Revolting Europe
France
Lies, damn lies and French bankers…
French bankers were second only to their German counterparts in the Eurozone as beneficiaries of public handouts to save them in the wake of the banking crisis, a crisis they caused. Now, 10 years on from receiving the mega government cheque, they are pedalling the myth the whole saga was costless; that the French people … Continue reading
France’s political earthquake hits communists
The 2017 elections were a political earthquake in France and the shock waves are now hitting the French communist party. It’s 18 months since France was rocked by the crushing victory of pro-European Emmanuel Macron and his new political movement in the Presidential and legislative elections last year. That victory delivered a body blow to … Continue reading
France’s public servants: too many, too expensive, too often off sick?
Christian Chavagneux challenges the assumptions behind Macron’s drive to downsize France’s public sector. On 16 October, at the end of his meeting with the public service unions, the Minister of Action and Public Accounts, Gérald Darmanin, said he had already met them 37 times since taking office. The dialogue exists, but it is mostly a … Continue reading
Future of France’s Front National: Interview with political scientist Jean-Yves Camus
France’s Front National is holding a “refoundation seminar” this weekend. For the political scientist Jean-Yves Camus, it will have a “cathartic function”, after disappointing electoral results but “the party is in no danger” The Front National (FN) holds its “seminar of refoundation” today. After defeat in the presidential and legislatives elections, what are the objectives … Continue reading
En Marche! and France Insoumise – “modernity” put to the test
The two movements present themselves as solutions to an “old political scene” and ride on the back of a desire for renewal and a less hierarchical form of politics, but they cannot escape the traditional political parties they reject. Are “movements” the future or a symptom of a sick political system, which will draw from the … Continue reading
Behind the Macron reforms: the Euro!
By Jacques Sapir While the first round of parliamentary elections is now fast approaching, while the polls promise a large majority to the President and his party La République en Marche, various leaks concerning the labour reforms that will be decided this summer are beginning to raise a legitimate emotions [1]. Indeed, in addition to … Continue reading
After the attacks: Make France’s youth a priority of public and political action
By Jean-Claude Mairal Once again, after Nice that resulted in 84 dead our country has been victim of an attack in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray. Faced with the horror we can only express sympathy and solidarity with the victims and their families. And let’s not forget all the other victims of attacks around the world, to whom we … Continue reading
France and terrorism: Stop the airstrikes in Syria and strengthen the UN
By Chloé Maurel* The Nice massacre of July 14, 2016, after the slaughter at Bataclan November 13, 2015 and those of Charlie Hebdo and Hypercacher in Paris’ Porte de Vincennes in January 2015, confirms once again, in the eyes of many of our compatriots, we are engaged in a war. Indeed, France is clearly engaged militarily … Continue reading
Brexit – Reactions from Europe’s radical Left
French communists British citizens have just voted to 51.9% out of the European Union. It is a new shock revealing the magnitude of the popular rejection against the neoliberal EU. The time has come to rebuild the EU, to build a Union of peoples and of free nations, sovereign and partners, for human progress and … Continue reading
Are French Socialist Hollande’s tax policies favouring the poor or the rich?
In January this year the French Government of Francoise Holland quietly shelved its 75% tax on the rich. Now new figures show three thousand affluent French people each pocketed a 240,000 euros tax rebate in 2014, in further embarrassing evidence that the Socialist administration has backtracked on promises to soak the 1%. This tax relief is … Continue reading
Crisis of democracy and sovereignty: the case of France
By Jacques Sapir France currently suffers from a deep democratic deficit. This can be measured in the rise in abstention during elections for almost twenty years. This is widely acknowledged, even if we differ on the analysis of the causes of this situation. Some dream of institutional reform. Such as a “Sixth Republic” advanced by … Continue reading
Are French workers paid too much?
France’s jobs market is too ‘rigid’ and must be reformed to boost growth and employment, Brussels and international agencies like the OECD* endlessly repeat, and hawkish PM Valls has been only too happy to oblige. But new evidence challenges this assertion, shows French economist Arnaud Parienty. The “structural reforms” that Brussels asks France mainly consist … Continue reading
France’s anti-austerity movement has life in it yet
Union-led protests across France show the country’s anti austerity movement is alive and kicking, despite the betrayals of the Socialist government and the rise of the Right, argues Jean Paul Piérot of L’Humanite newspaper. In the aftermath of departmental elections, the people seemed depressed, cowed. The popular anti-austerity movement, which in recent months has made … Continue reading
Euro, Europe and peace
One of the most well used arguments to criticize anything that directly or indirectly relates to a dissolution of the Euro (be it Grexit or other assumptions) is that this would significantly weaken the European Union or cause its dissolution. In saying this, those who defend this argument move seamlessly from an analytical finding (a … Continue reading
France’s Loi Macron: the consecration of archaeo-liberalism
This week France’s government forced a controversial deregulatory economic bill through parliament by decree, provoking a confidence vote and further splits within the ruling socialists, with rebels including former minister Benoît Hamon. Drafted by a one-time investment banker and designed to win respite from the German-led EU over draconian deficit reduction demands, it has been pursued in the name of … Continue reading
THE EURO
The Dossier
FRANCE
GERMANY
GREECE
ITALY
PORTUGAL
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