What's Happening In France?

[mudman]

In an event not seen in France since 1962, the French Prime Minister Michel Barnier has been ousted following a no-confidence vote.

What does this mean then? I think Macron will have to put another person in to replace him but can France continue without calling fresh elections? I'm guessing that they won't want to do that again so soon after the last as the surprise win of the left last time could energise the right and propel Marine Le Pen into power.
What with Germany's troubles as well, it is definitely interesting times for Europe.

 

[Spectric]

The question to ask is will this have any impact on you and yes it might wobble the economy but can we try just a little to make woodworking topics more popular and avoid political matters. If this thread turns into a brexit bun fight it will be closed so just saying lets avoid the subject as it is past tense.

 

[Thingybob]

The French have finally took what Nigel was saying in Brussels as true

 

[mudman]

The question to ask is will this have any impact on you and yes it might wobble the economy but can we try just a little to make woodworking topics more popular and avoid political matters. If this thread turns into a brexit bun fight it will be closed so just saying lets avoid the subject as it is past tense.

Absolutely, I'm more interested in what will happen in the future. Any major changes in France are bound to have consequences for us.

 

[ey_tony]

What's happening in France is very important as even though we're no longer members of the EU, the implications are there with regard to the current events affecting the UK.
I can see the far right Marine le Pen party making hay while the sun shines or not on in the case of the current French government.

However it's not only the UK which is having economic and budgeting issues, that is the reason why the French government has fallen...because of budget and the economy so we're not alone and then there is the issue of Germany's economic ills so even if Starmer was able to pull off an economic miracle which is highly doubtful, it might still be quashed by the EU's economic and political ills.

Here's quite an informative BBC news editorial on the matter.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0q0zvvjj19o

 

[niall Y]

I think the problem is that Europe and the UK is becoming poorer. We are , to all intents and purposes in a managed decline. What this means in reality is that our public services will be affected. The levels of state help we once enjoyed will no longer be available.
What France is experiencing is the inevitable reaction to this unwelcomed reality.

To quote Jean-Claude Juncker "We all know what to do, but we don't know how to get re-elected once we have done it." In Michel Barnier's case,the reaction was even quicker - it sounded his demise immediately he announced it.

 

[Lignator]

What does this mean then? I think Macron will have to put another person in to replace him but can France continue without calling fresh elections? I'm guessing that they won't want to do that again so soon after the last as the surprise win of the left last time could energise the right and propel Marine Le Pen into power.
What with Germany's troubles as well, it is definitely interesting times for Europe.

I don't think fresh elections are possible until mid 2025. This means some form of caretaker setup.

France has many of our problems, expressed slightly differently.

Neoliberalism is the key to that, and Macron, ex banker, is the epitome of neoliberalism.

 

[mudman]

I don't think fresh elections are possible until mid 2025. This means some form of caretaker setup.

France has many of our problems, expressed slightly differently.

Neoliberalism is the key to that, and Macron, ex banker, is the epitome of neoliberalism.

Ah yes, I'd not realised that but did read it earlier.

I'd agree about the neoliberalism but most people would guess that from other non-sharpening threads.

Anyone tuning into Question Time tonight? Nigel Farage and Alastair Campbell both on Question Time tonight, should be fireworks.

 

[Sachakins]

Here's quite an informative BBC news editorial on the matter.

Informative AND bbc in same sentence, boy that's a contradiction in terms
Left me in stitches laughing at the thought of it though, thanks

 

[ey_tony]

Informative AND bbc in same sentence, boy that's a contradiction in terms
Left me in stitches laughing at the thought of it though, thanks

You won't often hear me say those two together about the BBC LOL, an oxymoron more like but it was actually well written and not biased which makes a change.
I'm no fan of the EU but I hope they get their act together pretty soon as it could cause the UK problems it really doesn't need right now as we have enough internal issues without outside problems adding to the growing list.

 

[niemeyjt]

France cannot call new Parliamentary elections until July - and Macron won't go. So I suspect Macron will use Article 60 and rule by decree for next six months.

But it all stems back to the awful Mitterand Presidency - and a warning for Starmer if he is not too stupid to pay attention.

 

[Chris152]

What's happening in France? Starmer couldn't run a bath (etc) - that's what's happening in France.

Here's an interesting article from back in April on the likely outcomes of a Le Pen govt, which we could well be seeing in due course:
https://www.politico.eu/article/france-what-le-pen-president-would-mean-eu-elections-national-rally/

 

[Blackswanwood]

To answer the original question - Notre Dame is being reopened.

Now that is a woodworking and stone masonry major achievement!

 

[Chris152]

To answer the original question - Notre Dame is being reopened.

Now that is a woodworking and stone masonry major achievement!

Yes, it looks absolutely amazing from the pics on tv.

 

[Chris152]

France is now in a very precarious position with the far right threatening the very democratic principles upon which its democracy has been founded and developed since 1789.

 

[ey_tony]

If by 'biased' you mean it has a political position from which it argues, then yes, it is. It's impossible to argue such issues from a neutral position, as there's no such thing.

France is now in a very precarious position with the far right threatening the very democratic principles upon which its democracy has been founded and developed since 1789.

I'm not into far right politics but the politics of the far right is an almost inevitable response to what others see as far left policies. They are both inextricably linked.
French politics are fragmented so it will be a while before there is any political stability and yes Marine Le Pen could be the winner in this but whether her party would actually threaten democracy is open to question.

 

[Chris152]

whether her party would actually threaten democracy is open to question.

Let's hope we don't have to find out.

 

[Jester129]

With how fractious the French are, it wouldn't take very long for riots to break out BIG time!

 

[mudman]

I'm not into far right politics but the politics of the far right is an almost inevitable response to what others see as far left policies. They are both inextricably linked.
French politics are fragmented so it will be a while before there is any political stability and yes Marine Le Pen could be the winner in this but whether her party would actually threaten democracy is open to question.

I see it as a pendulum swing. There was a science fiction short story that used the metaphor as a basis for the plot. The pendulum has swung too far one way, the left and needs to swing back to get some balance. Unfortunately it often swings too far and a country has to deal with the consequences before it settles in a comfortable mid point. It's likely Le Pen will gain an ascendency from this but I doubt that democracy will be sacrificed for it.

BTW Tony, what happened to your avatar? I was enjoying our Jezzer.

 

[ey_tony]

I see it as a pendulum swing. There was a science fiction short story that used the metaphor as a basis for the plot. The pendulum has swung too far one way, the left and needs to swing back to get some balance. Unfortunately it often swings too far and a country has to deal with the consequences before it settles in a comfortable mid point. It's likely Le Pen will gain an ascendency from this but I doubt that democracy will be sacrificed for it.

BTW Tony, what happened to your avatar? I was enjoying our Jezzer.

If Le pen does become the leading light of France then the politicians have only themselves to blame with their policies...far right politics only exists when left wing politics dominate and as you say it adds some form of balance until equilibrium is reached.
As for my avatar, apparently some people could take exception to Jeremy and the others I have used so I'm not allowed them in case it upsets someone.