Kieran Lawrence looks at autonomous weapons and the effect they could have on modern warfare
Continuing a series on world leaders, Miles Deverson takes a look at Angela Merkel
Ben Bland examines the fallout from the Iowa caucuses and looks forward to the New Hampshire primaries.
In the first of a series on world leaders, Miles Deverson takes a look at Nicholas Sarkozy
After weeks of heavy resistance against Sarkozy's pension reform, a feeling of resentment and powerlessness has taken over French protesters after the dreaded bill was voted by the Parliament on Wednesday.
Following the October 22nd vote in the Senate, both houses of Parliament voted last Wednesday, in favor of the pension reform plans. The bill should be promulgated law by Nicolas Sarkozy around November 15.
Weeks of protests and strikes failed to succeed in bending the government's determination for reform. The most controversial section of the plan, the increase in the legal retirement age from 60 to 62, and the full-paid retirement age from 65 to 67, has brought millions of protesters to the streets. Strikes, especially in the oil and transport sectors have paralyzed the country for the past two months. Violence erupted on several occasions during demonstrations as people expressed their frustration at facing what they feel is a social recession. "We feel like France is going backwards instead of progressing. There are other ways to overcome this crisis rather than force people into working longer." says Rachel Millet, student in Lyon. “We are worried for the future of our children, that's the reason why we feel it is our place today to oppose the government” says a father on national television.
The resistance is undeniably fading as hope for the rejection of the bill was taken away by Wednesday's vote. Is France forced into the realization that "there is no other alternative" as Nicolas Sarkozy has repeatedly said? Thursday's march showed a severe drop in the number of participants and the strikes are progressively coming to an end. The freeze in the oil distribution which severely threatened the French economy is now almost completely over. "This decrease in participation to protests shows signs that the crisis will soon be averted" says Eric Woerth, minister for employment. "Haven't you heard? The bill has been passed, there is nothing to be done” says a Member of Parliament attempting to calm roaring opposition in the generally hushed room.
However Unions are not ready to capitulate yet, "Just because the law has been passed, doesn't mean it is right or that we should stop fighting!" says the general secretary of one of them. France witnessed another protest on Thursday and Unions are planning another day of mobilization on November 6th. “Admittedly the turnout cannot be expected to be as important as it was before the Parliament approved the bill” says unionist “nevertheless this crisis has left France with a scar that cannot heal without a fight”. Far left party NPA leader, Olivier Besançenot strongly believes the “battle is not over” - he even forecasts a very important participation on November 6th -“Nicolas Sarkozy needs to be stopped before (the presidential elections in) 2012”.
In fact, the consequences for 2012 could be dramatic for the French President, who has suffered a drastic drop in popularity in past months. His persistent arguments that the reform is a necessity, that early pension is no longer an affordable luxury and that France needs to follow the steps of its European neighbors has hardly convinced everyone. Not only has the reform been criticized, but so too has the manner in which it has been imposed. The president insists that he has “heard the protestants' voices” - nonetheless Nicolas Sarkozy seems determined to carry through this “ just and long-termed response” to the crisis and Unions' hopes that he could still back down in fear of 2012 have little, if no chance of coming true.
You must log in to submit a comment.
