French nationality ranked ‘best in world’ again

passport

The French nationality has been ranked the best in the world for the eighth consecutive time, according to the latest ranking (2018) of the global Quality of Nationality Index.

The index defines nationality as “legal statuses of attachment to states”.

It takes into account nationality qualities such as home-country economics, peace, stability, citizens’ opportunities for development, ease of visa-free travel, and opportunities to work and live abroad.

These “make one nationality better than another in terms of a legal status through which to develop your talents and business”, the index – full name full name Kälin and Kochenov’s Quality of Nationality Index (QNI) – says.

The QNI ranks the world’s nationalities by a strict set of criteria (Map: Quality of Nationality Index (QNI) / nationalityindex.com)

France came out on top of the ranking, with a score of 83.5 out of 100. This was closely followed by Germany and the Netherlands (both 82.8); Denmark (81.7); and Sweden and Norway (81.5).

France won out due to its place as the world’s sixth largest economy, but also for its place in the European Union, the list said, with all EU members listed at the top of the table due to their freedom of movement.

France was especially praised for its qualities in helping citizens to travel, live and work abroad. A French passport allows the holder to travel in almost 165 countries without a visa.

The top 10 was rounded out by Finland (81.2), Italy (80.7), the United Kingdom (80.3), Ireland (80.2) and Spain (80.0)

(Table: Quality of Nationality Index (QNI) / nationalityindex.com / LaDepeche.fr)

At the bottom of the top 25 were the United States (70.0), with Croatia (73.8), Bulgaria (75.0), Romania (75.2), Cyprus (75.3), Poland, Latvia and Lithuania (all 77.0) coming just ahead.

The bottom three nationalities were South Sudan (157th), Afghanistan (158th), and Somalia (159th), with respective scores of 15.9, 15.4, and 13.8.

Risks of a ‘hard Brexit’

But the UK could see its ranking fall to 56th globally in the next list “if it pursues a ‘hard Brexit'”, the researchers have suggested, putting it on a par with China (currently 56th) and Russia (currently 62nd).

The index is named after its creators, Dr. Christian H. Kälin and Professor Dr. Dimitry Kochenov.

Dr. Kälin is a law professor and chairman of law firm Henley & Partners, and is considered an expert in investment migration.

Prof. Kochenov is a Chair of EU Constitutional Law at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, and writes widely on comparative and European citizenship law and migration regulation.

In a statement, Prof. Kochenov said: “The UK may be about to establish a world record in terms of profoundly undermining the quality of its nationality without going through any violent conflict.

“Depending on the still-to-be determined outcome of Brexit, the UK could see itself falling from the elite group of ‘very high quality’ nationalities into the ‘high quality’ bracket.

“A truly ‘hard’ Brexit would result in the UK having a nationality that does not grant Britons settlement or work rights in any of the EU jurisdictions or Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland: a collection of the most highly developed places on earth, greatly diminishing the quality of its own nationality in an irrevocable manner: either you have such rights, or not – and in such a scenario UK citizens won’t have them.”

Prof. Kochenov added: “The QNI is a clear illustration of the simple fact that speaking of the different nationalities of the world as equal, or even comparable, is misleading.

“We see that some nationalities offer bundles of rights, while others, quite clearly, are painful liabilities, dragging down the holders.”

Read more at source: French nationality ranked ‘best in world’ again

Violence against women: tens of thousands of people in the street, “a historic mobilization”

March against violence against women took place everywhere in France this Saturday. They brought together tens of thousands of people in Paris and in about thirty cities. The collective #NousToutes welcomes a historic mobilization.

The collective #NousToutes greets ” the biggest march in the history of France ” against gender-based violence. Tens of thousands of people marched this Saturday in Paris and in thirty cities in France to denounce violence against women and too many feminicides since the beginning of the year. 

Thirty or so organized marches brought together 150,000 people, according to the feminist collective #NousToutes, including 100,000 in Paris . The Occurrence cabinet counted 49,000 protesters in the capital during its count for a media collective.  Continue reading “Violence against women: tens of thousands of people in the street, “a historic mobilization”” →

How the Moulin Rouge Became the Most Famous Cabaret in the World  

One hundred and thirty years ago on October 6, 1889, the Moulin Rouge opened, and Paris hasn’t been the same since.

It’s made dances and dancers famous, been extensively depicted in art — paintings, films, music — more than any other cabaret, and brought smiles to the faces of the tens of millions who have passed through its doors. The Moulin Rouge boasts an international reputation, a rich history, and top-notch performances; how did it become the most famous cabaret in the world?

The Moulin Rouge began with an audacious bet that it would become “the palace of dance and women” that was “more luxurious, bigger and more elegant” than any other location at the time. Success came fast thanks to a dance that debuted on opening night: the French cancan, previously known as the quadrille. Revolutionary movements, screams, boisterous rhythms decorated by frills and flowing skirts that were scandalously lifted to show the young dancers’ legs — and their underwear. Continue reading “How the Moulin Rouge Became the Most Famous Cabaret in the World  “ →

Reviews: Berlioz, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Paul Jost, Pomme

Listen to this week: unforeseen timbres, refined country arrangements, airs that incite farandole, French songs to savor …

[Google translation of Le Monde reviwer Stéphane Davet]

Pomme
Pomme’s first album, bore her name. Almost successful, but still too smooth and nice. Les Failles again baptizes precisely the second album of Claire Pommet, 23 years old, called “Pomme”, covered with cracks that give relief and open on more depth. Nicely served by the realization and play of Albin de la Simone, these acoustic songs avoid the facilities of folk naivety to live voice and instrumentation of a proximity both vibrant and rich in mysteries. Guitars, piano, but also omnichord, autoharp, organ (as funereal as Californian in Why death scares you) and sounds of strange objects weave a frame where ballads and nursery rhymes transcend their fragility, sometimes recalling the atmospheres that haunt the records of Quebec’s Safia Nolin – former companion of Pomme- to evoke love, doubts, disappearance, refusal of a normed life ( Grandiose ) … With probably two of the most beautiful French titles ( Anxiety and I do not know how to dance ) heard this year [ . . . ]

Read original en française at LAMONDE: Album selection: Berlioz, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Paul Jost, Apple …

Municipal in Paris: the ex-LR mayor of the 5th arrondissement joins Benjamin Griveaux

Florence Berthout is the second ex-LR mayor to support the official candidate for The Republic on the march for the March 2020 municipal elections.

In early June, she still chaired the group Republicans (LR) and related to the council of Paris. But for the municipal elections in March 2020 Florence Berthout, the mayor’s 5 th District, decided not to support Rachida Dati, invested candidate by the party of the traditional right, with which it has relationships appalling. This Friday, November 22, she announced to rally to Benjamin Griveaux, the official candidate of The Republic in motion (LRM). Without taking her presidential party card, she plans to present in her district a diverse list right backed by LRM. [ . . . ] Continue at : Municipal in Paris: the ex-LR mayor of the 5th arrondissement joins Benjamin Griveaux