And they're off! Again!

Well done the French. They do seem to love a battle or a riot or a strike!

She's currently on trial for embezzlement, if found guilty her future looks very uncertain.

foxie48

She's currently on trial for embezzlement, if found guilty her future looks very uncertain.

Oooops!

Yes, but it isn't just Le Pen. It's all the other parties joining forces against Barnier.
Admittedly, she is the catalyst.

In this country we don't have forceful enough opposition due to how our system works. So Starmer, or whoever is PM, has pretty much carte blanche.

I cant access the reference, because of a paywall, but found a guardian article from last year. Currently the French have a lower pension age than most of Europe, and it's ?? how they can carry on supporting this, hence the conflicts, but as you say, they know how to organise. They seem to do what we have failed to do, which is to get groups across the board on top of pensions issues.

Cossy

Well done the French. They do seem to love a battle or a riot or a strike!

You have to admire them! And it’s all ages too

Oops sorry, I see it can't be shared
Anyway, in the last hour things have moved on and Barnier is now facing a no-confidence vote that could force him to quit. He could be out of a job by Wednesday.
If the government falls, it would be the first successful no-confidence vote since a defeat for Georges Pompidou's government in 1962 when Charles de Gaulle was president.
Tumultuous times across the Channel.

Will it get them what they want on the pension front tho? I cant see how they can continue with retirement at 62/3.

Not just France but South Korea too …. We’re wondering if a Dior handbag gifted to the President’s wife kicked off the protests. Are we just a walk over here in the Uk by comparison ?

I don’t understand why the left are opposing the government, when there is an election they are likely to get right wing Le Pen in power.

This is the consequence of PR, Germany isnt much better.

David49

I don’t understand why the left are opposing the government, when there is an election they are likely to get right wing Le Pen in power.

This is the consequence of PR, Germany isnt much better.

In Europe it's a consequence of capitalist neo-liberal economics system which fails to ensure all citizens are cared for and that there is an equitable distribution of resources..

Though I don't know much about S Korea.

“Vite!” let’s rejoin the EU and save France. It’s our moral responsibility after they were so generous to us when we left.

MaizieD

David49

I don’t understand why the left are opposing the government, when there is an election they are likely to get right wing Le Pen in power.

This is the consequence of PR, Germany isnt much better.

In Europe it's a consequence of capitalist neo-liberal economics system which fails to ensure all citizens are cared for and that there is an equitable distribution of resources..

Though I don't know much about S Korea.

So how does France balance the budget it just like the UK everyone wants to work less and get more benefits.

Korea is different, an aberration by the PM rather like Truss did, at least she didnt declare martial law.

So how does France balance the budget it just like the UK everyone wants to work less and get more benefits.

Oh dear, David. We have 16+ million people in poverty in the UK. All workshy scroungers? Oh, come on....

I think the pension reforms have been essential and reasonable, as is the latest sécu budget. I have no patience with 17 year olds being interviewed and saying it is a disgrace that anyone should have to work past 55.
It is classic French miserabilism.

MaizieD

^So how does France balance the budget it just like the UK everyone wants to work less and get more benefits.^

Oh dear, David. We have 16+ million people in poverty in the UK. All workshy scroungers? Oh, come on....

We also have 25% of those of working age are not working are they all disabled and incapable of contributing?

David49

MaizieD

So how does France balance the budget it just like the UK everyone wants to work less and get more benefits.

Oh dear, David. We have 16+ million people in poverty in the UK. All workshy scroungers? Oh, come on....

We also have 25% of those of working age are not working are they all disabled and incapable of contributing?

I have read recently (though I haven't followed it up) that our figures for people in employment have been underestimated by about 1 million, so that could reduce the 25% somewhat. We also have about 1 million people left with Long Covid, which will be contributing to the figures. And we have people who are more ill than they would have been had they been able to seek treatment during covid, and because of the horrendous waiting lists post covid. We have a very unhealthy nation. So I'm not inclined to go along with you on this..

Also, where are the jobs?

FriedGreenTomatoes2

“Vite!” let’s rejoin the EU and save France. It’s our moral responsibility after they were so generous to us when we left.

🤣🤣🤣

Also, where are the jobs?

Being done by migrants

Latest: French Government falls; Barnier ousted in no confidence vote.
Do not pretend to understand the implications.

Mamie

I think the pension reforms have been essential and reasonable, as is the latest sécu budget. I have no patience with 17 year olds being interviewed and saying it is a disgrace that anyone should have to work past 55.
It is classic French miserabilism.

It’s ridiculous isn’t it?
As regards the PR debate, our FPTP method of voting gets moaned about but at least it means one Party gets into power and gets things done whether we agree with their policies or not, while other countries have 3 or more Parties all fighting each other like rats in a sack.

That's exactly it, Oreo, the parties join forces to collapse the government, then come the next election they'll be squabbling because they are politically so far apart.

I don’t like the concept of PR voting at all. All jockeying for position and having to make pacts and concessions that rarely hold together - a right dog’s dinner and no-one gets what they want (voters or politicians). Proponents say “oh it’s all about consensus and discussion and not allowing one party to run roughshod over the others”. Balderdash.
In my opinion.

I agree, FPTT makes for a more effective government when they're in office. & that's got to be a good thing.
Cons are that it probably makes party politics worse (where they spend more time rubbishing each other than actually thinking what needs to be done) & the fact that so many people's votes don't actually count, that would count with PR.