Winston Churchill’s remark about France has misplaced none of its piquancy. Churchill famously mentioned of the distinction between Britain, Franc
Winston Churchill’s remark about France has misplaced none of its piquancy. Churchill famously mentioned of the distinction between Britain, France and Germany:
‘In England, the whole lot is permitted besides what’s forbidden. In Germany, the whole lot is forbidden besides what’s permitted. In France, the whole lot is allowed, even what’s prohibited.’
France’s debilitating nationwide transport strike, now in its 47th day, proves it. Ever because the Enlightenment, France has led the world in growing common ideas to manipulate residents’ lives within the identify of equality. This differs from the strategy throughout the Channel, the place piecemeal laws of customary English frequent legislation means the whole lot is permitted besides what’s forbidden, within the identify of liberty.
After the French Revolution, uniformity of laws was thought of a assure of unity and equality for all, whether or not it’s weights and measures or the Napoleonic authorized civil code, the bible of French justice. France’s 5 republics deemed their values to be common for all mankind, not simply French residents. The precept of universality was prolonged to French colonies (supposed beneficiaries of the Republic’s ‘civilising mission’) and ultimately to that newer off-shoot of French affect, technique and legalism, the European Union.
As we speak’s strike hangs on the reform of France’s labyrinthine state pension system with its 42 particular schemes, authorized retirement age, which vary from 55 to 62, and ranging contributory charges. Emmanuel Macron nonetheless presents the state pension, which in some circumstances dates from Louis IV (for the Paris Opera), like some feudal remnant. In his view it isn’t egalitarian however unjust and outdated. One other factor which he doesn’t dwell on can be true: it’s more and more unaffordable.
Macron is making an attempt to drive by means of modifications which contain the substitute of this method with a common points-based one. However these placing are decided to not budge. Reasonable ‘reformist’ trades unions may be seduced by the universalist precept of Macron’s pensions shake-up, if not its proposed utility. However different unions take a a lot more durable line and easily reject the reform outright. This break up is analogous among the many common French voter: public opinion is sympathetic in principle to a common system however opposed in observe to Macron’s reform.
And so the strike – now one of many longest in French historical past, which has value French railways alone over a billion euros – drags on. In the long run, Macron will win and a theoretically common retirement system can be imposed.
However right here is the place Churchill acquired it proper. The best way negotiations are progressing ensures that each one that was alleged to be prohibited – particular regimes, different retirement ages – can be allowed. The universalist precept can be burrowed by means of with a number of exceptions like a Gruyère cheese. Even Macron joked a few days in the past that there are more likely to be 66 million exceptions, one for each Frenchman.
President Macron’s reforming agenda since 2017 has continuously used universalist ideas to attain his goals, in areas from unemployment advantages to the standing of railway employees and now state pensions. It’s unlikely to cease there.
Forthcoming reform of the civil service will search to put off the ‘grands corps de l’Etat’ and France’s specialist civil service coaching colleges for high officers and judges within the identify of some universalist logic. However – as normal – particular pursuits, influential lobbies and the burden of custom will blunt the universalist reform and water down what Macron is making an attempt to attain. However then France wouldn’t have it every other means, as Churchill knew all too effectively.