As I have long stated the challenges facing people across the EU are precisely the same as those in the UK.
Referencing the Gilet Jaunes is almost a mirror image of Brexit.
People across France have taken to the streets in peaceable protest to an inequitable "Green" fuel tax. It has to this point been a one issue protest which has a strong support across the rural areas of France. 90% of people around here, me included, display their Gilet Jaunes next to their windscreens through the week and many will often don them for Saturday protests.
The protest succeeded.
The French government has suspended the fuel tax increase.
Having achieved that success some protestors have unsurprisingly chosen to go further in their demands.
The list of "demands" one group has chosen to put together will NOT reflect the views of the vast majority of those 90%. As per Brexit just because one "unknown" section of the disenchanted and disenfranchised has espoused its particular challenges to the administration it cannot be assumed it has universal support.
It doesn't.
However in a democracy people are allowed to express their views of their society and pursue protest within the law. Clearly there are those who will not feel bound by the latter condition.
Seizing on such circumstance as a typical view which will undermine the fabric of government of France is beyond ridiculous.
France has major problems but there is zero appetite to leave the EU. Nor is there any overriding demand or expectation of halving levels of taxation. What the protests do reflect is the divisions within too many Western Democracies between the have and have nots.
Macron, elected as per Trump as the non establishment candidate, has pursued policies which as per the UK Conservative government over the past decades have merely served to exacerbate those differences.
The French however recognise where the responsibilities for those failures lay........with National Government.
Whatever your political views and recognising there will be extremes who will exploit either side of the argument I find the protests quite reassuring.
In these days of jaundiced self interest, apparent impotent lethargy and keyboard warriors it is good to know there still exists somewhere the groundswell of opinion possessing an appetite for a battle (within the law) in defence of "Liberte, Egalite, Fraternity".
Popped down to Brive to get some bits and there's a relatively minor round a bout with about 30 to 40 people (5/6 of em got faces covered and dressed like hunt sabs) stood at each entrance and pallets blocking the roads. Every 10 minutes (we timed it), they slide the pallets out the way and let everyone go pmsl.
Popped down to Brive to get some bits and there's a relatively minor round a bout with about 30 to 40 people (5/6 of em got faces covered and dressed like hunt sabs) stood at each entrance and pallets blocking the roads. Every 10 minutes (we timed it), they slide the pallets out the way and let everyone go pmsl.
As someone who has spent a lot of time round there, I can't imagine people doing that. Amazing to hear that even the people round there are being mobilised.
As an act of EU solidarity, the German army should be sent in. They have a fantastic record sorting out gobby frogs.
Whilst I get your third Reich reference the German police would have snuffed this out before it gathered pace. Rightly or wrongly they are the most violent and brutal police force I have ever witnessed in action
I was speaking to one of my French colleagues at lunch, and he was saying he believes the protests will continue in France, as it widely believed that Macron has simply deferred the changes that the government had planned - so they believe in 6 months time, it will be a siatuation where all the changes and increases will be implemented anyway. Astonishingly, when i asked him about Macrons popularity, he said it stood at about 10 per cent of the population at present, He indicated that Elections are in 18 months time where it is almost certain that Macron will not be re-elected, however, seemingly the only party gaining in popularity is the right-wing. Its a concern throughout Europe where right-wing is gaining popularity in most countries within the EU.
I was speaking to one of my French colleagues at lunch, and he was saying he believes the protests will continue in France, as it widely believed that Macron has simply deferred the changes that the government had planned - so they believe in 6 months time, it will be a siatuation where all the changes and increases will be implemented anyway. Astonishingly, when i asked him about Macrons popularity, he said it stood at about 10 per cent of the population at present, He indicated that Elections are in 18 months time where it is almost certain that Macron will not be re-elected, however, seemingly the only party gaining in popularity is the right-wing. Its a concern throughout Europe where right-wing is gaining popularity in most countries within the EU.
I was speaking to one of my French colleagues at lunch, and he was saying he believes the protests will continue in France, as it widely believed that Macron has simply deferred the changes that the government had planned - so they believe in 6 months time, it will be a siatuation where all the changes and increases will be implemented anyway. Astonishingly, when i asked him about Macrons popularity, he said it stood at about 10 per cent of the population at present, He indicated that Elections are in 18 months time where it is almost certain that Macron will not be re-elected, however, seemingly the only party gaining in popularity is the right-wing. Its a concern throughout Europe where right-wing is gaining popularity in most countries within the EU.
Comments
Unless it's a Tour de France winners convention, which in that case there won't be many French men present;-)
Referencing the Gilet Jaunes is almost a mirror image of Brexit.
People across France have taken to the streets in peaceable protest to an inequitable "Green" fuel tax. It has to this point been a one issue protest which has a strong support across the rural areas of France. 90% of people around here, me included, display their Gilet Jaunes next to their windscreens through the week and many will often don them for Saturday protests.
The protest succeeded.
The French government has suspended the fuel tax increase.
Having achieved that success some protestors have unsurprisingly chosen to go further in their demands.
The list of "demands" one group has chosen to put together will NOT reflect the views of the vast majority of those 90%. As per Brexit just because one "unknown" section of the disenchanted and disenfranchised has espoused its particular challenges to the administration it cannot be assumed it has universal support.
It doesn't.
However in a democracy people are allowed to express their views of their society and pursue protest within the law. Clearly there are those who will not feel bound by the latter condition.
Seizing on such circumstance as a typical view which will undermine the fabric of government of France is beyond ridiculous.
France has major problems but there is zero appetite to leave the EU. Nor is there any overriding demand or expectation of halving levels of taxation. What the protests do reflect is the divisions within too many Western Democracies between the have and have nots.
Macron, elected as per Trump as the non establishment candidate, has pursued policies which as per the UK Conservative government over the past decades have merely served to exacerbate those differences.
The French however recognise where the responsibilities for those failures lay........with National Government.
Whatever your political views and recognising there will be extremes who will exploit either side of the argument I find the protests quite reassuring.
In these days of jaundiced self interest, apparent impotent lethargy and keyboard warriors it is good to know there still exists somewhere the groundswell of opinion possessing an appetite for a battle (within the law) in defence of "Liberte, Egalite, Fraternity".
Forget road signs and holiday homes. Get on the streets and get what you want.
Astonishingly, when i asked him about Macrons popularity, he said it stood at about 10 per cent of the population at present, He indicated that Elections are in 18 months time where it is almost certain that Macron will not be re-elected, however, seemingly the only party gaining in popularity is the right-wing. Its a concern throughout Europe where right-wing is gaining popularity in most countries within the EU.
We won't last another 20 years. Probably more like 10.
The French still enjoy a good lunch...
Pompey striker preparing to shoot, while the Charlton defence (in red in the background) are milling around wondering who to mark?