Is France cooling off? (Photo Diary)[UPDATED]

by LEP Thu Oct 28th, 2010 at 02:56:34 PM EST

There was another national demonstration today protesting the changes to the French retirement law in particular, and Sarkozy and his government in general. Considering that this is the ten day autumn vacation period and a lot of people go back to their ancestral homes for All Saints Day, there was quite a good crowd demonstrating in Paris.

And let's face it; the law has been passed and is awaiting signature. Since the Socialists will declare for their presidential primary next June and their candidate will be chosen in October, 2011 for the May 2012 presidential election the time for politicking should begin and take precedence over protest. If I'm not mistaken the Socialists have promised to repeal this unpopular law if they take power. And perhaps the politicking has started.

The mood today was quite festive, not to deny that people are very angry. There is one more demonstration scheduled for Saturday, November 6th.

More photos in the comments section tonight and/or tomorrow.

Update [2010-10-29 5:36:8 by LEP]: Photo diary is complete!

Is France cooling off? (Photo Diary)[UPDATED] | 12 comments (12 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Some crowd shots. (3.90 / 10)

Hey, Grandma Moses started late!

by LEP on Thu Oct 28th, 2010 at 03:59:33 PM EST

Re: Is France cooling off? (4.00 / 12)

There's further union action going on in the way of rolling strikes and blockages. A union guy I spoke to said there's a delicate balance to be kept now, between keeping the movement alive and not losing the support of the majority of the population. So no dig-in-to-the-end disruption.

He also said people were talking a lot about the issues, and there was a realisation that this wasn't just one "reform" but the thin end of the wedge. A lot of people don't want Sarkozy to proceed with piecemeal dismantlement of the social contract. There will be pressure over the coming year, with elections looming - politicking, as you say.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Thu Oct 28th, 2010 at 04:09:41 PM EST

Re: Is France cooling off? (4.00 / 11)

Whatever will come next, this movement has already had an effect on the young. They entered a collective and individual learning process about political involvement.

My youngest daughter will be 18 in November 2011 and she told me she plans to register to be able to vote in 2012.

"Ce qui vient au monde pour ne rien troubler ne mérite ni égards ni patience." René Char

by Melanchthon on Thu Oct 28th, 2010 at 05:16:06 PM EST

Re: Is France cooling off? (none / 0)

But will the media paint anything that results from her votes as ineffectual to discourage the young voting again?

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Thu Oct 28th, 2010 at 05:59:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is France cooling off? (none / 0)

I don't understand your question.

"Ce qui vient au monde pour ne rien troubler ne mérite ni égards ni patience." René Char

by Melanchthon on Thu Oct 28th, 2010 at 06:20:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is France cooling off? (4.00 / 2)

It is a quite common tactic to depress turnout on the left by convincing the base that their elected representatives are ineffective in rolling back the Thatcherite agenda.

Of course it works best if, as in the case of the SPD, it's actually true. Or if, as in the case of Tory Bliar and New Labour, they aren't even trying. But it's quite possible to do it in the face of contradictory facts.

- Jake

Friends come and go. Enemies accumulate.

by JakeS (JangoSierra 'at' gmail 'dot' com) on Thu Oct 28th, 2010 at 08:14:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is France cooling off? (4.00 / 6)

At least you all have a reasonable philosophical foundation for your argument. Our street protests are based on thinking like "keep your government hands of my social security" and "we need the government to deliver more jobs and lower taxes."

by asdf on Thu Oct 28th, 2010 at 10:03:53 PM EST

Re: Is France cooling off? (Photo Diary) (4.00 / 2)

You're our man on the ground LEP! Thanks for the continued coverage.

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Oct 29th, 2010 at 02:31:02 AM EST

Signs of the Times (4.00 / 5)

Hey, Grandma Moses started late!

by LEP on Fri Oct 29th, 2010 at 05:08:48 AM EST

Re: Signs of the Times (4.00 / 5)

Hey, Grandma Moses started late!

by LEP on Fri Oct 29th, 2010 at 05:16:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Miscellaneous Shots (4.00 / 5)

Who is This?

Hey, Grandma Moses started late!

by LEP on Fri Oct 29th, 2010 at 05:32:55 AM EST

Re: Is France cooling off? (Photo Diary)[UPDATED] (4.00 / 3)

That's probably the only chance...That happened here. Howard (conservatives) made "work choices" law that striped workers from their rights. They lost next election simply because of it. Labour came in power and wiped it off. They needed (and had) good majority to be able to do that. Conservatives now swear that "work choices" are "dead, cremated and gone" but people do not believe them. Labour in the main time had to face financial crises, and striped us of some minor benefits silently...PM Rudd was very popular but when he wanted to introduce mining tax (for the rich) his own party stubbed him on the back. Because of it we now have hung parliament and luckily Labour was able to take some independents on its side and form very fragile government.
Interesting times here in Australia...and we are lucky that financial crisis did not scar us so bad for now.
Interesting times we are living in...Unfortunately, haha

Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind...Albert Einstein

by vbo on Sun Oct 31st, 2010 at 12:12:18 AM EST

Is France cooling off? (Photo Diary)[UPDATED] | 12 comments (12 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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Is France cooling off? (Photo Diary)[UPDATED]

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