French press review 12 December 2014

A report on the right-to-die debate is published today. Sarkozy sets about leading a divided right. And Bretons take an in-depth look at their pigs.

The Catholic newspaper La Croix headlines on the right to die.

That is because two MPs are to give a report on the question to President François Hollande today.

The question, according to La Croix, is whether or not the report will ask the government to legalise euthanasia.

For now, the practice is banned in France.

So what should we expect?

Probably the obligation for doctors to follow the patient's wishes as well as authorising heavy sedation for the worst cases.

Some are surprised to see the government being timid when it comes to euthanasia since Hollande promised to legalise it when he was a candidate to the presidency back in 2012.

But there is a simple explanation, says the daily, the government is trying to avoid hundreds of thousands of people taking the street in protest at a new law, as happened when it introduced a law to allow gay marriage.

Le Figaro looks at Nicolas Sarkozy strategy's.

The right-wing newspaper is explaining how the former French president is organising himself now that he is head of the UMP.

The task promises to be complicated, explains the daily. The main opposition party is completely split between Sarkozy's supporters and his rivals.

Uniting them might be easier said than done. Nadine Morano and Rachida Dati, who were both ministers under Sarkozy are apparently disappointed.

Sarkozy also offers no real solution to solve the debt problem of the UMP, says the paper.

There's one odd thing though inside today's Le Figaro. On pages one, two, and three you'll see pictures of Sarkozy. And then on page five, guess who's posing for a luxury brand? His wife Carla Bruni.

Maybe that's also some kind of strategy?

Libération is talking about pigs this morning.

The left-leaning newspaper carries an article about a new exhibition in Brittany devoted to the beasts.

You might have heard of the western French region because of its beautiful coastline but it is also one of the biggest pork producers in Europe.

According to Libération, the history of Brittany is linked to pigs. The exhibition, in Rennes, explains how Bretons went from having pigs running wild in the streets of the towns to the creation of huge factory farms in the 70s.

Just to give you a number, 14 million pigs were killed in Brittany in 2012.

According to Libération, the exhibition does a good job of explaining the love/hate relationship the Bretons have with the animal. On one hand the animals are good for the economy, on the other pig farming is also responsible for a lot of pollution.

I'll let you meditate on a wise saying: "Don't make the black pudding before you have killed the pig."