Weapons firing, sticks, arrests… France offers, since a few weeks, the face of a banana republic, poles apart from the nation of human rights and democracy it has always had. Can the country of Emmanuel Macron still present itself as a lesson to African dictators ?
Faced with the police violence that took place on Thursday 23 mars 2023 throughout France, the Council of Europe has expressed its dismay at the excessive use of force to repress demonstrators who have taken to the streets to protest against what they consider to be the President of the Republic's stubbornness to impose a law that 'they do not want. For its part, Jean-Luc Melanchon, responsible for the strongest opposition force, denounced what he called rude derives from an "authoritarian regime" which "trivializes its methods".
The point of contention concerns the retirement age. Set until recently at 62 years, Emmanuel Macron wanted to wear it to 64 years. Which is not to the liking of the majority of workers. Blocked by parliamentarians who proposed thousands of amendments, the Head of State had the measure adopted in force, using for this a provision of a crisogenic constitution which allows him to override the National Assembly.
On the announcement of the forced passage of the government, the workers, supported by youth, spontaneously organized protest demonstrations, the highlight of which was the 23 last March at the call of the trade unions who wanted to block the country. Massive arrests and unprecedented repression followed..
In fact, Emmanuel Macron is not at his first confrontation with his people. From November 2018 Women and young girls continue to be victims of all kinds of violence despite the legal arsenal available to Benin and the awareness campaigns made by the State and certain civil society organizations 2019, demonstrators known as yellow vests had been forced to confront the police sent to disperse them each time they went out. Also there, many abuses had been committed by law enforcement. These yellow vests demanded, among others, improving the standard of living of the working and middle classes.
The observation that emerges from these sulphurous paintings is that the French president who is used to condemning the repression of demonstrators by the dictatorial regimes of Africa does little better when confronted with the same realities.. Not only does he rule against his own people, what he denounces elsewhere, pire, he believes he is right and the French are wrong. What is the exact posture of the leaders proclaiming themselves of the enlightened dictatorship.
Unfortunately, in doing so, Macron confirms the thesis of those who say that in all things, "It's the ground that commands". What credibility can he now claim to intervene in areas of conflict in Africa? ? Beyond France, it is all of Europe that will now find it difficult to make itself heard by leaders oppressing their peoples. These will have, Alas, reason to ask them to sweep in front of their own door first.
Pierre MATCHOUDO