Retirement Reform: It's All Over But The Shouting

...and the protesting, the political calculations, and the pot banging.

Before we get to the dreary political stuff, let’s start by sharing some postcards from a lovely Saturday afternoon we spent just wandering the streets of the city. The day started off chilly but blossomed into a sunny, warm afternoon of clear skies as we walked the streets around the Pigalle neighborhood. We basically never venture so far from our suburban enclave on the weekend, so this felt quite decadent.

And so here is a dose of good Parisian vibrations to start your week:

Just kidding

While we experienced a tranquil afternoon watching hipsters drink artisanal coffee on terraces and strolling down a small side street that improbably had about 20 guitar stores, we were far from the eruption of protests over the retirement reform.

The previous day, the debate, such as it was, about how to reform France’s retirement system had ended from a strictly legal standpoint. On Friday, France’s Constitutional Council approved the text that had been adopted using a parliamentary maneuver to sidestep a vote in the National Assembly.

Basically, this was the last technical step before it became law. Unions and other critics had been hoping against hope that the Council would take one look at the law and say, “WTF, MacDaddy? You loco!” Alas, that did not happen, much to their chagrin.

And so, only one thing left to do: Aux barricades!

“The president was already playing with fire, now he seems to take pleasure in throwing oil on the fire,” UNSA union leader Laurent Escure wrote on Twitter. “Nothing good will come of this. It's not over, the fight for pensions and social justice continues!”

And so it did.

By Saturday afternoon, protestors were protesting and police were clubbing and teargassing them with abandon. Then there was the ceremonial lighting of bicycles on fire. Followed by the arrest of about 150 people in Paris, according to Le Parisien. Indeed, things got so out of hand that even public radio workers went on strike!

Now Hear This!

After some high-fives over the weekend, Macron’s government announced he would speak to the nation on Monday night. In an address lasting about 15 minutes, Macron tried his best to extend a hand in peace to his critics even as he defended the need to shove the retirement reform down the necks of his fellow countrypeople.

He noted that the inability to find consensus had left him with “regret.” But while saying he understood the “anger” of the French people, he continued to insist it was absolutely necessary to ensure the long-term stability of the retirement system.

Still, Macron wanted to throw the rabble a bone, in his own way.

Thus, he announced “100 days of appeasement, unity, ambition, and action in service of France.” As is typical in French governance, Macron is outsourcing this task to his prime minister, Elisabeth Borne. But he did helpfully give her a few guidelines.

He wants her to address three many categories of stuff: a “new pact” regarding work; bringing “order” to the republic through crackdowns on lawbreaking, though ideally without sinister Chancellor Palpatine-Anakin Skywalker overtones; and something about a better quality of life, including improving the health system that is showing cracks.

Borne is supposed to fill in the blanks in consultation with unions and political opponents and local elected officials.

It will perhaps not surprise you to learn that the French did not appear to be appeased by his remarks.

Indeed, even as he spoke, protestors had gathered in city centers across France to bang pots and pans (casseroles) during his speech. Some local law enforcement leaders attempted to ban such protests in advance, which is always a great way to get people to stop being angry!

As the protests continued after the speech, Macron’s critics took to TV screens and social media to note that they were deeply unimpressed. They denounced his speech as full of broad platitudes and empty promises. Sophie Binet, head of the CGT union, invoked what is perhaps the ultimate insult of our times by saying Macron’s speech “could have been done by ChatGPT!”

According to a BFMTV poll, 90% did not think Macron’s speech would calm the country.

Instead, unions and political opponents are calling for massive national strikes and protests on May 1.

Of course, France is again fretting about how all of this makes the country look to the outside world. But international influencers seemed to be adapting just fine. Just check out this amazing croissant review by a popular Italian YouTuber (in English). Your French moment of protest culinary zen.

Chris O’Brien

Le Pecq