French Politics Thread I: Borne to be wild

[Kubra]

Why does France still have colonies in America?

Because apart from Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, the rest get to be turf of a fairly rich nation that has a legal duty and interest to keep their quality of life at least better than their shittier neighbours.
people hate colonialism because it was shitty, not for simple nationalism.

[Ayytaly]

Why does France still have colonies in America?

Because apart from Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, the rest get to be turf of a fairly rich nation that has a legal duty and interest to keep their quality of life at least better than their shittier neighbours.
people hate colonialism because it was shitty, not for simple nationalism.

Neighbors left shitty by France's (European) neighbors

[Kubra]

Because apart from Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, the rest get to be turf of a fairly rich nation that has a legal duty and interest to keep their quality of life at least better than their shittier neighbours.
people hate colonialism because it was shitty, not for simple nationalism.

Neighbors left shitty by France's (European) neighbors

Now now, and France itself. I've said this before, but there's a game that comes with decolonisation: that last ones inside get to live (comparatively) large, but its dependent on the others leaving, else the lot just get to be shitty together.

[Kilobugya]

https://www.humanite.fr/police-loi-de-securite-globale-le-camouflet-des-sages-707963

Conseil Constitutionnel (French highest-level court for checking compatibility of laws and decrees with the Constitution) just censored major parts of the "global security" law, including the prohibition to film police officers.

Good to see we still operate under "rule of law" and the worst of government's violation of fundamental freedoms are blocked. But the climate here is really terrifying, the police and the army are out of control, ruled by the extreme right, and the government is totally subservient to them.

[Kilobugya]

Yesterday, during a peaceful protests of farmers against planned reform of "PAC" (EU-wide farming subsidies), a member of parliament Bénédicte Taurine was violently pushed to the ground by policemen, while she was wearing her official scarf.

And it's not just one incident, police brutality is the new norm during peaceful protests, even against elected representatives (former governments tended to show restrain in handling them). It's really scary times.

And then they make big speech about "the Republic"... when they defile it every day.

[Kilobugya]

Things are really scary those days in France, the extreme right is getting even bolder and more violent every day.

We have had a long series of incident in last few months, attacks on Mulisms or on leftists, threats towards elected representatives, ...

And those last few days, we have had an extreme-right Youtuber, friend of extreme-right TV host Zemmour, faking the execution of leftists and explaining to people how to get weapons, and a royalist slapping the President in his face.

As you're probably aware if you read my comments here (or look at my flag or my sig...) I'm not fond of Macron, but physical violence like that against an official is just not acceptable. And while I do believe Macron has some responsibility in the current climate, with how he and his government validated many of the extreme-right thesis, I do hope this will trigger a realization from Macron and his followers that playing with fire is very dangerous.

[Kowani]

Things are really scary those days in France, the extreme right is getting even bolder and more violent every day.

We have had a long series of incident in last few months, attacks on Mulisms or on leftists, threats towards elected representatives, ...

And those last few days, we have had an extreme-right Youtuber, friend of extreme-right TV host Zemmour, faking the execution of leftists and explaining to people how to get weapons, and a royalist slapping the President in his face.

As you're probably aware if you read my comments here (or look at my flag or my sig...) I'm not fond of Macron, but physical violence like that against an official is just not acceptable. And while I do believe Macron has some responsibility in the current climate, with how he and his government validated many of the extreme-right thesis, I do hope this will trigger a realization from Macron and his followers that playing with fire is very dangerous.

i didn't know france still had royalists

[Cerbia]

Why was Christiane Taubira a member of the Radical Party?

[Kilobugya]

i didn't know france still had royalists

There are very few of them, when they have candidates in elections they score way below 0.1%, but they are quite active, and some of them can be violent, especially Action Française.

And as if they weren't too few already, they are actually divided in two camps, because there are two pretender to the throne of France...

[Kilobugya]

Why was Christiane Taubira a member of the Radical Party?

Parti Radical de Gauche, which is a scission from the old Parti Radical. But I don't really get the question, why wouldn't she be ? The PRG is a very old party, nowadays mostly center-left and often allied with PS.

[Samudera Darussalam]

i didn't know france still had royalists

There are very few of them, when they have candidates in elections they score way below 0.1%, but they are quite active, and some of them can be violent, especially Action Française.

And as if they weren't too few already, they are actually divided in two camps, because there are two pretender to the throne of France...

