Strikes, protests and disruption ... The revolutionary spirit persists over planned new retirement age for French workers ... Wine spilt in the 4th ... Country could run out of pension money as contributions dwindle ... Sir Withnail on the latest manifestations
I was attempting, in peace, to enjoy a well-buttered entrecôte in the 4th Arrondissement when suddenly I heard drums and shabby chanting. Had the Frogs not already lost the World Cup? What are they whining about now?
Ah yes; the strikes. As French as the Haut-Médoc currently picketing my palette.
At the age of 62, the French have the lowest retirement age in Europe - and now has decided to pull its pants up. The Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne last year initiated the parliamentary mechanism to raise the retirement age to 64.
The strikes, in turn, were set; perfectly timed for my trip to Paris.
It was under the Présidence of François Mitterrand in 1981 that the legal age of retirement was reduced from 65 to 60. It has been a source of pride for the French Left, even today. For successive governments, an almost immovable bollard.
Unsurprisingly, this generous system in the face of an ageing population has problems. The famous 1991 White Paper presented by Michel Rocard, the then Prime Minister, presented the issue starkly: the deficit created by a dwindling number of contributors relative to a growing number of retirees could become so perilous as to bankrupt the entire system.
Although the problem is acknowledged across all political parties, there remains a dilemma: should a government further increase worker's contributions or reduce the system's generosity?
As Rocard declared in the same year his paper was published: "with the reform of retirement, there is enough to blow up multiple governments".
Under Nicholas Sarkozy in 2010, an increase of the retirement age to 62 was proposed, prompting 1.23 million people to take to the streets across the country.
Like today, the SNCF trains were down and oil refineries were closed. Yet, the 2010 reforms still went through, just as it appears to be the case with the current proposal.
Will the drum beating and shouting make much difference?
Protests remain a "natural tool" in the demonstration of unified political force. It has not been since 2006 that a project has been withdrawn as a result of public manifestations in France.
These days work strikes are less common in the Republic as the country continues to deal with high unemployment - seven percent in November 2022 - and the fragmented organisation of the unions.
However, large demonstrations might manifest a political movement that can be leveraged by unions in negotiations. Macron's 2021 election promise had been a retirement age of 65, and this has been watered down to 64 in the current proposal.
The Antipodeans are exemplary in their own relative silence. Their laws might certainly have played their part.
In Tasmania, the Police Offences Amendment (Workplace Protection) Act was passed last year. A protestor who obstructs access to a workplace as part of a protest could face 12 months in prison. Even an organisation supporting citizens to protest could be fined over $45,000.
Last April, NSW saw new legislation proving for big fines and a maximum of two years in pokey for protesting on public roads, rail lines, tunnels, bridges and industrial estates.
In the UK, Rishi Sunak recently announced amendments through the Public Order Bill to broaden the definition of "public disruption". Police officers will not need to wait until "disruption" takes place. It can be shut down in expectation of chaos erupting.
If any climato-marxists dare repeat their shenanigans in the streets of London, they will be switfly removed and installed into the more biodiverse environment of a prison cell.
As the PM put it: "A balance must be struck between the rights of individuals and the rights of the hard-working majority to go about their day-to-day business."
Hear, Hear. Let me go about my business in peace. And don't scratch my Jaguar on the way.
The Parisian brouhaha outside continues.
Monsieur le Président Emmanuel Macron had the good sense to visit Spain throughout the duration of the protests. Instead, the Prime Minister and the government remained on the receiving end of the raucous. I should have had Macron's good sense; no one complains during siesta.
I'll have to finish my little letter. The Eurostar out of Europe is calling me.
Sir Withnail - Gare du Nord