France has racked up a mountain of national debt to reach a debt-to-GDP ratio of 113 per cent last year, behind only Greece and Italy. The budget deficit was also among the highest at 5.8 per cent of GDP at the end of 2024, far higher than the EU limit of 3 per cent.
Ah, so that’s why they cut medical care for chronically ill people and legalised assisted suicide.
Neoliberalism go brrr
It’s easy to shit on neoliberalism.
Far harder to face the truth: we are already at war with Russia, while our security guarantor is pulling out.
I’m not sure what choices Macron made exactly, and he may well have protected established interests over the vulnerable.
But I do know that we, Free Europe, will have to make some hard choices and accept unpopular policy to be able to protect ourselves and our allies.
If your definition of “hard choices” involves coercing people to die and refusing them medical care you will lose the proxy war against Russia.
The reason far right pro-Russia parties are surging is because the lower classes have been left behind. They exploit the lower class anger.
If your answer to that is more austerity, more cutting welfare, you will lose.
I say this as someone who’se voluneered extensively for Ukranian causes. And is very aware of the threat neo-facist Russia poses. I have two friends who’ve died in the war.
No one has said that France or any other country should spent less on welfare. We need both.
Addition:
Defence or Welfare? Europe Can Afford Both, and Must
Thank you, that’s a very useful perspective. I’ll keep it in mind.