15 ° C
Profile

Month: February 2023

Monaco National Council Elections: One party holds all the power

by: Elsa Carpenter
06/02/2023
monaco national council elections

It was a clean sweep for the Union Nationale Monégasque over the weekend, with National Council President Brigitte Boccone-Pagès and her party winning all 24 seats. 

The election results give the Union Nationale Monégasque a solid mandate for the next five years, with each and every party member in the running achieving a dominant lead over their counterparts in the Nouvelle Idées pour Monaco party.

Leader Brigitte Boccone-Pagès, who is the first woman in the history of the Principality to hold the position of president of the National Council, Monaco’s version of a parliament, garnered 3,002 votes for herself. In comparison, Daniel Boeri, who heads up the Nouvelle Idées pour Monaco party and is a mainstay on the Principality’s political scene, got just 731. Once all ballots were in and counted, Nouvelle Idées pour Monaco had managed to scrape just 10% of votes.  

The most popular politician on Sunday 5th February was the Union Nationale Monégasque‘s Nathalie Amoratti Blanc, who currently holds the title of President for the Commission of the Rights of Women and the Family. She took home 3,164 votes.  

Overall, voter turnout was relatively low at 57.26%. Of the nearly 8,000 registered voters in Monaco – these are almost all Monegasque citizens born in or to parents of the Principality – just 4,348 showed up to cast their vote.  

The municipal elections will take place on Sunday 19th March. The Principality’s long-serving mayor, Georges Marsan, is hoping to clinch a historical sixth term. Most recently in 2019, he ran unopposed for the role.  

 

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

  

Photo: National Council President Brigitte Boccone-Pagès, source National Council 

 

What to expect from this week’s pension reform protests in France

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/02/2023
pension reform protests in france

The latest planned pension reform protests in France on 7th February are set to cause disruptions all across the region, including on trains and public transport networks as well as in schools. 

The anger by unions and other workers over France’s planned pension reforms is showing no sign of letting up. The third strike against the measures is taking place on Tuesday 7th February, and the Alpes-Maritimes region can expect to see some fairly serious disruptions.  

In Nice, demonstrations will commence at 10am at the Théâtre de Verdure. There are also several planned events in the Var including in Toulon, Draguignan and Brignoles.  

TRAMS AND BUSES 

Similar to the last two strikes, the worst hit sector will be transport, with local trams and buses almost at a standstill. No trams will be running in Nice full stop and service will be interrupted on Lignes d’Azur lines 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 30, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 57, 64, 70, 81, 99 and Cadam Est. The transport service for people with reduced mobility, Mobil’Azur, will be similarly affected. 

Lignes d’Azur will also once again be closing Parcazur car parks and bike parking lots. To ease the blow, the city of Nice is offering free street parking all day.  

TRAINS 

SNCF announced over the weekend that “train traffic will be disrupted throughout the southern region”, with only two of five trains running on the southeast axis. The company has said they will issue and update on the schedules at 5pm on Monday. 

AIR TRAVEL 

An estimated 20% reduction in flights between Paris Orly and Nice is anticipated at Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, with other disruptions expected.  

“In practice, there will undoubtedly be other cancellations (a Nice-Madrid flight from Iberia has already been cancelled) depending on the impact of the strike in each of the regions,” the airport has stated.  

Check flights on the website before leaving for the airport on Tuesday if you’re flying.  

SCHOOLS 

The impact on schools has not quite taken shape, but news is due out on Monday afternoon. The 31st January strike had less participants than the 19th January one, but no one yet knows for sure whether this will continue.  

MORE PENSION REFORM PROTESTS IN FRANCE

There has been word that another round of actions will take place on 11th February, this time for those workers who cannot afford to strike mid-week, but who are against the planned reforms, giving them a voice and a platform.  

“The objective of an appeal on 11th February is not so much the percentage of strikers as the fact of having in the street all the employees who do not have the financial capacity to go on strike and respond to calls during the week,” said a representative for Sud-Rail.  

The National Assembly sessions to discuss the reforms begin on 6th February, and already there are over 20,000 amendments being listed by parliamentarians, showing just how deep the controversy goes. 

