6 January – Workers at a Goodyear tyre factory in Amiens hold two executives hostage after it was announced that Goodyear was to close the plant with a loss of more than 1,000 jobs. The executives are released the following afternoon.[1]
10 January –
Closer magazine runs a story alleging that François Hollande is having an affair with actress Julie Gayet. In a statement, Hollande says he "deeply deplores the attacks on the principle of respect for privacy, to which he, like every citizen, has a right". The story is later removed from the magazine's website.[2]
François Hollande's partner, Valérie Trierweiler, is admitted to hospital for "rest and a few tests" following the affair allegations.[3] She remains hospitalised until 18 January.[4]
16 January – A protester calling for a political upheaval unloads a large mound of manure outside the Palais Bourbon from a lorry before being detained by police.[5]
19 January – High levels of rainfall cause flooding in Var, killing two people and leaving 4,000 homes without power.[6]
25 January – François Hollande confirms he has separated from his partner Valérie Trierweiler.[7]
February
2 February – Over 500,000 people in Paris protest against same-sex marriages.[8]
7 February – A severe windstorm hits the north-west of France, causing floods in Brittany and power losses to homes and businesses in Brittany, Pays de la Loire, Normandy and Île-de-France.[9]
8 February – A train derails in the French Alps after being struck by a falling boulder, killing two and injuring nine.[10]
10 February – Taxi drivers stage a one-day strike against the proliferation of unlicensed and unregulated cabs in the country. Their efforts in blocking motorways paralyses rush hour traffic in Paris and Marseilles.[11]
12 February – French President François Hollande is hosted by US President Barack Obama at a White House state dinner, during a visit by Hollande to the US aimed at renewing the partnership between the two countries.
14 February – Figures released by INSEE show the economy grew by 0.0% and 0.3% in the third and fourth quarters of 2013 respectively.[12]
18 February – French police arrest a man in relation to a killing of a British family in the French Alps.
23 February – Six police officers are injured when protests against the construction of a new airport in Nantes turns violent.[13]
March
6 March – Le Monde runs a story claiming that the phone of former President Nicolas Sarkozy had been tapped by judges investigating alleged financial links between him and the former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. It is also alleged that the taps contain evidence of Sarkozy attempting to interfere with judicial inquiries.[14]
14 March – Several days of calm weather conditions cause a large buildup of airborne pollutants across much of France, leading to health alert warnings being declared in almost 75% of the country. In a bid to cut further air pollution, transport authorities in Paris, Caen, Grenoble, Reims and Rouen respond by offering free public transport over the weekend.[15]
17 March – With air pollution exceeding safe levels for five consecutive days, authorities in Paris begin restricting the private use of cars and motorcycles to alternate days only.[16] The measure polarises opinion and thousands of fines are handed out to drivers breaking the restriction before it is lifted the following day.[17]
23 March – The first round of the 2014 municipal elections takes place, with support for the governing Socialist Party declining and support for the right-wing National Front increasing. A BVA poll reports UMP leading with 48% of the vote, ahead of the Socialists on 43% and National Front on 7%.[18]
26 March – Figures released by the Ministry of Labour show a 0.9% rise in unemployment in February. The total jobless count in mainland France now stands at 3.347 million.[19]
Substantial gains are made by the parties of the right, with UMP taking control in at least 140 towns and National Front winning power in 11 towns, while the Socialists suffer heavy losses, most prominently at Limoges which they had held since 1912. The election is marked by a low turnout, with 38% of voters abstaining from voting.[20]
One week after winning more than 75% of the vote in the first round, the mayor-elect of the southwestern town of Vibrac, Philipe Sauty, commits suicide before taking office.[22]
31 March – Jean-Marc Ayrault resigns as Prime Minister following the disappointing municipal election results for the Socialists. The Interior MinisterManuel Valls is announced as his replacement.[23]
April
7 April – A magnitude 5 earthquake is felt in parts of southeastern France, close to the Italian border. No injuries or damage is reported.[24]
12 April – An estimated 25,000 people on the far-left turn out to protest in Paris against the austerity measures imposed by the Hollande government. A recent poll places Hollande's popularity at its lowest to date, with just 18% approving of his role as president.[25]
14 April – Following the rape of a 16-year-old girl at a private Catholic school in La Rochelle the previous September, police begin a mass DNA test of the school's 527 male pupils and staff to attempt to identify the perpetrator.[26]
24 April – Shares in engineering company Alstom climb 11% following a report of a $13bn takeover bid by American company General Electric.[27] The following week Alstom's board of directors approve of a $12.4bn offer, despite the government's successful attempt at persuading Siemens to offer a counter-bid.[28]
25 April – The Corsican Assembly passes a law restricting the purchase of homes to only those who have maintained residence on the island for a minimum of five years.[29]
17 May – Leaders of West African nations gather in Paris for discussions on the threat posed by the Nigerian militant group Boko Haram. The summit follows the Chibok schoolgirl kidnapping orchestrated by Boko Haram in northern Nigeria the previous month.[34]
21 May – A new specification of train designed by SNCF is revealed to be too wide for some 1,300 stations across France. Modifying the affected station platforms is estimated to cost €40 million.[35]
24–25 May – The European Parliament elections take place, with National Front winning 25% of the votes, taking 24 of France's 74 seats, the UMP polling second with 20%, landing 19 seats, and the Socialists third on 14%, securing 13 seats. Front National party president Marine Le Pen declares the result a "massive rejection of the European Union", with Prime Minister Manuel Valls calling it "more than another warning; it's a shock, an earthquake".[36]
June
2 June – Plans are announced to reduce the number of regions in Metropolitan France from 22 to 14 in an effort to cut regional bureaucracy and spending.[37]
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