Erstellt am: 11. 6. 2012 - 14:57 Uhr

France leans to the left

Reality Check: French elections, Spanish banks bailout, Euro 2012 and racism, portrait of Burma's Thein Sein, Rio +20 and biofuels.

France has an extremely complicated election system. Everything runs over two rounds, and it has some clever devices to help ensure the result is what most people want it to be. For example, Marine Le Pen's National Front won nearly 14% of the votes, and is now clearly the third placed party in French politics. But due to the way the elections are run, they will get a maximum of 3 seats in the parliament, and will quite possibly get none at all. The whole election system is stacked against the National Front, which moderates may say is not a bad thing.

So, although National Front may have growing popular support, there is no danger at all that they will become a serious force in the parliament.

What we can see from the first round is that the left wing parties are forging ahead, which will be excellent news for Francois Hollande, who would have a much easier time of implementing his growth policies with a socialist governement.

Hugh Schofield reports from Paris the implications of the results so far, and what it will mean for the French political landscape.

Spanish banks bailout deal

The stock markets have responded positively to the 100 billion Euro bailout deal that was agreed for Spains's banks over the weekend, but most analysts agree, it's not a solution to the Euro problems. Guy Hedgecoe reports from Madrid.

Racism at Euro 2012

UEFA are taking a curious attitude to racism on the pitch at Euro 2012. Chris Cummins talks to Danny Lynch of Kick it Out, a group combatting racism in footballs.

State of Emergency in Burma

Following a week of violence and protests between Buddhists and Muslims in the Rakhine region, President Thein Sein has imposed a state of emergency, which effectively would allow the miltary to take over.

John Cummins talks to Burma expert Peter Popham about Thein Sein and his policies.

Rio +20

Ahead of the Rio +20 conference, Ruth Kelly, Oxfam's economic adviser, explains why biofuels have back-fired.

FM4 Reality Check

Monday to Friday from 12.00 to 14.00, and after the show via Podcast or fm4.orf.at/realitycheck.