Two apparently unrelated events — the results of the European elections and General Electric’s (GE) $17 billion (Dh62.52 billion) bid for France’s Alstom SA (ALO)’s energy business — lead us to believe that solutions to several problems presently faced by the country are in its own hands.
As widely anticipated, the European election results have been a disaster for the political establishment. The ruling Socialist party in France now ranks third and reached levels that suggest President Francois Hollande will hardly be in a position to do anything significant till his mandate expires in 2017. The populist National Front of Marine Le Pen, who has been able to gather the votes of all those disappointed by Europe, has overtaken the right-wing opposition party UMP — which is also about to explode further, following another scandal to hit its president Jean-Francois Cope and likely soon, former president Nicholas Sarkozy. The poor showing by other pro-European parties indicates that the French do not like the European Union (EU) they have been forced into despite growing reluctance.
It does not mean of course France is no longer ‘European’ or has become fearful in assuming its role — Europe cannot go on without a strong Franco-German political engine and Franco-British military cooperation. But a shared ‘liberal-socialist’ management, which has transformed the EU into a bureaucratic machine against the aspirations of the people, leaves no other route for voters than protest. Sieve borders and related illegal immigration; absurd instructions supposed to apply in the same way among all the 28 members; lack of political leadership; rescue of second-tier politicians defeated in domestic elections; sightless European Central Bank behaving like a former German Central Bank in abdicating any economic role — the French cannot stand all this anymore. This is especially true when there is a deteriorating economic situation resulting from the absence of structural reforms and an apparent inability to spend less than what is earned.
On the international front, where was Europe when France was playing its part in Mali with the verbal support of others — but not a dime? And where is it when an undeclared war spreads over Ukraine for the benefit of a Russian leader, who at least knows what ‘national interest’ means? These events will then give room to the usual endless debates: Retaining the Euro; human rights versus national security; federalism versus sovereignty. The French love such debates as it allows them to not answer the real questions.
The potential sale of Alstom’s energy units to GE is part of the same issue. Of course, Alstom’s CEO Patrick Kron has negotiated the deal in secret, keeping the government away from any involvement (“the deal would otherwise have collapsed”, Kron is supposed to have said). Also, the issue of ‘economic patriotism’ deserves to be addressed. Indeed, some necessary protections when strategic segments are concerned cannot be described as protectionism. Yet, is a theoretical debate the actual point?
Being profitable and enjoying a stable capitalistic base would not have exposed Alstom to such hazards. Allowing French corporates to hire freely, to rebuild their margins and prevent them from becoming cash-cows of ruling civil servants who never looked for a job — that is what the people want, not irresponsible societal changes that are not a priority. Then, correcting the madness of the 14-year-old 35-hour working week will not appear to be such an unreachable target.
As to Europe, the point is not to have ‘more’ or ‘less’ of it, but a ‘better’ Europe. And the French can be a part of the solution. Boosting the Franco-German engine, having a proactive foreign policy and thus avoiding the European fiasco in Ukraine — how is it that German, Polish and French foreign offices could seal a deal between belligerents, but were not able to implement it?
What is happening with Europe is a clear domestic political void that goes far beyond 2012 and the election of Hollande. It just worsened through an acute lack of political courage.
France will solve its internal issues if and when it finds within itself the resources for a revival. The Socialists so far have failed, but one can hardly say their immediate predecessors did any better and in the wait for a credible opposition, one should also pay attention to what far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon recently declared: “When the French don’t get what they want through voting, they go other ways.” Le Pen could well be thinking along the same line, which means time is running short.
Luc Debieuvre is a French essayist and a lecturer at IRIS (Institut de Relations Internationales et Strategiques) and the FACO Law University of Paris.