Huh? Wow. I don't expect that there are still any. They are really small though. If I may guess, are the pretenders to the throne identify as a Bonaparte and a Bourbon?

[Thermodolia]

Things are really scary those days in France, the extreme right is getting even bolder and more violent every day.

We have had a long series of incident in last few months, attacks on Mulisms or on leftists, threats towards elected representatives, ...

And those last few days, we have had an extreme-right Youtuber, friend of extreme-right TV host Zemmour, faking the execution of leftists and explaining to people how to get weapons, and a royalist slapping the President in his face.

As you're probably aware if you read my comments here (or look at my flag or my sig...) I'm not fond of Macron, but physical violence like that against an official is just not acceptable. And while I do believe Macron has some responsibility in the current climate, with how he and his government validated many of the extreme-right thesis, I do hope this will trigger a realization from Macron and his followers that playing with fire is very dangerous.

It’s interesting that Macron’s attempts to reach out to the right hasn’t really helped him as Le Pen is now projected to get around 30% in the first round. A few months ago she was going to get around 25%.

She’s still projected to lose against macron in the second but the distance is narrowing.

[Thermodolia]

Complicated historical reasons.

But the majority of people living there want to remain French. I admit it's somewhat problematic, especially since they are not very well treated, but I don't have a magical solution either, kicking them out of France when the majority wants to remain French is not a solution either (which makes it very different from Algeria or Vietnam situations).

I thought France was anti-imperialist now.

When did that happen? France is the queen of not letting go. Hell the military literally attempted two coups to keep Algeria French. Not to mention the French Community and the fact that France is still heavily involved in west Africa.

France has the largest EEZ. They aren’t giving that up

[Samudera Darussalam]

I thought France was anti-imperialist now.

When did that happen? France is the queen of not letting go. Hell the military literally attempted two coups to keep Algeria French. Not to mention the French Community and the fact that France is still heavily involved in west Africa.

France has the largest EEZ. They aren’t giving that up

There are French territories in the Pacific as well, such as New Caledonia or the obvious one, French Polynesia.

One odd territory is Mayotte, in eastern Africa. Just like what Kilobugya mentioned, French overseas territories seem to be....less developed than the mainland. Tbh I expected Mayotte to be quite developed compared to the rest of the Comoro Islands, but from what I see visually they are not really that different.

[The Blaatschapen]

i didn't know france still had royalists

There are very few of them, when they have candidates in elections they score way below 0.1%, but they are quite active, and some of them can be violent, especially Action Française.

And as if they weren't too few already, they are actually divided in two camps, because there are two pretender to the throne of France...

Well, two ... viable isn't the right word.... ummm, ones who most definitely had an ancestor being a king of France.

I mean, I also pretend to be the King of France(and Germany). But nobody follows me Despite me very likely being a descendant of Charlemagne!

[Major-Tom]

Things are really scary those days in France, the extreme right is getting even bolder and more violent every day.

We have had a long series of incident in last few months, attacks on Mulisms or on leftists, threats towards elected representatives, ...

And those last few days, we have had an extreme-right Youtuber, friend of extreme-right TV host Zemmour, faking the execution of leftists and explaining to people how to get weapons, and a royalist slapping the President in his face.

As you're probably aware if you read my comments here (or look at my flag or my sig...) I'm not fond of Macron, but physical violence like that against an official is just not acceptable. And while I do believe Macron has some responsibility in the current climate, with how he and his government validated many of the extreme-right thesis, I do hope this will trigger a realization from Macron and his followers that playing with fire is very dangerous.

To your point, you can concede and concede and concede to the far-right, but it'll never placate them. Macron made his gambles and I wonder if he realizes that the payoff is scant.

[Kowani]

Covid restrictions rollback

Starting Wednesday, the nationwide curfew in effect across France will be pushed back from 9pm to 11pm.

That rollback is just one boon in store for restaurateurs starting on June 9. After a seven-month ban on indoor dining, cafés and restaurants across the country will be permitted to welcome customers inside, albeit at half the establishment's seating capacity and with tables limited to a maximum of six people.

Outdoor terraces can open to full capacity, up from the 50 percent allowed since May 19, although patio dining is also limited to tables of six. Shops will be allowed to accommodate twice as many customers, with capacity bumped up to one patron per four square metres (from 8m² previously).

Gatherings of more than 10 people, with the exception of tour groups, are still prohibited. Face masks remain required, even outdoors, until at least June 30.

