“Our generation refuses to keep it quiet. Students want change, which is why we often lead the biggest demonstrations in France. I am not surprised to see a simple student protest movement to be the starting point of national strikes.”
Young people in France have been protesting proposed labour reforms, aimed at reducing unemployment by engaging in market liberalisation. These protests have turned into national strikes and the movement has has been compared to America’s Occupy Wall Street movement.
Despite the widespread protests and strikes, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has invoked a constitutional measure that will allow him to force through the labour reforms without a debate in parliament. Although Prime Minister Valls has insisted he is acting in the “general interest” of the French people, many unions and student-backed demonstrations have been taking place against the reforms for months, with protesters saying that the changes are too “pro-business” and threaten workers’ rights.
The IPF reached out to French students to hear their thoughts on the strikes supporting the Nuit Debout (“Stand up night”) protest movement that began in March.
Lena Babarit, 21, communication student
Lena Babarit, 21, Communications student (Lille)
Do you support the strikes and demonstrations that have been taking place in France?
I am supporting the strikes and demonstrations because they are fundamental rights of the French Republic. But after a countless number of overflow [of Nuit Debout] in different cities across France, I believe that these rights have been abused and people are finding excuses to miss class or break shop windows.
What is your general opinion on the current situation in France?
I think France is not doing well and no one knows where the country is headed. However, I am disappointed regarding the behaviour that has been observed by both the protesters and the government; it is far too savage.
Water cannon deployed on high school students during a demonstration, Stalingrad Square, Paris. ©NnoMan
Internationally, France is seen a nation always on strike. Do you agree?
I agree. Every time there is a change in the government, it generates strikes, demonstrations, etc. Few countries function in this way. If there is a law that displeases the citizens of a country, the entire country stops functioning.
“My opinion has not changed regarding the Labour Law, but I am not too sure that everyone knows why they are demonstrating.”
Have you been directly affected by the strikes?
Yes. I am often going back and forth to Paris and the railway network have been highly disturbed, which stopped me from going to important appointments.
How do you imagine the evolution of French politics?
The evolution of French politics is not looking good, especially one year before the Presidential elections. It’s obvious that the next government in power will modify the law. Politicians abused their power by employing the Article 49.3 of the French Constitution (Article 49.3 allows the government to bypass the parliament- rarely used). For example, freedom of speech is effectively no longer relevant to the people.
Cindy Jacqueline, 22, MA student in Psychology
Cindy Jacqueline, 22, MA student in Psychology (Lyon)
Do you support the strikes and demonstrations that have been taking place in France?
Politics in France is collapsing and people are starting to wake up. Especially since the labour law reforms and the precedent demonstrations of “Nuit Debout”. I went to a few, and spent the night with other protesters discussing various topics and matters. Although we do not know each other we unite in order to listen and to be heard.
“While we are waving a white flag as a symbol for peace, the police still brings anger and violence.”
Has your opinion changed since the beginning of the strike movement?
My opinion has changed especially since I attended “La Nuit Debout”, I really became aware of the “hearty” side in the demonstration movements.
“Nuit Debout”: In the middle of the night, protesters walking together towards Manuel Valls’s house to demand justice. ©NnoMan
How do you imagine the evolution of French politics?
I believe that the situation will change as time passes by and I am hoping for that. In my opinion on day the population will have the courage to open their eyes and unity will bring strength. It might sound a bit extremist but I believe that to change things, we will all have to put pressure on the government and unite ourselves all in the same direction. For example stopping voting, paying or consuming would create change without violence.
Corentin Poisson, 22, Law and Political studies student
Corentin Poisson, 22, Law and Political studies student (Caen)
Do you support the strikes and demonstrations that have been taking place in France?
I am not supporting or opposing the movement. However, I find these demonstrations have very little influence as a way to pressure a government. I consider that only actions from workers in key sectors such as energy, transport, and public highway have a power of action and are efficient. However, the bill being discussed and voted on in the Senate is so noxious that I must support the strikers.
Internationally, France is seen a nation always on strike. Do you agree?
French people are seen as lazy, with strikers never satisfied. Behind these cliches I think a side of it is true, but you have to look at the positives.
“French people are rebellious by nature and never let others step on us – at least that’s the impression we want to give.”
Even if everyone hates politics and calls themselves apolitical, everyone has an opinion and many are ready to lose days of salary to defend social gains. And we might be considered lazy but are some of the most productive workers in the world.
Workers wearing the National Trade Union jacket and occupying their work place at night. ©NnoMan
What is your general opinion on the current situation in France?
Regarding the demonstration and strike movements, I think that the Prime Minister is destroying the social side of it. As a Prime Minister that five French people out of six reject, he assimilates rioters with the rest of the strikers, describes unionists as terrorists and [today Manuel Valls claims him to be] in favour of a ban to demonstrate in Paris.
Has your opinion changed since the beginning of the strike movement?
Originally, I thought that a lot people were protesting for no reason because it was a bill (and not a law) – certainly harsh, but it is a part political negotiation. However, when I saw that the government was not negotiating with this bill, which was turning hierarchical norms upside down, I understood the danger of the bill.
Persuading people that “laying off more easily is equivalent to hiring more people” is propagating lies.
How do you imagine the evolution of French politics?
I believe that France, like the UK and other “old” countries, doesn’t like change in the political system and so we are satisfied with the constant alternation between the Left and the Right. However, in France things seem to be changing: I can’t predict what will happen but facts like the rise of far-right political parties, the rise of euroscepticism, the rejection of traditional media, the feeling of distinction between the elite and the rest of the citizen and the dominance of political violence in France, forecast heavy changes.
Estelle Yves, 23, model
Estelle Yves, 23, model (Caen and Paris)
Internationally, French people are seen as individuals always on strikes. Do you agree?
I’d rather the world take us as an example than undergo the whims of government. Objectively, these strike movements take place more or less once a year and they are not as violent as the current ones (the last one with similar violence that I can recall were in 2005). I think foreigners picture France as a country always on strike because when they come to visit they suffer from railway strikes, though SNCF workers benefit from these strike movements.
Did you expect the student protests to become a national issue?
Our generation refuses to keep it quiet. Students want change, which is why we often lead the biggest demonstrations in France. I am not surprised to see a simple student protest movement to be the starting point of national strikes.
Young protester holding a banner “The Law is rotten. Young people are not slave”, Paris. ©Edouard Richard
What is your general opinion on the current situation in France?
Despite all the weekly strikes, the country is not paralysed and life goes on. If we want this law to be rejected we have to keep on going in a more intensive way.
The only solution for us to be heard by people who do not listen (the government) is to push them to the limits to force them to listen to us.
Have you been directly affected by the strikes?
Thanks to my job, I get to travel a lot. I often fly or use the train. In the last few weeks, I suffered from the SNCF and Air France disturbances. I wasn’t able to get to a few appointments for work, which is quite frustrating. My parents kept an eye on their fuel tank to make sure they were not going to run out. But overall, it is easy to anticipate; most people did and it worked out well.
Blocage of the railways, Paris St Lazare Train Station. © NnoMan
How do you imagine the evolution of French politics?
Can we hope for change from the government? I don’t think so. The many hopes for the Left party and Francois Hollande didn’t pay off and I don’t think things will be different with the next President in 2017. France is a strong country but so archaic that I can’t see how politics could improve.
It’s not about politics anymore but about politicians who want power.
We vote for ideas and not for a personality, which is unfortunately the problem of French politics. There will be change one day but not for now. We just have to keep shouting and wait.
Blocage from Police officers: Clear division between the police and the population, Paris. ©Edouard Richard