To Change France

Jurgen Reinhoudt tells us that Nicholas Sarkozy’s reforms are underway in France:

 one key component of his promises—a significant package of tax cuts—will be passed into law. The French House approved a 10 to 13 billion Euro per year tax cut package on July 16th, while the Senate is set to review it starting the 25th. Sarkozy’s finance minister, Christine Lagarde, could not have been more blunt when she told Parliament that “France is a country that thinks. There is hardly an ideology we don't have a theory on. That's why I would like to tell you: that's enough thinking, enough prevaricating. Let's just roll up our sleeves.”

 proposals designed to crack down on massive strikes—the favored pressure tool by unions to stop reforms—are in store as well. A Senate measure would force workers, on an individual basis, to declare themselves in favor of a strike to their employers 48 hours before beginning any strike. And if employers so wish, a secret ballot vote must be held among workers on whether or not to continue a strike beyond an 8-day period. Also, a minimum level of ground transport (rail and other) service be maintained throughout the duration of a strike. The House is set to review this set of reforms starting July 30th.

As Reinhoudt writes, Sarkozy’s cabinet and his Parliamentary majority want to remove the de facto veto that unions have long held over decisions taken by democratically elected legislators. The right to strike is one thing, but bringing the country—including those who are not striking—to a standstill is quite another.