In France, a Political Football
June 2, 2016 10:52 AM Subscribe
The French Socialist government is facing increasing unrest over its proposed labor reforms, which may disrupt the Euro 2016 soccer championship.
In late March, the Nuit debout movement resurrected Occupy-style assembly tactics in response to the proposed reforms. In May the government attempted to use Article 49.3 to bypass parliament and force through the legislation. Now French rail workers are on strike and potential strikes by other unions loom, possibly threatening the Euro 2016 soccer championship. Strikes by power plant operators are causing blackouts. At one point, the only paper appearing in France was the left-wing L’Humanité due to action by the printers. Behind the strikes is France's leading militant union, the CGT. In other news, the Louvre is closing due to recent flooding.
In late March, the Nuit debout movement resurrected Occupy-style assembly tactics in response to the proposed reforms. In May the government attempted to use Article 49.3 to bypass parliament and force through the legislation. Now French rail workers are on strike and potential strikes by other unions loom, possibly threatening the Euro 2016 soccer championship. Strikes by power plant operators are causing blackouts. At one point, the only paper appearing in France was the left-wing L’Humanité due to action by the printers. Behind the strikes is France's leading militant union, the CGT. In other news, the Louvre is closing due to recent flooding.
Moreover, the government should have been more open about declaring its shift towards pro-business economic reforms, said Valls. “Yes, we’ve changed, yes this is our politics."
Something happens to socialists after they get elected nowadays.
posted by clawsoon at 11:11 AM on June 2, 2016 [2 favorites]
Something happens to socialists after they get elected nowadays.
posted by clawsoon at 11:11 AM on June 2, 2016 [2 favorites]
Companies are making record profits, salaries have stagnated for 8 years now, and this arsehole thinks he wasn't open enough? We all knew where things were going when Hollande started showing his pro-corporate-interests hand. The people have been vocally critical of it for years, notably putting us into danger when the Front National used that disquiet to huff up support with fear. Companies are doing just fine with the social protections we have. France will go straight onto the path of the US if this law goes through; it is overtly designed to weaken employee and union negotiations.
posted by fraula at 11:22 AM on June 2, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by fraula at 11:22 AM on June 2, 2016 [2 favorites]
And it was passed by decree? In a parliamentary system? Look, if you can't get something past your own party in a parliamentary system you're probably in for a bad time.
posted by BungaDunga at 11:25 AM on June 2, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by BungaDunga at 11:25 AM on June 2, 2016 [5 favorites]
Can anyone explain why Hollande is so intent on pushing this through? This looks like it's going to have a huge political cost, what are they looking to gain? If it's just to save face and avoid having to back down, that's an impressive display of political competence.
posted by Dr Dracator at 11:34 AM on June 2, 2016
posted by Dr Dracator at 11:34 AM on June 2, 2016
Can anyone explain why Hollande is so intent on pushing this through? This looks like it's going to have a huge political cost, what are they looking to gain?
Money.
posted by fraula at 11:37 AM on June 2, 2016 [3 favorites]
Money.
posted by fraula at 11:37 AM on June 2, 2016 [3 favorites]
> "We’re putting in place a politics of a modern left.”
Language like this usually means "old right."
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:40 AM on June 2, 2016 [10 favorites]
Language like this usually means "old right."
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:40 AM on June 2, 2016 [10 favorites]
The powerful, hardline CGT union is locked in a standoff with the government, demanding a withdrawal of labour reforms designed to loosen France’s rigid workplace regulations and make it easier to hire and fire.
After days of blockades and strikes, fuel depots have been liberated by police and petrol supply almost restored to normal, but strike action on Thursday caused a brief power-cut to about 125,000 homes in Loire-Atlantique as the focus switched to electricity supply.
Gee, I wonder whose side the Guardian is on. I wonder if journalists intentionally poison the discourse this way, or if they're just so buried in the narrative that they don't notice it.
posted by klanawa at 11:45 AM on June 2, 2016 [14 favorites]
After days of blockades and strikes, fuel depots have been liberated by police and petrol supply almost restored to normal, but strike action on Thursday caused a brief power-cut to about 125,000 homes in Loire-Atlantique as the focus switched to electricity supply.
Gee, I wonder whose side the Guardian is on. I wonder if journalists intentionally poison the discourse this way, or if they're just so buried in the narrative that they don't notice it.
posted by klanawa at 11:45 AM on June 2, 2016 [14 favorites]
> Gee, I wonder whose side the Guardian is on. I wonder if journalists intentionally poison the discourse this way, or if they're just so buried in the narrative that they don't notice it.
