How the world views France’s autumn of discontent
Over recent weeks, industrial action has brought France to a standstill
Here we go again, said Gilles-William Goldnadel in Le Figaro (Paris) – the familiar sight of France being held to ransom by the “extreme left”. Over recent weeks, industrial action has brought trains and buses to a standstill, and even caused vital maintenance work on nuclear power plants to be delayed. More damaging still, however, have been the strikes at some of our largest fuel depots, which have led to fuel shortages at almost a third of our petrol stations, and inconvenienced millions of ordinary citizens.
The disruption began when workers at TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil walked out to demand higher salaries in late September, said Ellen Francis in The Washington Post. But it has grown into a movement reflecting “broader discontent and worries” over soaring living costs, and was followed last week by a “nationwide strike” and clashes between protesters and riot police on the streets of Paris. The unrest, which echoes the 2018 “yellow vest” movement, is proving a major setback for President Macron.
There are two main trade union families in France, said Gilles Paris in Le Monde (Paris). The “reformists”, represented primarily by the trade union federation CFDT (which has more than 620,000 members), have already struck a deal with oil companies over pay. But the second group, the so-called “revolutionaries”, are more hardline and are continuing to strike.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
They’re spearheaded by the more radical trade union federation, CGT; by La France Insoumise, the populist left-wing party of former presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon; and by the Communist Party. Surfing the wave of this unrest to boost his own party’s fortunes, Mélenchon has tried to revive the spirit of 1968, “the glory days of French social struggle”, by demanding nationwide strikes to force through big salary increases in the private and public sectors. And though the government has used the law to force “essential” workers back to work at some refineries, it still has much to lose if walkouts continue.
Macron’s position is made worse by voters denying his party a majority in June’s parliamentary elections, said Sylvain Pattieu in Libération (Paris). Already “weakened”, he now faces a wave of dissatisfaction about everything from soaring corporate profits to the climate crisis.
How very French this unrest is, said El País (Madrid). France has the lowest inflation rate of any in the EU (6.2%), and has spent more than the others “to reinforce the social cushion in the face of rising prices and the winter of forced energy savings”. Yet, still buying into the French “revolutionary myth”, its workers are treating the streets as “a central stage of political combat”. Now, as the economic outlook darkens and Europe grapples with war in Ukraine, the risk of social unrest spreading to other countries is all too real. “France is a warning.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'New arrivals are more than paying for themselves'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
6 stylish homes in Portland, Oregon
Feature Featuring a wall of windows in Collins View and a historic ballroom in Portland Heights
By The Week US Published
-
What's next for US interest rates?
The Explainer Stubborn inflation forestalls anticipated rate cuts
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Is Europe ready to come to its own defense?
Today's Big Question 'There is a risk our Europe could die'
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
The Don's enablers
Opinion Even Republicans who know better won't get in Trump's way
By William Falk Published
-
Panama presidency won by stand-in for fugitive
Speed Read José Raúl Mulino was the stand-in candidate for disqualified former president Ricardo Martinelli
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Rishi Sunak's asylum spat with Ireland explained
In Depth Irish government plans to override court ruling that the UK is unsafe for asylum seekers
By The Week UK Published
-
Xi comes to Europe: what's on the agenda?
The Explainer China's president visiting for first time since 2019, with spotlight on support for Russia over Ukraine and trade tensions with EU
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Coming to America
Opinion Why the melting pot should be a source of national pride
By Theunis Bates Published
-
Russia gains as Ukraine awaits US aid
Speed Read Ukrainian forces have retreated from several villages as the situation at the front line worsens
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sudan's year of civil war: 'the world has turned its back'
Talking Point Fractured state has 'essentially collapsed' as conflict between rival militias stretches on
By The Week UK Published