The brutality, stubbornness and indifference of the French government – as exemplified by its current pension reforms - is exposing the country to deep democratic dangers. A combination of political democracy and economic democracy is the only viable alternative to the breakdown of France's Fifth Republic, argue Mediapart's Fabien Escalona and Romaric Godin in this op-ed article.
Provocation, contempt, lies and gifting respectability to the far-right. That was the distinctive cocktail employed by the French government in the run-up to yesterday's huge day of protest against the current pension reforms. President Emmanuel Macron, his labour minister Olivier Dussopt and government spokesperson Olivier Véran have all come up with declarations likely to anger those who understand that their reform bill is unnecessary, regressive and unjust.
