It’s not good news that the leaders of the top three European economies are in trouble at the same time. Angela Merkel, once thought of as having the potential to be the world’s most powerful leader, has got her handpicked successor elected to leadership of the Christian Democratic Union, but as Chancellor she is somewhat emasculated after a series of poll setbacks caused by her liberal refugee policy.
In Britain, Prime Minister Theresa May faces the prospect of losing power over her nation’s inability to resolve the Brexit problem. A second referendum seems the only solution now to end the political deadlock, but Ms May’s plans to leave the EU seems headed for a crushing defeat in Parliament. In France, Emmanuel Macron is facing the worst crisis of the three after having been voted in only last year as the modern reformist President who could deliver France from economic pressures.
A fourth successive weekend of mayhem on the streets of Paris and other major cities gravely threatens Mr Macron’s once pre-eminent position as the man who slew the far right, keeping populism at bay in the republic. By maintaining a studious silence on the violent protests fuelled by the grassroots “Gilet Jeunes”, or “yellow vest” movement, the French President may only have further stoked the unrest.
Having walked to the Arc de Triomphe to survey the damage to a historical monument last week, Mr Macron made a token attempt to get talks going with the protesters against his ecological fuel tax. He beat a retreat in withdrawing the tax that proved the definitive trigger for civil unrest, which saw cars burnt and shops looted in Paris. The magnetic iconic Eiffel Tower was closed to tourists and shops were shuttered during the height of the Christmas shopping season.
Tax sops for corporates and income-tax relief for the rich in Mr Macron’s pro-business policies, a feeling of disenchantment over the citizens of Paris enjoying all the facilities while all others seem lesser people, rising unemployment and lower economic growth constitute a deadly cocktail fanning discontent.
The protesters were seen utilising Facebook to the fullest in spreading disaffection even as the social media giant’s changed algorithms prioritising local news helped the rebellion wreak havoc in the country’s worst rioting in 50 years since Charles de Gaulle had to take a trip to England to escape the wrath of the Parisian student movement.
If there’s a lesson in all this for all, including developing economies, it has to do with rulers having to lend an ear to people’s woes and doing something about the common man’s problems rather than barricading themselves in citadels of power.
There’s a point to the argument the peaceful protesters are making — that only violent rioting draws a response while the feelings of the majority of the people are invariably ignored.
