France is in a sad state. The real problem is not the pension law, but the contempt for democracy of many opponents of this law.
In the early 1970s, the French worked 38 years to fund around 7 years of pension. Since then, life expectancy has increased from 72 to 82 years. Due to medical advances, life expectancy continues to increase. Macron wants to finance around 18 years of retirement with 43 years of work.
To balance the books, either contributions must be increased, or retirement years cut, or benefits cut.
But that’s not the main problem. The French have elected MPs who make decisions for them. If these decisions do not please the majority of citizens, elected officials risk losing their seats in the next election.
Law 49.3 goes in that direction. Elisabeth Borne’s government is so convinced of the correctness of its pension law that it is prepared to call new elections if it doesn’t go through.
It is enough for a majority of MPs to vote in favor of a motion of no confidence to overthrow his minority government.
Comfort before democracy
Almost 70% of the French are against this pension law. Normally MPs who oppose the law would vote to defeat the government. The people should cheer them on and elect a new government that rejects this reform.
Yes, but some of these MPs fear losing their seats in early elections. They oppose the law, but not to the point of questioning the comfort of their butts. In other words, they put their selfish self-interest ahead of their constituents.
For this reason it is to be expected that many opposition politicians will vote against the motion of no confidence under various pretexts. But they will continue to denounce pension reform. What hypocrisy!
Excited in the streets
On the other hand, the fanatics who take to the streets to smash everything or those who sow anarchy with strikes are not playing the game of democracy either.
Being a democrat also means accepting the laws of your opponents.
The garbage collectors’ strike and the 10,000 tons of garbage that have plagued the streets of Paris for almost two weeks symbolize the consequences of refusing to abide by the rules of democracy and the sickening consequences of that refusal.
The mechanism of Article 49.3 is highly democratic as it offers the opportunity to put the final decision on a hot topic in the hands of voters.
It is unfortunate and destructive that several populist leaders are speaking out against him instead of trying to challenge Emmanuel Macron and his party through snap elections.
