At last the French president Emanuel Macron surrendered before the violent protestors and the French government with draw all the taxes imposed on diesel, patrol and other commodities.
Earlier, the French president tried his level best to propogate his new economic policies in the form of new tax reforms but the people have totally rejected and strongly condemned Emanuel Macron’s tax reforms and came out on roads for violent protests. These violent protestors destroyed public property and attacked shopping malls and looted valuable goods from the markets. Thousands of people were seriously injured during these violent clashes between the police and the angry mobs.
The French president took over after the elections of 2017 and strongly criticized the previous governments and their economic policies but at the same time it seems that his own economic reforms were also completely rejected by the people of France and his dream of a NEW FRANCE has shattered specially due to his unpopoular tax reform policies and now even his own popularity is at stake.
In 2017, when 32 years old Macron took over, the general perception was that he will be a new hope for the people of France; even the critics were of the opinion that he will provide an alternative leadership in Europe against President Trump of the United States; and will also prove himself against the more conservative nationalist leadership of the United Kingdom; and lastly the critics were considering him the hope to stabilize the European Union as well. But he was unable to prove himself and was unable to provide an alternative leadership against the nationalist forces in europe as well.
In 2000, the Germany and France were having the same G.D.P and at that stage German leadership introduced new economic reforms to keep up the momentum of economic growth in Germany. but the-then French president Jacques Chirac has not paid attention to the deteriorating economic conditions of France.
Now France does not need a Jupiterian (a powerful Greek god) President or any super human but infact needs a person who clearly understands the true desires and aspirations of a common man
Now increasing unemployment is also one of the causes of the unrest in the general public and most of the people are working on one month contractual jobs. President Macron’s tax policy in the name of economic reforms were infact also adversely affecting the foreign investment in the Republic. Now President Emanuel Macron should realize that France is a democratic country and he is answerable to the masses for his political and economic decisions. So the new reforms’ agenda should be implemented with the consent of the people.
With out the support of his people Macron cannot present “Jupiterian leadership” to his people which he has promised during the elections compaign of 2017.Macron has given several lectures in his presidential palace in support of his reforms but completely ignored the opposition. Now it’s the right time for the young Macron to review his policy.
President Macron although won the elections of 2017 but on the other hand actualy ignored the strong nationalist forces in France which brutally criticized his policies and infact formed a very strong opposition to his economic reforms. Critics think that one of the political strategies of Macron should be to engage the opposition and initiate a policy of consensus and reconciliation at least on national issues of high importance.
During the violent protests the worst thing happened when a huge crowd demanded the resignation of the young and perhaps an inexperienced Macron. It was observed that peasants and labourers were infact flared up when Macron raised the prices of diesel which directly affected the lower class that have to travel on daily basis from the far flung areas across the various cities. In fact the lower class completely rejected his tax reforms’ policies and the common man started calling him the president of the “upper class”
The mass movement and agitation against Macron was in fact organized through social media which was once used by young Macron himself for his own victory in the presidential elections of 2017.
Now the important question is should France be ruled by mob? Or the coming days nationalists will become more powerful? Or will they be able to take over the democratic regime?
Presently, president Macron is facing tough resistance by nationalist forces and infact facing a strong opposition by the deprived classes of the society as well. President Emanuel Macron should keep in mind that before annoucing any reform agenda these two segments of the society should also be taken into confidence.
Now President Macron should also focus on pention reforms and will have to address the growing unemployment in republic as well. Critics think that now it’s the right time to initiate a policy of reconciliation with the various opposition groups.
The violent protests in fact gave the Jupiterian Macron a clear message for the broader consensus and reconciliation with all the opposition forces on national issues. Now France does not need a Jupiterian (a powerful Greek god) President or any super human but infact needs a person who clearly understands the true desires and aspirations of a common man.
Published in Daily Times, January 23rd 2019.