Reactions to President Emmanuel Macron’s open letter have been pouring in since Sunday evening. Opposition parties were quick to criticize it and the Yellow Vests movement – whose regular protests during the last two months prompted the presidential address – brushed it aside once again and called for Macron to step down.
In response to a question as to why there appears to be a general disregard of and contempt towards any of Macron’s or his government’s initiatives to appease the French people, Brigitte Ades, the UK bureau chief of the "Politique Internationale" quarterly believes that, at least, some of the responsibility can be attributed to the inexperience of the new political apparatus built by President Macron.
A political apparatus, new on the French political landscape, which is not affiliated to traditional parties and does not benefit from the support of their institutions. There are no heavy weight experienced politicians with him.
Macron is therefore, perceived to be weak by protestors who have suddenly realised the extent of their political power. Ades met some of the Gilets Jaunes or Yellow Vests protestors.
“Unfortunately, quite a lot of them are linked to the extreme right. They just want disruption, they don't care. Whatever Macron will offer, whatever Macron will do, will not pacify the Yellow Vests because some just want a far right [government] to be elect[ed],” she says.
Ades had an exchange with Eric Drouet, prominent organiser of the Yellow Vests movement, after a debate they had had on a television set.
She asked him, “do you want a Marine Le Pen or a Marion Maréchal-Le Pen in power next time?”
“Yes,” replied Eric Drouet.
“He was very blunt about it. It’s tragic for France because they are not trying to [make things] better for France, they just want [to push] their political agenda,” Ades added.
But they are not the sole representatives of the movement, according to Ades. Most of the Yellow Vests have understandable worries, she adds. They are “honest lower middle class French” who are seeing their purchasing power being systematically eroded and are afraid for their children’s future. But Ades believes that they are being politically manipulated.
Macron’s letter
President Macron starts his open letter by saying that France is a country like no other. A country where the sentiment of inequality is more acute than elsewhere. A country where demands for solidarity are louder than elsewhere.
Macron set out 35 questions that will serve as the basis for the great national debate to be held over the next two months.
The French president, according to Ades, shows that he is willing to open a debate in a very modern and different way.
She adds that the French gave Macron a full mandate to govern from the center.
Ades interprets the letter as an attempt by President Macron to curb the rise of the far right.
Consulting the people of France would prevent the far right from imposing an agenda that would be incompatible with 'mainstream' Yellow Vests (Gilets Jaunes).
Follow Brigitte Ades on Twitter @brigitteades
Follow Zeenat Hansrod on Twitter @zxnt
