Historic Heatwave Grips France: 58 Departments on Red Alert

France is in the grip of an unprecedented heatwave that has shattered temperature records and placed 58 departments under the highest level of red alert, affecting 44 million people. On Tuesday, the Landes region’s Pissos area recorded 44.3 degrees Celsius, marking the hottest June day in French history. Temperatures are expected to remain scorching on Wednesday, with forecasts predicting 39 to 41 degrees Celsius from Brittany to the Paris region.

The extreme heat has already claimed lives across the country. At least 40 people have drowned over the past five days while swimming amid daytime temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed on Tuesday. The drownings have occurred as people flock to beaches, lakes, and rivers to escape the oppressive heat, many in unsupervised swimming areas.

In a tragic case near Villeurbanne in the Rhône department, a young Ligue 2 footballer remained in a state of brain death on Wednesday after drowning two days earlier in an unmonitored swimming area. Authorities have warned that even experienced, athletic individuals in good health face “imminent peril” when swimming during the heatwave.

Northwest France Suffers Major Power Outage

The heatwave has also caused significant infrastructure failures. Approximately 68,000 households in the Finistère department in northwestern France were left without electricity on Wednesday morning following an incident on an RTE network transformer linked to the extreme heat. The outage, which occurred around 9pm on Tuesday near Quimper in the commune of Ergué-Gaberic in Brittany, marked the first large-scale power cut during this heatwave.

Despite repair teams from RTE and Enedis working through the night, power was not expected to be fully restored until late Wednesday at the earliest. “For technical reasons, RTE cannot restore power to affected households during the daytime; restoration will progressively begin late Wednesday evening,” the network operator stated. At one point, up to 106,000 households across France were without power.

Energy Minister Maud Bregeon sought to reassure the public, stating that despite the Finistère incident and reduced production at certain EDF plants, the French electricity system “does not anticipate tension” linked to the heatwave. She noted that France remains “a net exporter” of electricity.

Labour Minister Rejects “Climate Leave” Proposal

As the heatwave continues, political debates over how to protect workers have intensified. Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou firmly rejected the idea of introducing a “climate leave” — a paid leave of up to five days per year that workers could take during extreme weather events. The proposal, inspired by a Spanish model adopted in 2024, was put forward by the Ecologist party.

“The debate can be interesting, but at what level do we set it?” Farandou asked on RTL radio. He argued that setting an arbitrary temperature threshold is difficult and that “the right idea is not to set a temperature, but to have adapted measures”. He warned: “We are not going to bring the country to a standstill because it’s 30°C”. Estimating the cost of such a measure at “4 or 5 billion” euros, he insisted that “climate leave is not the solution”.

Instead, Farandou called for broader reflection on how France organises itself during heatwaves, including discussions with social partners on working hours, equipment, and collective habits. He questioned whether all exams and sports finals need to take place in June. He also expressed support for returning to telework to allow parents to care for children, and said France should not “give up on the idea of perhaps air-conditioning schools”.

Ecologists Push Forward With Climate Leave Bill

Marine Tondelier, leader of the Ecologist party, pushed back against the Labour Minister’s position. She announced on BFMTV-RMC on Wednesday that her party’s flagship measure would be tabled as a formal legislative proposal by an Ecologist deputy. Tondelier defended the measure and called for “mutualising” the risks linked to heat. The Ecologists’ proposal is modelled on the Spanish system, which grants four days of paid leave to avoid travel during weather alerts.

Government Spokesperson Supports Green Fund for Air Conditioning

Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon offered a more conciliatory position on Wednesday, telling BFMTV-RMC that she is “in favour” of using the Green Fund — established by the government to address climate challenges — to finance air conditioning “where it is necessary”. Her comments came as France endures its worst heatwave on record, with schools, hospitals, and public facilities struggling to cope.

France Confirms First Ebola Case

In a separate public health crisis, France announced its first confirmed case of Ebola on Wednesday. The patient is a doctor who recently returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is currently battling a major outbreak. The Health Ministry “confirms today the identification of a first positive case of Ebola virus disease on national territory”, a statement said. The Prime Minister’s office said it is closely monitoring the situation. The case has raised concerns about the potential for further spread, though authorities have not yet provided details on the patient’s condition or location.

Government Condemns Racist Viral Video

Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon also weighed in on a racist video circulating on social media, describing the comments as “deeply shocking” and “absolutely unacceptable”. In the video, a group of young people are heard shouting: “Marine in power, Arabs to the slaughterhouse!”. Bregeon’s condemnation came as France continues to grapple with political tensions ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Senate Report Warns of Rising Masculinism

A Senate report released on Wednesday has called for action against the rise of masculinism in France. The document, which franceinfo was able to consult in advance, formulates 24 recommendations to try to curb the phenomenon. The report was drafted by three senators from different political backgrounds — Béatrice Gosselin (LR) and others. The findings come amid growing concerns about online radicalisation and gender-based violence.

China’s Premier Strikes Aggressive Tone at Davos

On the international front, Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivered a speech at the opening of the Summer Davos Forum in Dalian on Wednesday, targeting both the United States and Europe. According to Les Échos’ special correspondent, the tone signals that future discussions will be difficult, particularly as China’s Commerce Minister is due to visit Brussels next week.

Speaking to approximately 1,800 participants, Li criticised the geopolitical and technological turmoil triggered by Donald Trump’s return to power, without directly naming the US president. “Geopolitical risks are erupting one after another, and global instability continues to rise,” Li said. He also mentioned the “controversial Red Sea,” seen as an implicit reference to the Iran war.

Li criticised US sanctions on China’s technology sector, stating: “Tech wars and technology blockades are spreading in certain parts of the world… yet no country or company can succeed alone”. He also took a more direct aim at the European Union, rejecting the “Second China Shock” narrative — the European concept describing the impact of Chinese high-tech exports such as electric vehicles, solar panels, batteries, and robotics flooding European markets. Les Échos reported that Li characterised the term as an “unfriendly narrative” reflecting Europe’s “anxiety” over China’s technological rise.

France Advances at World Cup Despite Storm Delay

In sports news, France’s national football team remains in action at the 2026 World Cup. The team secured a 3-0 victory over Iraq on Monday night, drawing an average of 4.9 million viewers on M6 despite a nearly two-hour storm delay and a final whistle at 2:48am. Marcus Thuram made his World Cup debut in the match.

France is set to face Norway on Friday, June 26 at 9pm CEST in a match that will determine top spot in Group I. The group stage’s final day began on Wednesday, with only four nations having already secured their place in the knockout rounds. Meanwhile, Colombia qualified for the knockout stage with a 1-0 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo, while Portugal was held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo.

Economic Headwinds and Housing Push

On the economic front, France’s growth outlook remains modest. INSEE forecasts 0.3% growth for each of the first two quarters of 2026, while the government targets slightly higher growth. Bank of France projections estimate 0.7% growth in 2025.

Housing Minister Vincent Jeanbrun is set to present his bill to revive the housing sector in the Council of Ministers. The proposal is expected to delve into technical regulations, construction standards, local powers, and detailed tax policy.

Midsummer Festival Celebrates in Île-de-France

On a lighter note, the Midsummer Festival took place on Wednesday in Île-de-France. Festival director Sébastien Mahieuxe told France 3 that attendees “don’t just come for a concert, but to experience a slightly special summer evening”. The event featured a free, joyful, and slightly insolent Elizabethan cabaret imagined by the company J’ai tué mon bouc, staying true to the spirit of Shakespeare’s theatre.