In what it describes as a “takeover bid” on France’s suburbs, Libération reports that the French government has endorsed the creation of a 100-million euro Qatari fund to develop “sensitive” neighbourhoods, that is to say the deprived suburbs of major French cities.

This is not an unsolicited initiative, points out the daily, which explains that ANED, the National Association of Local Representatives for Diversity, asked the emirate to invest in les banlieues [...] because “France does not look after its working class neighbourhoods”. However, the initiative will mean that Qatar, whose French investment portfolio already includes several luxury hotels and the Paris Saint-Germain football club, as well as shareholdings in major French companies, will continue to develop its presence in the French social and political landscape. Libération wonders about the country’s motives —