spouses or family members.

Similar to the ESTA system in the US and the upcoming ETIAS system in the EU, travellers will need to apply online for an ETA prior to travel, which you can do here. The ETA costs £10 and is valid for two years, allowing stays of up to six months. You’ll need your passport and a credit/debit card to sign up and will be required to provide a photo. Every non-UK traveller will need one, including children and babies.

If you’ve still got some post-Christmas money to spend (lucky you!), now’s the time to bag a bargain in France. The nationwide winter sales – one of only two annual sales that take place in France – kick off tomorrow, Wednesday, January 8th. The month-long sales will last until February 4th, and stores all across the country will be taking part, so you can expect to see discounts of up to 70% off clothing, homeware, electronics, furniture, and many other items.

Note: If you live in the eastern France departments of Meuse, Moselle, Vosges, and Meurthe-et-Moselle, then the winter sales started last week! They will run until Wednesday, January 29th.

If you’ve spent 2024 dreaming of buying a French property or one day making the move to France, and you’re ready to take those dreams to the next step, don’t miss out on our French Property Exhibition in London this January. Packed with expert stands, live seminars and free goodies, it’s the place to get inspired and put your questions to the experts.

 The French Property Exhibition, London, will be held on the 25th and 26th of January at the Novotel London West in Hammersmith. It’s our longest-established property show and has been running for over 30 years. Of course, I’ll be there along with the whole team from FrenchEntrée, French Property News, and France Media Group, and I’ll also be hosting our first-ever FrenchEntrée Members panel interview featuring a hand-picked selection of experts to answer your frequently asked questions LIVE!

Send me your questions!

We’ll be covering topics including buying property, tax, mortgages, and moving to France, and if you want our panellists to answer your question, you can send me an email at [email protected] (note: this is a live seminar, so please try to keep questions as concise and to the point as possible!)

Don’t forget to sign up for your free tickets here or by clicking the button below.