Francois Hollande

Hollande urges other parties to block far-right in election

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PARIS -- French President Francois Hollande called Wednesday for the country's political parties to unite to block the far-right National Front (FN) in this weekend's regional elections.With the anti-immigration party topping the poll in the first round last Sunday, Hollande's spokesman Stephane Le Foll quoted the president as saying there "needed to be clarity in the behaviour and...

France

Defense source: A dozen former French soldiers waging jihad

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PARIS -- A dozen ex-French soldiers have joined jihadist groups in Iraq and Syria, raising concerns over the possible existence of radical elements within the military, a defence ministry source said Wednesday."We estimate at around a dozen the number of former troops who have joined these networks," the source, who wished to remain anonymous, said."Our concern is not...