France's new health pass also comes into effect on June 9, enabling access to activities with large crowds. The pass, available digitally through the "Tous Anti-Covid" virus tracing app or in paper form, provides proof that an individual age 11 and up has been fully vaccinated against Covid-19; has tested positive for Covid-19 more than 15 days ago and within the last six months (with the resulting natural antibodies reducing the risk of reinfection); or has tested negative with a recent Covid-19 PCR test.

The health pass will allow access to gatherings of more than 1,000 people, including indoor and outdoor sporting events, cultural venues, casinos, festivals, trade shows and funfairs.

Museums can welcome double the number of visitors than they were allowed to when they reopened at the start of phase two on May 19, with the same one person per 4m² capacity as shops.

Cinemas, theatres and circus big tops can let in up to 65 percent of their seating capacity, up from 35 percent. The new rules allow up to 5,000 spectators in a single audience, although the health pass will be required above the 1,000 mark. The same goes for outdoor festivals. Zoos are also allowed to open their gates to visitors at 65 percent capacity, up from 50 percent last month. Casinos can open at half-capacity, up from 35 percent, with the health pass required for venues with more than 1,000 people on site.

Trade shows and funfairs can reopen to the public starting Wednesday, at 50 percent of their total capacity.

Starting Wednesday, European Union residents will no longer need a compelling reason – known in France as a motif impérieux – to travel to France. Only non-vaccinated EU residents and visitors from seven other countries deemed "green" on the colour-coded map that France released on Friday will need to produce a recent negative Covid-19 antigen or PCR test. The seven green-lighted countries are Australia, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea. Travel to and from a much wider swath of countries categorised for now as "orange" – the United Kingdom, North America, and almost all of Asia and Africa – will remain subject to heavier restrictions. Even vaccinated individuals travelling from "orange" countries to France will be required to provide a recent negative Covid-19 test.

Non-vaccinated travellers from "orange" countries, meanwhile, can only travel to France for a pressing reason (such as a medical or family emergency). They will also need to self-quarantine for seven days upon arrival. Under the updated guidelines, all travellers (vaccinated or not) from 16 countries classified as "red" will need to provide negative Covid-19 tests and to quarantine for seven to 10 days upon arrival due to concern over surging variants. Those countries include India, South Africa, Turkey and much of South America, including Brazil.

Guidelines recommending employees work from home whenever possible will be eased across France from June 9. The country's Covid-19 protocol had, since late October, compelled firms to allow employees to work remotely 100 percent of the workweek whenever telework was possible. The protocol was loosened somewhat in January to allow workers one day a week in the office should they feel a need to return.

As of Wednesday, employers are asked, in consultation with local labour unions, to set a minimum number of days a week for remote work whenever possible. That measure is aimed at staving off a mass return to offices across the country, instead of a gradual one, as the pandemic persists. For example, the French state has set a minimum of three days a week of remote work for public sector employees.

Workplace canteens will also see an easing of restrictions as of Wednesday. The new guidelines allow employees to eat together with six to a table, at tables spaced two metres apart, unless separated by a physical barrier.

The office party makes its return to the workplace social calendar, conditioned on a "strict respect" of social-distancing measures, face masks and ventilation precautions. It is recommended that the get-togethers in professional settings be consigned to outdoor spaces with no more than 25 people taking part. Such "convivial moments", as the new government protocol calls them, had been barred since October.

Head-scratching over limited guest lists is also set to ease from Wednesday, with more people to be allowed at wedding and civil union ceremonies. Those attending can fill one of every two seats, an increase from the one in three permitted since May 19. Seventy-five people can attend a funeral ceremony from Wednesday, up from the 50 decreed in May.

Indoor gyms and covered swimming pools reopen to the general public on June 9 at 50 percent capacity, except for contact sports. Spectators at indoor sporting venues can attend at 65 percent capacity, up to 5,000 seated spectators. The new health pass will be required for crowds over 1,000.

The new guidelines allow outdoor sports, including contact sports, with up to 25 participants from Wednesday. The previous limit was 10 participants and contact sports were banned.

Outdoor amateur sporting competitions can now be held with up to 500 participants. Stadiums can welcome as many as 5,000 seated spectators for events, at 65 percent of a venue's capacity (up from 1,000 and 35 percent, respectively).

France's fourth and final phase of easing restrictions is slated to begin June 30. That date is set to see the curfew – first imposed in the autumn during the second Covid-19 wave – lifted entirely.

