24 January – Klaus (storm) hit south-western France -Aquitaine, Poitou-Charentes, Midi-Pyrénées- and northern Spain, with wind speeds in excess of 193 kilometres per hour (120 mph). 12 people have died because of this storm in the country (28 in Europe).[1]
29 January – Strike action by French public sector workers causes major disruption to services.[2]
At the beginning of February: A conflict ignites the French universities concerning the statute of the searchers-teachers. Many voices claim moreover the abrogation of law LRU on the autonomy of the universities. The second half of the universities' year is very disrupted.
March
20 March : Child abduction of 3-year-old Franco-Russian girl Elise, by her Russian mother in Arles (Bouches du Rhône).
29 March : Referendum on the departmentalization of island of Mayotte. The result is "Yes" with a crushing majority. Mayotte island will become the 101st French department.
3 and 4 April : Summit of NATO in Strasbourg. France joined the integrated command of NATO, a decision which is far from making unanimity in the French political community. During the summit, large incidents occur in certain districts of Strasbourg.
15 April : Coming into effect of the new plates of registrations on the new vehicles. New classification is allotted to life for each vehicle and comprises two letters, an indent, three digits, an indent and two letters. A number of department to the choice as well as the logo of the corresponding area is affixed on the line.
May
1 May : France's health minister confirms the first cases of swine flu detected within the country.[3]
9 July : Youths protest in Firminy near Saint-Étienne, after an Algerian man, Mohamed Benmouna, dies in police custody. His parents reject the official verdict of suicide.[6]
14 July : Bastille Day riots take place in a suburb of Paris. In the commune of Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, an eastern suburb area of Paris, youths set fire to 317 cars, and thirteen police officers are injured.[7]
^VIèmes Jeux de la Francophonie Beyrouth 2009 (2009). "Les pays participants". Jeux2009. Archived from the original on 26 September 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2009.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
