World News: France’s Imposed Pension Reform Backfires

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Category: World News - Europe

Published on Monday, 27 January 2020 12:54

Written by Olivier Longhi

France’s imposed pension reform, which has become a pivotal election issue that will determine the candidate’s chances of political success, has the political structure slowly understanding imposed change will backfire with the people happy to change leadership.

The opinion issued by the State Council on pension reform questions both the content of the proposed text and the method used by the executive. And the President of the Republic to play with the fragile link that united him to the French.

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Sluggish weekend for the executive ... While the polls announce Benjamin Grivaux, candidate invested by La République En Marche in difficulty to challenge Anne Hidalgo, current mayor of Paris, here is the Council of State has just issued a most critical opinion on the pension reform desired by the President of the Republic and the Government.

It didn’t take that much to revive a slowing union movement that will no doubt bounce back in order to reiterate its opposition to the bill. (Lesechos.fr:)

Régicide and Cacophonie

But beyond the misadventures of Benjmin Grivaux, it is the decision of the Council of State, the highest authority in the country, which is likely to tarnish the coming days of the executive because this opinion, most neutral and more disinterested, also questions about the way in which President of the Republic and Government are brought to preside over the destinies of the nation.

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Many would argue with brutality and hussar behavior, both incompatible with the rash temper of a regicide people. It is therefore a question of method more than content now for Emmanuel Macron, although the content is for many questionable.

Relying on the will of the French to reform the pension system, the President of the Republic overestimated the capacity of the French to accept not a reform but his reform, that which the President wants him and not necessarily those who have it elected.

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Thus, emerges from this episode of the quinquennium, in addition to a cacophony that no one can interrupt, but above all a growing uneasiness between a President of the Republic and the people, while the institutions of the Fifth Republic are based on this link essential.

Brutality and Listening

Accused of vanity and authoritarianism, arrogance and pretension, Emmanuel Macron has, by this pension reform, admittedly necessary but brutal and too radical, eroded the already fragile bond of trust which united him to the French.

And in a democracy, it is often this link that allows its leaders to pursue the reforms initiated when confidence prevails ... but when distrust has taken precedence ... Several solutions are available to the Head of State, however . Withdraw the project, modify it and amend it in the sense of the claims proposed by the trade union centers, demonstrate pedagogy, ... In short!

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Everything is still possible, but what is fundamentally likely to make the difference is Emmanuel Macron's ability to hear more than listen, to offer more than to impose, to explain more than to tease.

One of the errors made by Emmanuel Macron was to think that his election offered him a blank check when it was also the fruit of the massive rejection of the far right and therefore to consider that everything was possible including the most daring reforms.

Bio: Olivier Longhi has extensive experience in European history. A seasoned journalist with fifteen years of experience, he is currently professor of history and geography in the Toulouse region of France. He has held a variety of publishing positions, including Head of Agency and Chief of Publishing. A journalist, recognized blogger, editor and editorial project manager, he has trained and managed editorial teams, worked as a journalist for various local radio stations, a press and publishing consultant, and a communications consultant.