[Cerbia]

Why was Christiane Taubira a member of the Radical Party?

Parti Radical de Gauche, which is a scission from the old Parti Radical. But I don't really get the question, why wouldn't she be ? The PRG is a very old party, nowadays mostly center-left and often allied with PS.

I'm just curious. I was under the impression that the PRG was basically just an irrelevant party kept alive by its legacy and fandom. So it confused me when I learned that she was their affiliate instead of PS.

[Kilobugya]

If I may guess, are the pretenders to the throne identify as a Bonaparte and a Bourbon?

Bonapartism is an entirely another issue, it's a pretender to the "imperial throne of France" not to the "throne of France" The two royalist pretenders are Louis-Alphonse de Bourbon, duc d'Anjou and Jean d'Orléans, comte de Paris. Both are from different branches of the Bourbon. That comes from the split in 1830, where the "July Revolution" kicked out one king to put another king in charge. Yeah, French politics in the late 18th and 19th centuries is complicated...

[Kilobugya]

It’s interesting that Macron’s attempts to reach out to the right hasn’t really helped him as Le Pen is now projected to get around 30% in the first round. A few months ago she was going to get around 25%.

She’s still projected to lose against macron in the second but the distance is narrowing.

Yeah, that's so typical - you don't get the votes of haters by legitimating their hatred, they'll still vote for the original haters, not for the copy. You fight fascists by frontally opposing their ideas and showing how ridiculous and harmful they are.

[Samudera Darussalam]

If I may guess, are the pretenders to the throne identify as a Bonaparte and a Bourbon?

Bonapartism is an entirely another issue, it's a pretender to the "imperial throne of France" not to the "throne of France" The two royalist pretenders are Louis-Alphonse de Bourbon, duc d'Anjou and Jean d'Orléans, comte de Paris. Both are from different branches of the Bourbon. That comes from the split in 1830, where the "July Revolution" kicked out one king to put another king in charge. Yeah, French politics in the late 18th and 19th centuries is complicated...

......huh, wow. If they somehow manage to be relevant again, French politics must be a real mess. Considering that some of French royal palaces are gone or converted to another function, I wonder if either of those who win will build another one or Idk, reconverting Louvre and Versailles to their previous function as royal residences.

[Kilobugya]

......huh, wow. If they somehow manage to be relevant again, French politics must be a real mess.

Monarchists are not really relevant, they weight less than 0.1% in elections. But they do have small but active groups, that can perform violent or spectacular actions. And there is a porosity between them and other, bigger far-right groups, including the "mainstream" extreme right party RN (which is not officially monarchist at all, but has some ties with the monarchists).

[Kilobugya]

Conseil d'État (highest court to handle the conflicts between citizen and administrations/State) just ruled that several methods frequently used by the police under Macron against protesters, such as "nasses" (when the police encircle and completely block a group of protesters) or asking to journalists to identify themselves before being allowed to film the protests are illegal.

I wonder if they'll continue using them. That says a lot about how damage the rule of law has become under Macron, that you can't even know if explicit court decisions will be respected by the police. They were already forced to were an identifying tag for example, and often didn't.

[Technoscience Leftwing]

The question that arose among readers of Soviet history textbooks:

Why was the opportunity to advance the revolution to the left so often missed in France? After all, if in 1794 the French supported the Ebertists, or saved Robespierre from the hands of the Thermidorians, or in 1796 supported the Babeuf conspiracy, or in 1871 Auguste Blanqui and the Commune, then France would become the leader of the bloc of socialist countries, the left world revolution would have won the whole planet! And there would be no monarchists, no kagulars, no "national front" - they would all be sent to the guillotine. But no, for some reason the revolutionary tide drowned halfway. Why is that? An insufficient level of development of the productive forces? Or a large percentage of the population of moderate petty bourgeois in comparison with the radical poor?

[Ayytaly]

When did that happen? France is the queen of not letting go. Hell the military literally attempted two coups to keep Algeria French. Not to mention the French Community and the fact that France is still heavily involved in west Africa.

France has the largest EEZ. They aren’t giving that up

There are French territories in the Pacific as well, such as New Caledonia or the obvious one, French Polynesia.

One odd territory is Mayotte, in eastern Africa. Just like what Kilobugya mentioned, French overseas territories seem to be....less developed than the mainland. Tbh I expected Mayotte to be quite developed compared to the rest of the Comoro Islands, but from what I see visually they are not really that different.

They're not territories then. They're colonies.