Liberte', Egalite', Fraternite': Questions Arise As France Copes with Protests

       So, students take to the streets, again. It's a "thing" in France among youths. When in doubt-hit the streets. Remember 1968? students hit the streets.  A couple of years ago, the "Yellow Vests" hit the streets. It's all about the economy, Stupid. The French Parliament is in chaos-almost normal. Mr. Macron is beside himself. Overspending combined with high interest rates has crippled the country.

    France has its back to the financial wall as the cost of debt servicing has exploded, and bond prices plummet as interest rates sky.  With an election early next year, voters will respond with typical anger. Marine La Pen, the right wing standard bearer, is waiting for election day. Is she a viable candidate? Time will tell.

     What will it take to clear the protesters from the boulevards ? Nobody can predict the next moves, but teachers and students know that conditions are dire: fewer students mean lower budgets across the board. Infrastructure and maintenance suffers, and those students who seek career paths aligned with goals suffer uncertainty and intense anxxieties. The results are in the streets. 

      Can pundits put some blame on the endless wars in the Middle East, Iran, and Ukraine, to name a few? Perhaps the Boob-in-the-Oval is responsible for the high cost of diesel fuel. Perhaps the dictator in the Kremlin is responsible for high energy prices across the EU. Maybe HAMAS and the Palestinians who attacked Israel are responsible for increased defense spending. Or maybe the Houthis in Yemen are responsible because they attacked ships and pipelines in Saudi Arabia last week.

 Whatever, France is boiling over with anger and protests. macron & Co. have few options. Bet on an increase in corporate taxes and elimination of subsidies granted during the pandemic.  Marine La Pen will let the chips fall where they may as she keeps a low profile. Good luck as Greece and Italy laugh at their northern neighbors who put the Med countries on an austerity diet a few years ago(within recent memory.

 Ahhh, the Eu, and the UK. Watch the Brits as they come crawling back to the EU, begging forgiveness. Don't expect King Charles to say much about that.