this post was submitted on 05 Jul 2023
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[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

I am glad that there is so much opposition to this within the French government. Because:

  1. The French people have the means and the motivation to continue protesting, and this is going to piss them off.

  2. The authoritarian country I was born in regularly does this during protests but they also have almost full control of the media and telecomms . People, also, have limited choices of social media (because almost everyone uses a cell phone because the power regularly goes out, and some social media apps use a lot of data). A lot of times people don't know that they've been cut off until it's already cut.

I'm not saying he is authoritarian but the idea is authoritarian. Macron is clearly panicked, but this is the wildest, and most extreme reaction. Plus, once people get to know of this then they will just create groups on other platforms. This idea is very short sighted.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

This is the point at which the left-wing in France needs to step the fuck up and convince the centrists that the best way to beat the Nazis is not to vote for Diet Nazi.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

There needs to be an alternative to both Macron and Le Pen. I would love to see Macron forced to retire, though considering his authoritarian impulses, it seems unlikely without a vote of misconfidence from parliament.

Note that I'm not super familiar with French political process, so I'm not totally sure how that'd need to play out.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Vote of misconfidence only gets rid of the government (PM and the other ministers), the president stays in place. Macron already theatened the parliament of dissolution (meaning everyone goes home and we do a parliament election) in case of succesful vite of misconfidence. It doesn't make it impossible but it makes it less likely.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sounds pretty authoritarian if you ask me

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yep. Our current constitution was designed by De Gaulle, who was military and not too big on parliament power. From the official presidential website "Élysée" (name of the palace where presidential powet resides in France) : While it is based on the Constitution of 1946, the 1958 Constitution is different, as its purpose was to strengthen executive power and stabilize the government, making it more difficult for the Assembly to overthrow.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Sounds like it's time to destabilize the government and overthrow the presidency.

Maybe the Assembly can't do it, but the people sure could.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I think its a bit more reasonable to say that "the centrists in France need to step the fuck up and realize that the left is a superior option to Diet Nazi"

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If I was French and had to pick between Macron's hand-picked successor and Le Pen, I would go insane. Vesting so much power in the presidency can only turn presidents into strongmen.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (5 children)

I don’t follow French politics too closely, but from everything I’ve seen, this guy is absolutely DESPISED by the people. Is he not worried about getting voted out or something? Why does he seem to want to stick his finger in the eyes of the French citizens?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

He’s term-limited anyway. Just hope he doesn’t pave the way for Le Pen or some other out and out fascist to take over for him.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

According to the French Constitution, the President cannot serve more than 2 consecutive terms. Macron was elected in 2017 and relected in 2022 (against the far-right candidate) so he can't be candidate in 2027.

Before 2027, there won't be any meaningful national election in France (European congress in 2024 and municipal elections in 2026).

Also, Macron hasn't the absolute majority at the French national assembly, but there are tools in the Constitution which allow the government to pass laws without a vote. And the opposition is not strong enough to dismiss the government.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

tools in the Constitution which allow the government to pass laws without a vote

That sounded terrible until I realized that's what the Supreme Court can and just did do in the US with their completely made up Major Questions Doctrine.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Is he not worried about getting voted out or something? Why does he seem to want to stick his finger in the eyes of the French citizens?

From what little I know of french history, I would be worried about far more than just getting voted out.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

The French always hate their presidents and most French presidents have had abysmal approval ratings. It's a national sport, maybe for a reason.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

He's playing the same game US democrats are, where it's either him or a fascist.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

You telling me there is someone worse in France right now?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Le Pen, yes.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Wow, that's fucked up

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Why do people always seem to pick the most horrible responses to crises?... ;-; ~Strawberry

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

To my eyes, Macron clearly has some egotistical and authoritarian impulses.

He clearly seems to believe that he knows better than other people, and has little patience for what they want or say.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Why though? And why do so many people, including many who aren't in power, seem to have similarly awful responses to crises? ~Strawberry

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Those who are meant to lead, choose not to. Those who are not meant to lead, choose to do so.

Never trust someone who wishes to become a leader above you.