Contributed f
Newly appointed French Prime Miniter Sébastien Lecornu, promises a profound break from pasty politics, characterised by “humility.” Whatever this means he didn’t say. The promise is empty and unlikely to please anyone. As the third Prime Minister within a year, Lecornu faces the great divide between Wealthy elite France and its hangers on in the political establishment, and the majority of the French population.
The first side wants the imposition of massive austerity and low taxes or themselves. The other wants the protection of public services, jobs, the retirement age and pensions, plus more taxation of the very rich and big business to pay for this and France’s economic future. Lecornu is tied to President Macron’s political party and seen as a continuity of the same.
Hundreds of thousands have already hit the streets in Paris and other cities across the nation. Their presence is not confined to the cities. The rising movement in the streets called “block everything,” has fired its first salvo, blocked Europe’s busiest freeway, and using whatever is available to block intersections. Fires have been set. Railways, Ports, and Schools have been closed by strikes and blocked in many cases.
Protests Break Out as the Government Collapses
Video from Firstpost
Furious riots erupt across Paris in day of anti-government rage
Video from the Daily Express
A massive 80,000 strong police and paramilitary force have already been deployed to counter this, has used violent means to disperse crowds. More than 400 have already been arrested. Most of them have been charged with threatening public order.
Protesters and riot police clash in Paris after new prime minister appointed
Video from ITV
This came less than 24 hours after Macron appointed Lecornu and charged him with the task of forming a new government.
Predictably, France has been plunged into a new political crisis. When unions join the protest movement on 18 September, the presence in the streets is expected to escalate to the millions. Macron, Lecornu and the others in the political establishment have to deal with this. They may turn to escalating violent policing. This will cause a counter reaction. The government will probably fall again. Even if this doesn’t happen, the crisis will contu8nie in one form or another.
Dissatisfaction is present across the political spectrum, including among supporters of the National Rally, France Unbowed, and many others. All recognise that France can no longer continue along the same path. Only those rallying around Macron fail to realise this. And this divide is rooted in France’s deep seated economic political crisis, which will remain and fester until a solution is applied.