 

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

  

Photo source: Radio Emotion

Charles Leclerc is the latest star to join the Princess Charlene Foundation

by: Elsa Carpenter
06/02/2023
charles leclerc

A star-studded rollcall of sports personalities is swelling the ranks of ambassadors for the Princess Charlene Foundation, including Monaco’s own Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc.  

The 25-year-old has become the latest in a number of high-profile athletes, from both Monaco and abroad, to add his influence and expertise to the Princess Charlene Foundation.  

“When H.S.H. Princess Charlene contacted me to become Ambassador of Her Foundation, I immediately responded positively because I was very sensitive to the cause defended by her,” he says. “H.S.H. Princess Charlene is also a top athlete and we share the same sporting values. Through the Foundation, which aims to raise awareness about learning how to swim in order to avoid drowning, I am very happy to be associated with this cause alongside H.S.H. Princess Charlene.” 

Other names to join the list include: tennis player Novak Djokovic; Dara Torres, the most decorated US female Olympic athlete of all-time; Monegasque free diver Pierre Frolla; and cyclist Peter Sagan.  

Together these athletes will help propel the momentum of Princess Charlene’s eponymous foundation and its mission to teach thousands of children worldwide how to swim as well as to develop the education of children through the values of sport. 

The foundation recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and opened new headquarters at on the Quai Antoine 1er.  

 

 

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

  

Photo source: Charles Leclerc / Facebook

Monaco Life’s ‘Best Of’: Half-term activities for children

by: Elsa Carpenter
06/02/2023

Monaco Life presents the best holiday camps, clubs and classes for children in the Principality during the upcoming half-term break.  

School’s out from 11th to 26th February, but parents needn’t worry about how to fill their children’s days. From nursery age kids to teens, there’s plenty going on in Monaco this half-term for all to enjoy. 

We start with one of the Principality’s best-loved attractions: the Oceanographic Museum. It’s a year-round hit with families, but the Club Oceano that runs during all school breaks is really something to get excited about. Reserved for six to 12-year-olds, the Club runs over five consecutive days in both weeks of the holidays (€375 for each block) from 9am to 5pm.  

It offers young people an experience that you can only get in Monaco, allowing them exceptional access to the tanks, animals and expertise of the museum. Participants will help prepare the food for and feed the various sea creatures, visit the onsite hospital and care for its patients, and let their imaginations run wild with games, stories and creative workshops.  

 

Even if you can’t commit to a full week of activities, the renowned establishment is still worth a visit during the holidays. Our favourite attraction at the moment is the grand Mission Polaire room with its interactive floor and walls that depict different scenes from the poles, but older children will love the Escape Game aboard Prince Albert I’s legendary laboratory ship, the Princess Alice II. It’s suitable for seven-year-olds and over. Even seasoned sailors will enjoy the challenge! 

For older children, the Ecole Supérieure d’Arts Plastiques or Pavillon Bosio is running three creative courses during the holidays: a watercolour painting class, a pottery and ceramics experience, and photography training.  

You can also keep little hands and minds busy at the Bibliothèque Princesse Caroline on 1 Boulevard Albert I, which is laying on a series of ateliers over the holidays, from sewing and classical music classes to story-telling and comic strip designing workshops, many for children as young as three. They are free to join, but space is limited so we recommend contacting the Médiathèque to reserve a spot in advance. 

For the sportier kids, the Monte-Carlo Country Club’s coach, Pino Fazio, is heading up a tennis camp from 13th to 17th February for those between four and 14 years. It’s open to both members and non-members, but if your child is new to the sport, this could be a great initiation at one of Europe’s best-known courts.  

 

Day trips and excursions have their place too during the holidays and a visit to the private Princely car collection should be top of the list for lovers of all things automobile. This fan project started out under Prince Rainier III, who gradually acquired more and more models from the 1950s and onwards. His collection soon outgrew the garage at the Palais Princier and, in 1993, he decided to share it with the public. Now found at 54 Route de la Piscine, from 10am to 6pm, the 3,500sqm exhibition features beauties such as a 1903 De Dion Bouton and a 2013 Lotus F1, as well as many more in-between. There’s also a fantastic new exhibition to check out from 20th February. 

The Jardin Animalier de Monaco will delight too. Found close to the Fontvieille Port, this zoo counts more than 60 exotic species among its number, with many having been rescued by the Principality. A playpark rounds up its attractions.   

