Editorial published on April 06, 2018
Macron’s government is confronted for the first time to a contagious social discontent. Several sectors (transport, universities, energy…) are affected by the reforms desired by the government and the response was quick: railroaders and students took the lead of the demonstration, and employees of Air France, government officials and garbage collectors also joined them.
The SNCF (National Society of French Railways) railroaders began a strike on April 3 that could last three months. The government’s desire to modernize and liberalize French railways in order to reduce the debt of € 54.4 billion (by changing the special status of railroaders) gives a feeling of injustice and mistrust regarding the future of the railways and the public service in France, often considered as a country hard to reform…
This feeling of injustice seems to gain ground in the public opinion. Until now, the executive remains firm against the workers’ union but the power struggle can last a long time…
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France: Social Unrest “En Marche” (On the Move)? - Kroll (Belgique / Belgium), Le Soir
"Student - pilot - railroader - garbage collector - official" Edouard Philippe (French Prime Minister) to President Emmanuel Macron: "Mr President, didn't you tell me: 'Edouard, everything will be fine, everybody loves us'?" "Did I say that?"
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France: Social Unrest “En Marche” (On the Move)? - Debuhme (Suisse / Switzerland), Vigousse
"France: general despondency" "It reminds me the great general strike..." "In 2017?" "April... June... or December?"
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France: Social Unrest “En Marche” (On the Move)? - Kurt (France)
"SNCF on strike" "Pensioners - Farmers - Students - Nurses" "Take people who want to demonstrate hostage is disgusting!"
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France: Social Unrest “En Marche” (On the Move)? - Soulcié (France), La Revue dessinée
"One small indomitable village still holds" Emmanuel Macron: "You will be done by the first ray of light!"
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France: Social Unrest “En Marche” (On the Move)? - Plantu (France), Le Monde
"The struggle/The Galley" "No trains! However, you have an option there!"
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France: Social Unrest “En Marche” (On the Move)? - Joep Bertrams (Pays-Bas / The Netherlands), De Groene Amsterdammer
"Risqué" "Chemin de fer français"
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France: Social Unrest “En Marche” (On the Move)? - Paresh (Inde / India), The Khaleej Times
"Gréviste au boulot!" "Réformes pour les chemins de fer français"
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France: Social Unrest “En Marche” (On the Move)? - Vadot (Belgique / Belgium), Le Vif / L’Express
"Jupiter looks like Saturn."
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France: Social Unrest “En Marche” (On the Move)? - Jiho (France), Marianne
"If he continues playing like a privileged [kid], I am afraid he has expensive tastes!"
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France: Social Unrest “En Marche” (On the Move)? - Gros (France), Marianne
"The SNCF is not working anymore!... We need a reform..."
