Article Review

Name: Martin O Regan

Student Number 108595062

GV 2005 French Politics

The Financial Times article is about pension reform in France. President Sarkozy
is trying to push through a reform that would entail the retirement age being
raised from 60 to 62. The article argues that Sakozy’s government is afraid that
the longer the bill is delayed the longer and more intense the strikes will be. The
article points to the chaos that ensues because blockades on fuel depots airports
and even canals. The French economy is suffering. President Sarkozy is facing
obstruction in Parliament. The Senate is delaying the legislation by repeatedly
putting it back by a day. But his center right party, usually in disagreement with
each other, is firmly behind Sarkozy in his attempt to reform the French pensions
regime.

The article implies that President Sarkozy appears increasingly powerless and
that he is now struggling to regain the appearance of being in control. The article
points to the chaos that has engulfed France. The difficulties he faces in
Parliament boaster this argument. The article points to Sarkozy’s attempts to
regain control. He used the Army to get fuel to where it is needed. It points also
to the resolve that exists in his own party the UMP to reform pensions. Measures
that are expected by bond markets and the European Union.
The article also points the Trade Unions and the public mood. It argues that the
unions are split between more radical elements that want to cause more
disruption and moderate elements that fear that causing further disruption will
alienate the public in general. Pension reform is an unpopular measure. Opinion
polls show a large plurality for the strikers and renegotiating the pension deal.

The legislation to reform the French pensions regime is being delayed by the
Senate. These delaying tactics are believed by the President and his aids be
worsening the transport crisis. To prove this point the article picks up a quote
from a French magazine Valeurs Actuelles. ”The bill has been with the Senate for
three weeks, when will it vote for it” Sarkozy’s chief of staff tells a journalist 1 The
Executive is clearly growing inpatient with parliament. The article claims that
opinion inside the Elysee hopes that school holidays will turn French people
against the strikers. This is claimed but it is not proved. It is off record
information that we cannot verify. The article proves that the Executive is
impatient with Senate.

The slow passage of the bill through the Senate opens an opportunity for the
Trade unions to protest the measures under consideration the article claims.
The article claims that the more moderate unions will not protest against a law
passed by parliament. The article doesn’t prove this point it is merely stated.
Airports are blockaded cancelling some flights. The unions are seeking to
seriously disrupt the economic life of the country. All these things are happening
while the pension reforms was under consideration by the Senate. So we can
assume that the prolonged debate helped to extend the strikes.

The Unions have caused a large amount of disruption to ordinary people because
many service stations are on depleted fuel reserves. The article claims that the
unions risk turning the public against them if this continues. This, the article
claims, forms the main disagreement between the unions. The more moderate
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unions are afraid that further protests will cause disruption during the school
mid term break that will turn public opinion against the unions. The article
claims this but does not prove it. The unions may be afraid of annoying ordinary
travelers but they their fears may be unfounded. The article points to survey data
that shows that most people are behind their protests.

The union leaders are urged by their more militant members, the article claims,
to continue protesting. The unions have a window of opportunity while the bill is
before parliament but they are afraid to challenge legislation that has been
democratically enacted by Parliament. The article implies that the Unions believe
protests will frighten legislators into blocking the new legislation.
The article empathises President Sarkozy’s attempts to restore law and order. In
the face of blocked fuel depots and airports President Sarkozy promised to
restore order to French economic life. He is anxious to appear strong in the face
union protests. His robust handling of the Unions proves his desire to free up
transport in the country.

President Sarkozy’s robust posture towards the Unions helps his image among
his own supporters. The article quotes a sometime critic of the President, Jean-
Francois Cope, to prove this point, who boasts about the “cohesion of the
governing party and the government”. 2 For the center right this is a central
plank of their reforms. It will help the public finances. It is a move away from
French model that empathises state aid. It will make France more like
Anglophone countries and other European countries. The article’s reference to
expectations of bond markets and European peers illustrates the pressures on
France from external sources. By pushing through these reforms Sarkozy is
satisfying his own supporters and foreign interests. The support he receives
from his party puts him in a stronger position for the presidential election in
2012.
But this causes problems for Sarkozy among French people in general. The
article argues persuasively that there is popular opinion against the reforms.
Sarkozy is in danger of appearing to be the cause of the problems in the eyes of
electors. To back up this point the article quotes opinion polls. 67% said they
were in favour of the protests. It goes on to show that there are majorities in
favour of the renegotiation and against Sarkozy’s firm treatment of the strikers.
The article argues persuasively that the French Executive is afraid that
Parliamentary deadlock will further encourage strikes. An interview given the
chief of staff makes this frustration clear. The article paints a clear picture of the
disruption caused by the Union strikes. The article illustrates that Sarkozy is
struggling to regain control of situation It proves that the Elysee Palace is afraid
that parliamentary delays will prolong Union agitation.
The article argues that President Sarkozy is firming up his base on the center-
right. But article proves that public opinion is largely for the strikers and against
Sarkozy. Opinion poll data is provided to prove this point.
The article is persuasive overall. The article relies on off the record information
that the reader cannot verify. We must accept that the journalist’s sources inside
government are credible and are not telling lies. The article also makes
judgments about the intentions of the trade unions that not demonstrated in the
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article. We must accept the writer’s expertise on French trade unions. The article
proves that the country is in chaos due to the strikes. It implies that President
Sarkozy is struggling to restore order. Sarkozy’s tough treatment of the strikers
is juxtaposed with the continuing chaos in the country. The article is clear and
easy to read. It is divided into three parts discussing the senate situation, the
chaos in the country the attitudes of the unions, the center right, and the public
at large. Ultimately we must accept the writer analysis of opinion within the
trade unions and the Elysee Palace. Because the proof he offers only partial.