I didn't know that “hardline” was such a controversial word. I also don't understand why “liberated” (admittedly not the word I would have used) is a horrible word choice when a group occupies a private place that doesn't belong to them.
Unrelatedly: yes, it's a horrible idea to have a clause in your constitution that allows the executive branch to bypass the legislature entirely. Jesus.
posted by savetheclocktower at 12:13 PM on June 2, 2016
I didn't know that “hardline” was such a controversial word. I also don't understand why “liberated” (admittedly not the word I would have used) is a horrible word choice when a group occupies a private place that doesn't belong to them.
Unrelatedly: yes, it's a horrible idea to have a clause in your constitution that allows the executive branch to bypass the legislature entirely. Jesus.
posted by savetheclocktower at 12:13 PM on June 2, 2016
The "Socialist" Party.
posted by Pope Guilty at 12:13 PM on June 2, 2016
posted by Pope Guilty at 12:13 PM on June 2, 2016
Politicians for whom the key metric seems to be "image abroad" as if they have some constituency other than their voters have been bought. It just takes time to uncover who their owner is.
posted by srboisvert at 12:14 PM on June 2, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by srboisvert at 12:14 PM on June 2, 2016 [3 favorites]
Gee, I wonder whose side the Guardian is on. I wonder if journalists intentionally poison the discourse this way, or if they're just so buried in the narrative that they don't notice it.
"Rigid workplace regulations" in your quoted passage is another prime example. "Decent safeguards" was obviously having the night off.
posted by Abiezer at 12:18 PM on June 2, 2016 [12 favorites]
"Rigid workplace regulations" in your quoted passage is another prime example. "Decent safeguards" was obviously having the night off.
posted by Abiezer at 12:18 PM on June 2, 2016 [12 favorites]
We're openly comparing mai 2016 to mai 1968 here.
Oh you mean like every other protest of the past 20 years? ;)
posted by litleozy at 12:53 PM on June 2, 2016
Oh you mean like every other protest of the past 20 years? ;)
posted by litleozy at 12:53 PM on June 2, 2016
I didn't know that “hardline” was such a controversial word.
Let me help: In politics, hardline refers to the doctrine, policy, and posturing of a government or political body as being absolutist and sometimes authoritarian. The hardline position is often extremist and uncompromising.
There are necessarily at least two parties involved in an impasse, both of whom are refusing to compromise. The workers are refusing to compromise on working and living conditions. Who or what is Hollande holding out for? Who has the moral high ground? Why are the workers extremists and not Hollande?
posted by klanawa at 12:59 PM on June 2, 2016 [4 favorites]
Let me help: In politics, hardline refers to the doctrine, policy, and posturing of a government or political body as being absolutist and sometimes authoritarian. The hardline position is often extremist and uncompromising.
There are necessarily at least two parties involved in an impasse, both of whom are refusing to compromise. The workers are refusing to compromise on working and living conditions. Who or what is Hollande holding out for? Who has the moral high ground? Why are the workers extremists and not Hollande?
posted by klanawa at 12:59 PM on June 2, 2016 [4 favorites]
Also: "when a group occupies a private place that doesn't belong to them" could just as easily refer to the oil company. Legal is not the same as right.
posted by klanawa at 1:03 PM on June 2, 2016
posted by klanawa at 1:03 PM on June 2, 2016
Oh you mean like every other protest of the past 20 years? ;)
You might want to read the articles. This is a hell of a lot more than a single strike, as was May 1968.
posted by fraula at 1:15 PM on June 2, 2016 [3 favorites]
You might want to read the articles. This is a hell of a lot more than a single strike, as was May 1968.
posted by fraula at 1:15 PM on June 2, 2016 [3 favorites]
> Who or what is Hollande holding out for? Who has the moral high ground? Why are the workers extremists and not Hollande?
That same article paints Hollande as obstinate and pro-business and says he pushed the measures through by decree.
> Also: "when a group occupies a private place that doesn't belong to them" could just as easily refer to the oil company. Legal is not the same as right.
If the complaint is that the article does not sufficiently engage with the idea that private ownership of property might be morally suspect… well, I hear you, but I don't think the Guardian is the only offender.
posted by savetheclocktower at 1:18 PM on June 2, 2016
That same article paints Hollande as obstinate and pro-business and says he pushed the measures through by decree.
> Also: "when a group occupies a private place that doesn't belong to them" could just as easily refer to the oil company. Legal is not the same as right.
