France Macron and France Yellow Vests
- Details
- Category: World News - Europe
- Published on Monday, 10 December 2018 07:06
- Written by Olivier Longhi
The Yellow Vests crisis reveals the existence of a two France nation that many oppose: Principles, history, beliefs, ambition. Neither will yield. And the outcome of the crisis may be in the disappearance of one of the two.
Many have been and many will be written comments or write about the movement of Yellow Vests. It is probable that history retains under the term of heavy and major social crisis of the quinquennium Macron this episode of protest enameled with violence astonishing.
However, before looking at the trace that will leave this episode in the memories, let's stop for a moment on the portrait of France in 2018, that of Emmanuel Macron but not only his because it is there that the rub. Throughout his election campaign, Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly reiterated his desire to change the country's destiny by reforming from the inside one of the oldest states in the world.
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To summarize as synthetically as possible, without falling into caricature, the man wanted to give France the appearance of a start-up, modern and connected, young and dynamic, enthusiastic and ready to embrace the 21st century with passion and passion . It was, and it is certainly still secretly his ambition.
New World and Blockages
Others before him had tried to assimilate France to a company that was waiting for a manager with an iron fist, like Nicolas Sarkozy, who, we remember, wanted to "get the growth with your teeth! The image was original but the man had to step back and give in order to finally leave the Elysee.
Emmanuel Macron, strong of this experience, thought on the other hand, to marry his time and to plunge France in the New World by ignoring reluctance and blockages, in short of the History of a country where the modernity is still mixed with powerful and deep habits that everyone will judge of relevance. Youth mistake, infernal hubris that brought him the lightning of the gods!
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Faced with the president of the forties, a composite population where are found partisans and detractors, undecided and indifferent, the latter little worn on political life, often abstaining, live globally a dull and bland daily, far from the preoccupations of the political world.
And it is they who constitute today the bulk of the contingent of Yellow Vests, men and women overwhelmed by the world and its changes, overwhelmed by the new obligations dictated by forced adaptation to the process of globalization and the environmental challenge terrified by the liberal color that President Macron intends to give to the social democracy he defends.
Illusion and Claims
On arrival, two worlds oppose each other and do not get along. Worse than all! Do not understand each other or badly.
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Some would evoke a social fracture to resume the dialectic of Jacques Chirac during the 1995 presidential campaign but the harm is certainly deeper because two France are now competing, the height in a world where the market is law. To hope to reconcile them is illusory because both are viscerally attached to their principles and ideas.
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The Yellow Vests live and feel victims of a forced march to a world that terrorizes them because unknown and in which their beliefs and principles would have no hold; the other France, more or less in line with the Macronian discourse without denying the claims of Yellow Vests, ready to take the step provided that it is not accompanied by a fall too violent, understand that the social shock absorbers are not dismantled.
In the end, a statement to the cruel interpretation is necessary: since neither of them will give way, one or the other will have to disappear. But which of the two?
Bio: Olivier Longhi has an extensive background in European History, a seasoned journalist with fifteen years' experience, he is currently a professor of history and geography in the Toulouse region of France. He has held varies positions within the publishing field including head of agency and chief of publishing. A journalist, recognized blogger, columnist and editorial project manager he has trained and directed editorial teams, worked as a journalist for various local radio stations, a press and publishing consultant and communication consultant.
Image courtesy of Olivier Longhi and used with permission.