And we can’t forget the whistle-stop tour of Monaco via the tourist train. Taking just over 30 minutes, the train flies by the most famous and iconic places in the Principality, and is a great way to experience all that Monaco can offer without having to drag little feet behind you.  

 

 

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

  

Photo credit: M. Dagnino

 

Extremely rare ancient jewellery and art reaches Hôtel des Ventes de Monte-Carlo

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/02/2023
hôtel des ventes de monte-carlo

Lovers of the ancient world will not want to miss the Hôtel des Ventes de Monte-Carlo auction on Tuesday 7th February, which features lots of incredibly rare ancient items from craftsmen and artists from Ancient Greece, Rome, China and South America, to name a few.  

The exquisite craftsmanship of these pieces, each one unique, must be seen to be fully appreciated, and includes works from ancient artists from around the world.  

The morning will commence at 9.30am with the sale of amulets and scarabs from different eras and regions, and include gorgeous trinkets like a 25mm carved turquoise cat pendant and mini-sculpted amulets from ancient Egypt.   

Jewellery is next up with some notable pieces such as a Phoenician swivel seal ring from the 8th to 9th centuries BC, estimated at €8,000 to €12,000. A pair of stunning 4th to 3rd centuries BC Greek drop earrings made of gold with tiny crafted images of the god Eros delicately attached on either side of an ornamental disk is likely to go for €15,000 to €20,000, and a winding gold serpent-headed arm bracelet dating from Ancient Rome has been valued at €15,000 to €30,000.  

In the afternoon at the Hôtel des Ventes de Monte-Carlo, an extraordinary collection of ancient coins put together by a Monaco collector will be up for auction, as will some fascinating pieces of neolithic and ancient Egyptian art. A practically undamaged terracotta jar with the painted motifs still vibrant dating from roughly 3500BC is expected to go for €12,000 to €15,000, and a peerless coiled cobra shaped glazed ornament from the late Ptolemaic period has a price tag in the region of 15,000 to €20,000. A statue of the jackal-god Anubis is expected to fetch €80,000 to €120,000.  

An ornately carved Roman funerary urn with a removable lid made of marble dating from the 1st century AD is also up for grabs at €15,000 to €20,000 and a marble head of Bacchus as a child is expected to go for €25,000 to €30,000.  

Far Eastern and pre-Columbian pieces will be last up, with a range of pieces going under the gavel for just a few hundred up to an eye-watering €100,000.  

The full catalogue can be found here. 

 

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

  

Photo source: Hôtel des Ventes de Monte-Carlo

Monaco break Clermont’s unbeaten run with comfortable victory

by: Luke Entwistle
05/02/2023

AS Monaco eased to a 2-0 victory away to Clermont Foot to continue their unbeaten league start to 2023, whilst breaking their opponent’s impressive run. 

Despite a notable difference in quality between the two sides, both came into the tie on top form. Neither had lost in the calendar year, but that changed on Sunday.

Les Monégasques began like a bullet train. Despite the notable absences of Vanderson and Eliesse Ben Seghir, Monaco found themselves two goals up after just 13 minutes.

In the third minute, Guillermo Maripán got on the end of one of Caio Henrique’s deadly set balls to head home with the help of a deflection. The lead was doubled just ten minutes later. Takumi Minamino, in for the injured Ben Seghir did well to win the ball and advance up the field, feeding Aleksandr Golovin, who found Breel Embolo in the box. The Swiss striker couldn’t miss the open net just a yard out after some great work by the tricky Russian playmaker.

The Principality side continued to create but lacked the clinical touch to add to their lead. However, those misses were of no consequence as a focused and professional Monaco side controlled the game and saw out the 2-0 victory against Clermont.

“I’m happy that the team learnt the lessons from the match against Auxerre and pushed until the end and not allow the opposition to have chances. We need to continue like that,” said Philippe Clement post-match.

Les Monégasques are now provisionally just one point off a podium spot. Having avoided the Auxerre and Clermont banana skin ties, Monaco’s schedule intensifies, with matches against PSG, Bayern Leverkusen and local rivals Nice coming up this month.

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

Photo by AS Monaco