political scientist, France country expert
Sarkozy’s “affairs” and Hollande’s book are certainly interesting and entertaining for those interested in French politics. The “big issue” of September, though, is the planned closure of Alstom’s TGV industrial plant in Belfort in 2018. The announcement of Alstom has forced almost all political actors to make resolutions. And the government came up with a fairly expensive one.
Many people think that public health taxes are good and useful. After all, people do not need that much refined sugar – moreover, the health care system does not need those diabetic patients either. The so-called Nutella tax also belongs to this group. The French, for their part, really wanted to tax palm oil, the main ingredient of the yummy Read More …
President Hollande’s effort to overhaul the Labor Code does not go according to plan. Opinion polls and facts show that the French are rather against the modifications proposed by the government, trade unions alike. And now, ladies and gentlemen, employers also join them in contestation.
The French Labor Code is legendary: legendarily long (3800 pages) and legendarily complex. No wonder that President Hollande announced earlier in October that his government would revamp the labor legislation. It was, without a doubt, time. The details were announced this week: the legal workweek would remain 35 hours long, but companies would have some room for flexibility through the Read More …
This one is going to be quite a short week – three days of business as usual, then the traditional Labour Day festivities and manifestations. Stability pact: a crucial vote However, during these three days, the Parliament will discuss the stability program of the government and will also vote on it. PM Valls is expected to deliver two speeches in Read More …
The parliamentary speech of Manuel Valls, and the austerity package announced afterwards has shaken the French political elite up. The moderate right finds itself in the most delicate situation: French citizens are in favor of the Valls austerity package (we are talking about a big, nice majority). And they just love the new Prime Minister, too. Everybody knew that 50 Read More …
An agenda full of blank space Looking through the predictable (publicly scheduled) events of this week, it is really-really difficult to foretell the main subjects and events that will dominate French politics. The new Valls government will most certainly be in the center of attention, but what else? We know that PM Manuel Valls will visit Berlin on Monday to Read More …
Vote of confidence in the National Assembly The main political event of week 15 in France is the vote of confidence asked for by the new government. It will take place in the National Assembly this Tuesday at 15:00 CET. The Constitution of the Fifth Republic does not require the government to engage its responsability after the nomination of a Read More …