Macron's big debate: a turning point or an "exaggerated nonsense"? | News from the world

During a windy night in the French port of Cherbourg, in the north of France, Brigitte, a health insurance worker, rose at a meeting of the city council which, she hoped, could change the future of France.

"I hear a lot of people criticize the president's wife, Brigitte Macron, for wearing designer sneakers worth several thousand euros," she said. "I understand that she must represent French designer brands. But let's look at other presidential costs. Why does the president, Emmanuel Macron, not entertain the heads of state visiting more economically? If he organized state visits sitting on a hay bale with a cup of cider, it would send a clear message to the rest of France about reducing unnecessary costs. "

A pensioner shouted: "And they could use paper plates, not the new plates for the presidency for which they spent € 50,000!" A retired teacher said that German Chancellor Angela Merkel had returned home she at night and had made her own purchases. a presidential palace of 365 rooms costing more than 100 million euros a year. "It's because in France we still have a type of king," sighed a trade unionist.

For four hours, more than 100 citizens expressed their views on wages, inequality in the tax system and Macron's much-criticized campaign for the privatization of some state-controlled enterprises. A 16-year-old volunteer wrote down all the comments in a neat handwriting to send to the presidency.

Macron's "Great Debate" – a mbadive unprecedented national exercise in consulting citizens on how to solve France's problems – is the latest attempt by the centrist president to try to end the government's almost three-month-long revolt yellow vests or yellow vest movement.

Some critics have first compared the idea of ​​Macron organizing thousands of local meetings to the unfortunate consultation exercise conducted by King Louis XVI in 1789. The king sought to appease popular discontent, but instead, revived the French Revolution. Four years later, he lost his head to the guillotine.

the yellow vests Protesters continue to protest – a protester lost part of his hand during clashes with police in Paris this weekend – but Macron's approval ratings have slowly begun to rise in recent weeks. Only about 34% of the French say they approve of his way of running France, but he found a little support, mainly on the right but also some on the left.

Two months ago, at the height of the protests, it was difficult for Macron to leave the compound of his presidential palace without being heckled and mocked. Now, he has made several six-hour appearances during carefully organized debates across France. Addressing the mayors of the region and selected youths, he rolled up his sleeves and defended his policy by means of a handheld microphone in what was dubbed The Macron Show.

One wonders if the suggestions of the citizens will be taken into account. Macron refused to change positions on the liberalization of the economy and the overhaul of the welfare state. The government is preparing for protests to continue for several months.

The street demonstrations in Paris this weekend showed a new hotbed of anger against political institutions, with the French parliament and the French Senate targeted. A protester in Normandy on Saturday had "bring back the guillotine" on his yellow vest.

The country house of Richard Ferrand, leader of the Lower House of Parliament and key ally of Macron, was the target of arson this weekend. No group has claimed responsibility and the investigation is ongoing. Ministers questioned the climate of violence against politicians caused by the yellow vests events.

More than 80 members of Macron's party, The Republic in March, have been targeted by threats or written attacks against their homes and offices since the start of the revolt. A member woke up and found that the driveway of the house had been built at night. Others saw their cars burned and their windows broken.

Cherbourg, on the other side of the Channel as Dorset, has witnessed regular events. The industrial port and the surrounding villages face some of the problems that sparked the November revolt. The meager transport links in the area mean that people depend on expensive cars and fuel. There is a complaint about the lack of local doctors and the closure of public services in the countryside.

Many spoke of a lack of trust towards elected officials during the debate. "I do not even know why I vote more," said an engineer.

The Cherbourg MP, Sonia Krimi, won the traditionally left-wing city for Macron's centrist party in 2017. She is known as an independent voice who has opposed certain government measures, including a new law repressing protesters, about which 50 Macron deputies abstained last week. . She also raised eyebrows in her party after briefly donning a yellow vest during a meeting with the protesters.

Leading the debate on Cherbourg, she insisted that Macron would take into account all the issues raised. "He will not go back on the steps he has taken so far," she said. "But it's going to be a turning point."

Some fear that those who engage in the debates are mainly elderly and retired. "Where are the young people?" Said a retired port worker.

After protesters in the Cherbourg area blocked McDonald's drives, many insisted that multinationals must pay more taxes. Those in the north and southeast also blocked Amazon logistics sites. The French government has promised a new national tax on Internet companies such as Google and Facebook.

In the Norman city of Caen, hundreds of yellow vests gathered for another street protest, some carried placards saying: "The big debate is only blah, blah, blah."

Chantal, a former health care aide in a retirement home, said she had written in the "grievance book" of her village hall, but she added, "This Macron debate is a puffy nonsense. He is a theater director, he does not listen to the little people. We yellow vests are here for the long term. I would rather not have to spend my weekends protesting, but I'm not giving up now. "