Can't help but be impressed:"The unions are doing Sarkozy a fantastic favour," said Jacques Marseille, an economic historian at Paris university. "This strike has offered the right an historic chance to seize the moral high ground and say they are on the side of justice and progression, while the left supports privileges and conservatism."
All previous attempts to reform the special pension regimes have ended in failure and some media have compared the showdown in France to the fight between Britain's former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and the powerful miners' union in 1984-85.Sarkozy is much more a pragmatist and his willingness to compromise rather than bludgeon is perhaps more dangerous than the Thatcherite heavy hand.
To some degree their overall aims are the same -- end the decline of their respective nations, reward merit and hard work, and force the unions to accept modern economic realities.
However:
It's interesting which side to support. Of course France must reform but at the same time, the EU wants France in line so that it can proceed with its agenda - Sarkozy is their man for this. How much is for France and how much for the corrupt EU bosses is an uncertain point.
Interesting thought about Sakozy maybe being more dangerous than Thatcher in the way he deals with this. Just finished reading Brenda Dean's "Hot Mettle" about the Sogat-Murdoch dispute in the 80s.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly compulsory retirement at 65 has just been overturned here. , basically because that's what the people wanted.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine how some of the EU nations afford the benefits and pension schemes that they have.
Thanks, ladies.
ReplyDelete