Arthur Goldhammer (clic)
On lira ci-dessous l'article de ce matin publié par Art. Goldhammer sur son blog French Politics .
An American observer comments on French politics.
Emmanuel Macron is celebrating his fortieth birthday at the Château de Chambord, surrounded by hunters chasing wild boar. It's an injudicious choice for a president who has made much use of the power of symbolism, unless of course he wants to project a Jupiterian power ensconced in a proper seat, or throne.
Meanwhile, he is projecting power of a different kind, cracking down on refugees in makeshift shelters and welcome centers, which the immigration police have allowed themselves to enter for the first time. He would prefer, however, that we refer to "migrants" rather than "refugees." Because apparently the president's policy on immigration is that France remains a "land of asylum" but only for those officially classified as "refugees" before entering Europe. The rest are unwanted migrants who are liable to arrest and deportation.
So while Angela Merkel labors to persuade her reluctant European partners to share the refugee burden more equitably, Macron is setting a very different example, demonstrating that on his watch France is going to take a very tough stand indeed. Which can only encourager les autres to defy Merkel as well. This--far more than the reform of the labor code--is the unattractive side of Macronism.
Meanwhile, François Bayrou, who has kept a low profile since his ouster from government, is apparently plotting a comeback as--listen well!--"the left wing of Macronism." Yes, you heard that right. Bayrou, Monsieur le Centre, sees himself as the left wing, the "social" wing, of Macronism. He is certainly right that such a thing is needed. Perhaps this refugee crackdown will give a chance to show what he means when he says that Macronism needs a social wing. Le Macronisme à visage humain remains to be defined.
Meanwhile, he is projecting power of a different kind, cracking down on refugees in makeshift shelters and welcome centers, which the immigration police have allowed themselves to enter for the first time. He would prefer, however, that we refer to "migrants" rather than "refugees." Because apparently the president's policy on immigration is that France remains a "land of asylum" but only for those officially classified as "refugees" before entering Europe. The rest are unwanted migrants who are liable to arrest and deportation.
So while Angela Merkel labors to persuade her reluctant European partners to share the refugee burden more equitably, Macron is setting a very different example, demonstrating that on his watch France is going to take a very tough stand indeed. Which can only encourager les autres to defy Merkel as well. This--far more than the reform of the labor code--is the unattractive side of Macronism.
Meanwhile, François Bayrou, who has kept a low profile since his ouster from government, is apparently plotting a comeback as--listen well!--"the left wing of Macronism." Yes, you heard that right. Bayrou, Monsieur le Centre, sees himself as the left wing, the "social" wing, of Macronism. He is certainly right that such a thing is needed. Perhaps this refugee crackdown will give a chance to show what he means when he says that Macronism needs a social wing. Le Macronisme à visage humain remains to be defined.
On apprend ce matin que la côte de Narcisse 1er remonterait.
RépondreSupprimerLes veaux en redemandent...
Ah ! l'heureuse nouvelle ne nous était pas encore parvenue. Vous nous en apprenez des choses, merci. Nous est d'avis qu'on est pas sortis de l'Auvergne.
Supprimer(...)Ah ! pour être des veaux, n'en sommes pas moins homme ;
Et lorsqu'on vient à voir vos bons résulats,
Un cœur se laisse prendre, et ne raisonne pas.
Certes un tel discours de nous paroît étrange ;
Mais, monsieur, après tout, nous n'sommes pas des anges (...)