Pension reformer before Marcron: François Hollande
Image: Bloomberg
France’s former president accuses the Merkel government of helping to create an image of weakness towards Putin. That’s what prompted him to attack Ukraine, says François Hollande in an interview with the FAZ.
Mr President, is France still reformable?
Yes, it was for years, albeit sometimes accompanied by street demonstrations and opposition in parliament. In the past 10 to 15 years, France has managed to reform its labor market and increase its competitiveness. France is able to make progress. You just have to know how to use the right method. That has been lacking in the past few weeks.
What does this “correct method” look like?
That when it comes to questions of work, pensions and wages, you discuss with the social partners in order to reach compromises. That’s what you do in Germany: negotiate an agreement before you go before Parliament. This is precisely what has not been achieved here, although the French trade union landscape has changed in recent years. The main union leading the movement today is the CFDT with Laurent Berger. This is a partner who has that will to want to compromise, even when they have their red lines.