EDITORIAL
>> A weak mobilization, breakers who sow violence in Paris ... The demonstrations supposed to mark the first anniversary of the start of the movement of "yellow vests" have not really been a success. However, the situation remains tense for Emmanuel Macron, according to our columnist Nicolas Beytout.
Between 20 and 30,000 protesters Saturday, violence and breakage in Paris, and then some symbolic actions Sunday, the record of the first anniversary of the mobilization of yellow vests is a flop. A huge flop. A year ago, without a real organization, they had been nearly 300,000 to parade in France. This weekend, they were 10 times less. There were hardly any busy roundabouts in the country, where there were more hunters in orange chasubles than yellow vests. And then, all this violence in Paris ...
How "yellow vests" can be so blind that they do not understand how much they are serving their cause. They probably can not do much, but whether they like it or not, these scandalous destruction, these stores vandalized, this firefighting, all this happens during their gatherings. And if many protesters are surely peaceful, we also hear a lot of understanding in their ranks for the thugs. The reality is that there is still some movement of the ultra-protesting population, partly politicized, far, far from the spirit of origin. And that's the fringe that manifests.
The average purchasing power of the French has increased as never for 12 years
We also heard "yellow vests" say that their situation had not changed. Yet, that's wrong. So obviously, no one has turned from poverty to opulence, and there may be a tiny minority of people who have not been able to benefit from any of the measures that have been aligned by the government for a year . But all the same: 17 billion euros were distributed, mainly to the middle and poor classes. Which means that the average purchasing power of the French has increased as never for 12 years: plus 2.3%. Basically, there is the problem of Emmanuel Macron: he distributes money, but many French do not perceive it. And we will surely see it again this week.
The government promises to put a lot of money on the table for hospitals. But the problem of the hospital is so vast, the needs are so diverse, that the hundreds of millions distributed will be scattered, sprinkled. And partly invisible. That means that the political solution, for Emmanuel Macron, is not there. It is much better for him to make sure that the decisions made are applied, in the field, where we see them. That the tens of billions of welfare and protection benefits that are distributed are effective. France is the country that levies the most taxes. She is the one who redistributes the most. But one of those where it shows the least. Now the question should not be "how much", but "how"?