If the complaint is that the article does not sufficiently engage with the idea that private ownership of property might be morally suspect… well, I hear you, but I don't think the Guardian is the only offender.
posted by savetheclocktower at 1:18 PM on June 2, 2016
You're working pretty hard to ignore the substance of my complaint, here. It's called a dog whistle.
posted by klanawa at 1:28 PM on June 2, 2016
posted by klanawa at 1:28 PM on June 2, 2016
When freaking French socialists govern against workers, you have to wonder if there's any left...um...left in the world.
posted by Thorzdad at 1:29 PM on June 2, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Thorzdad at 1:29 PM on June 2, 2016 [3 favorites]
It seems to me that the increasing Financialization throughout the world has allowed "markets" (ie the web of trade that is controlled by those who meet in Davos etc.) to dictate what a government can/can't do. Most governments, even supposed socialist governments seem unwilling/unable to shed the yoke of the neo-liberal capitalist class, which punishes the State for doing anything that might even be construed as "anti-business/profit", such as a policy that counters the theft of the commons (including worker's pensions/educations/healthcare). We are seeing a heightened global war on the State as such, with most of those who run the State colluding to dismantle it, primarily for personal gain or for ideological reasons (or for lack of other ideas/options?).
Sorry about the simplistic and not very well thought out nature of this comment, but you know, I'm just a casual observer. In case it matters, I believe that totalitarianism, whether it be through corporations, financial markets, the state, a dictatorship, or some other form of coercive power wielded by a single group of actors, is usually a pretty awful thing.
posted by nikoniko at 2:13 PM on June 2, 2016 [7 favorites]
Sorry about the simplistic and not very well thought out nature of this comment, but you know, I'm just a casual observer. In case it matters, I believe that totalitarianism, whether it be through corporations, financial markets, the state, a dictatorship, or some other form of coercive power wielded by a single group of actors, is usually a pretty awful thing.
posted by nikoniko at 2:13 PM on June 2, 2016 [7 favorites]
Can anyone explain why Hollande is so intent on pushing this through? This looks like it's going to have a huge political cost, what are they looking to gain?
Because the ECB has France by the balls. What do you think that little dramatic performance in Greece was about?
posted by ennui.bz at 3:56 PM on June 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
Because the ECB has France by the balls. What do you think that little dramatic performance in Greece was about?
posted by ennui.bz at 3:56 PM on June 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
Money
Well there is the fact that the current unemployment rate is 10.5%, which is level not seen in the US even in the depths of the last recession. It's been like that for years. The youth unemployment rate is also just shy of 25%. Bombings haven't helped much with it either.
Now when the solution to that is a heaping dose of neoliberalism, I can see why people might be upset.
posted by zabuni at 4:00 PM on June 2, 2016 [2 favorites]
Well there is the fact that the current unemployment rate is 10.5%, which is level not seen in the US even in the depths of the last recession. It's been like that for years. The youth unemployment rate is also just shy of 25%. Bombings haven't helped much with it either.
Now when the solution to that is a heaping dose of neoliberalism, I can see why people might be upset.
posted by zabuni at 4:00 PM on June 2, 2016 [2 favorites]
> You're working pretty hard to ignore the substance of my complaint, here. It's called a dog whistle.
I don't have a problem with your opinion; I'm just not sold, and I suspect that it's not falsifiable with the information that we have. I'll leave it there.
posted by savetheclocktower at 5:13 PM on June 2, 2016
I don't have a problem with your opinion; I'm just not sold, and I suspect that it's not falsifiable with the information that we have. I'll leave it there.
posted by savetheclocktower at 5:13 PM on June 2, 2016
Huh? France is maybe the only Country other than Germany that the ECB would print money for to bail out. Plenty of other things to bitch about if you are from the left on this.
But yeah this is something like the Hartz reforms in Germany where a restructuring of the labor market is probably needed but will inevitably create winners and losers the state will probably end up screwing over.
posted by JPD at 5:18 PM on June 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
But yeah this is something like the Hartz reforms in Germany where a restructuring of the labor market is probably needed but will inevitably create winners and losers the state will probably end up screwing over.
posted by JPD at 5:18 PM on June 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
« Older Ergo, jabot. | Clueyness: A Weird Kind of Sad. Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
The proposed labour reforms are a huge, HUGE step backwards. Allez-y to the protestors, I say.
posted by fraula at 11:04 AM on June 2, 2016 [6 favorites]