Surprise dissolution, agricultural anger, enchanted interlude of the Olympic Games, explosion of Mazan… the events that marked France in 2024

Mayotte, Notre-Dame, social plans, floods, pope, abortion, New Caledonia… a year of extraordinary news.

Review – not exhaustive – on the events of 2024 in France.

Anger of the peasant world

On January 29, hundreds of farmers converged on Paris to block access. At the forefront of the farmers' unrest were low prices and heavy standards. Appointed to replace Élisabeth Borne, Gabriel Attal made numerous announcements. But the movement spread. The European Commission eventually proposed to ease the CAP's environmental rules.

In the fall, anger resurfaced: this time, the protests focused on the Mercosur free trade agreement. Validated by Brussels, it must be ratified by EU countries.

Cinema shaken by Metoo

After accusing filmmakers Benoît Jacquot and Jacques Doillon of sexual violence, actress Judith Godrèche spoke before the Senate on February 29. Two committees were created in the Assembly. Accused of assault,

Gérard Depardieu was taken into custody in April. His trial is scheduled for March 2025.

Five years in prison, two of which are firm, are requested against the director Christophe Ruggi in the Adèle Haenel case. The decision will be made on February 3.

Abortion in the Constitution

On March 4, France became the first country to explicitly include abortion in its Constitution.

Riots Overseas

The night of May 13 to 14 marked the beginning of several months of violence in New Caledonia against an electoral reform project, which would leave 14 dead and at least €2 billion in damage. The project was abandoned on October 1.

In Martinique, a mobilization against the high cost of living also led to violence starting in September.

The D-Day landings celebrated

France celebrates the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, culminating in ceremonies bringing together Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelensky on June 6 on Omaha Beach.

Surprise dissolution

On the evening of June 9, while the RN came out on top in the European elections, Emmanuel Macron announced the dissolution of the Assembly. After a quick campaign marked by the left's regrouping under the banner of the New Popular Front (NFP) and a crisis in LR, the far right remains on the verge of power.

The political landscape appears more fragmented than ever with three blocs and no majority. It took almost two months for Emmanuel Macron to appoint Michel Barnier as Prime Minister. The result of a fragile alliance between Macronists and LR, his government did not resist, on December 4, a motion of censure tabled by the left and supported by the RN.

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Just three months after his appointment, Michel Barnier leaves Matignon. On December 13, the President appoints François Bayrou, the fourth Prime Minister in 2024, while a special law is adopted pending the 2025 budget.

Abbé Pierre, the fallen icon

A defender of the homeless, Abbé Pierre is accused by several women of sexual assault, according to a report released on July 17. His Foundation decides to change its name.

Olympics, the enchanted interlude

A crazy parade on the Seine gives, on July 26, the starting signal for two radiant weeks of Olympic competitions in Paris. Sites with postcard decors and a flawless organization act for the French as an enchanted interlude. The magic will continue with the Paralympic Games.

The shock of Mazan

On September 2, the Mazan rape trial opens in Avignon: Dominique Pelicot and 50 men accused of raping his wife, whom he drugged, over a period of ten years. Gisèle Pelicot becomes a feminist heroine, celebrated abroad. Dominique Pelicot was sentenced on December 19 to twenty years in prison and all his co-defendants were found guilty.

About fifteen of them appealed the verdict, we learned this Friday evening.

The Paty trial

Four years after the assassination of Samuel Paty, the eight defendants were sentenced to up to sixteen years in prison. A woman from Nîmes was given a three-year suspended sentence. Several co-defendants want to appeal.

Start of the EPR

Twelve years late and with a bill four times higher than expected, the Flamanville EPR (Manche), a new generation power plant, is connected to the electricity grid on December 21.

Serial floods

The year 2024 is marked by a series of floods and floods, accentuated by global warming. In January and February, torrential rains cause the rivers of Pas-de-Calais and Nord to overflow.

In April and May, it is the turn of the Yonne basin and then rivers in Moselle, Bas-Rhin, Mayenne, Maine-et-Loire. In September, Lourdes and the Aspe Valley were hit by floods.

In October, the Kirk depression and then a Cévennes episode caused numerous floods. The Ardèche department was particularly affected.

Social plans in a flurry

Casino is shedding almost all of its large-format stores and announced 3,200 job cuts in April. On November 5, Auchan announced a social plan that threatened 2,400 jobs, while Michelin made official the closure of its factories in Cholet (Maine-et-Loire) and Vannes (Morbihan).

The CGT union counted more than 300 social plans and 300,000 jobs threatened or already eliminated.

Reopening of Notre-Dame

Five years and eight months after a devastating fire, Notre-Dame Cathedral reopened its doors on December 7, during a ceremony attended by American President-elect Donald Trump. The Pope prefers to go to Corsica a week later to the lands of Cardinal Bustillo.

C8 banned from DTT

Cyril Hanouna's excesses on one side, a fragile financial model on the other: on December 11, Arcom acts on the exclusion of C8 and NRJ12 from DTT, replaced in 2025 by CMI TV and OFTV and the channel numbers redistributed.

Mayotte devastated

A powerful cyclone, with gusts of over 220 km/h, devastates December 14 Mayotte, the poorest of the French departments. Emmanuel Macron promises to “rebuild” the archipelago. 39 deaths have been recorded, but the authorities fear a much higher toll.