The Alliance Française de Newport will host a talk by Commandant Igor Maury, the French naval officer assigned to the Naval War College in Newport, on Sunday, May 17.
The program will run from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Portsmouth Free Public Library, 2658 East Main Road, in the library’s Michael W. Mello Program Room.
Maury’s presentation will focus on the French Social Model, a comprehensive welfare system that prioritizes high social protection, job security and universal public services such as healthcare and education, according to the Alliance Française de Newport.
Funded by high taxes and social contributions, the model features strong collective bargaining and a generous safety net, the organization said. It remains a fundamental part of French identity and social cohesion, prioritizing equality and social protection over market liberalism.
The presentation will be delivered in English. A question-and-answer session at the conclusion of the program may be conducted in either French or English.
The event continues a longstanding tradition in which the French commandant assigned each year to the Naval War College gives a presentation to Alliance Française de Newport members and the local community.
The talk is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served. Space is limited and reservations are required. Reservations can be made at www.alliancefrancaisenewportri.org.
The Alliance Française de Newport, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, says its mission is to promote understanding and appreciation of the language and culture of France and French-speaking people, as well as Newport’s and the nation’s historic and continuing relationship with France, through educational and cultural programs for members and the public.
