★ In this story 03
Authorities in dozens of cities in France have valiantly tried to calm the unrest of thousands of young people protesting the conditions of education in the European country. The unrest began two weeks ago as students blockaded a high school in the Paris suburbs, and it grew from there, with other protests erupting that shut down hundreds of schools across the nation. The grievances include crowded classes, so-called inequalities in education, and a shortage of available teachers. The civil unrest increased exponentially when French labor unions joined in the chaos.
Fracas in France
It appears that a toxic mixture of massive immigration and a deeply indebted social welfare state has caused schools in France to be underfunded. As Mark Landler of The New York Times observed:
“French public finances, already fragile, continue to deteriorate, fanning fears in financial markets that France could be the next European country to tumble into a full-blown financial crisis. The fiscal jitters were amplified by recent polls that show the far-right candidate, Marine Le Pen, would beat all her rivals in presidential elections that will be held next spring.”
The unstable financial situation in France has been adding hot lava to its economic volcano for decades. Many economists believed an eruption was inevitable. Liberty Nation News Economics Editor Andrew Moran explained: “France has not been immune to the global government bond market rout. Like other advanced economies, France's fiscal health has been deteriorating, and the government forecasts that debt interest costs will surge 15% next year to [$102 billion].”
Debt Bomb
Without a doubt, politics has played a significant role in this financial crisis as France shifts into high gear in the run-up to a presidential election scheduled to take place as two-term President Emmanuel Macron steps down. The French constitution prohibits Macron from running this time around because presidents are permitted only two consecutive terms. Round one of the French elections takes place on April 18, 2027.
Most believe the country’s unbridled spending has put it into a downward economic spiral, and it can’t seem to find a way to dig out. As The Wall Street Journal asserted, “France’s Appetite for ‘Magic Money’ has turned into a debt bomb,” and it claims the country “is on the precipice of a dangerous financial spiral.”
Why It Matters
French authorities claim to have arrested more than 6,000 individuals – mostly students -- in connection with the protests. Authorities used water hoses, rubber bullets, batons, and tear gas to quell the uprising of mostly young people. French students, meanwhile, described their learning environments as rat-infested buildings with little or no supplies and not enough teachers to go around.
President Donald Trump laid the blame for France’s financial woes at the feet of French politicians who have permitted unrestrained immigration. It appears those leading France have built a financial trap from which it cannot recover – an eerie foreshadowing of things to come in the United States, should rampant spending continue apace. But for now, it would be wise for American authorities to watch and learn.
4 Questions
The story, in brief
Why are thousands of students protesting in France?
Students say France's schools have crowded classes, inequalities in education, and too few teachers. Some described their learning environments as rat-infested buildings with little or no supplies, and protests spread after a high school in the Paris suburbs was blockaded.
How did the student protests spread across France?
The unrest began two weeks ago when students blockaded a high school in the Paris suburbs. It then grew as protests erupted in other places, shutting down hundreds of schools across the nation, and labor unions later joined the unrest.
How have French authorities responded to the protests?
French authorities say they have arrested more than 6,000 people, most of them students, in connection with the protests. To quell the uprising, authorities used water hoses, rubber bullets, batons, and tear gas in dozens of cities.
What broader problems are tied to France's school unrest?
The unrest is linked in the report to France's worsening public finances, heavy debt burden, and political strain ahead of the next presidential election. It says underfunded schools reflect a broader economic spiral, with concerns amplified as President Emmanuel Macron prepares to step down after two consecutive terms.
Leesa K. Donner
Leesa K. Donner is executive editor of LibertyNation.com and Generation Liberty. A widely published columnist, Leesa previously worked in the broadcast news industry as a television news anchor, reporter, and producer at NBC, CBS and Fox affiliates in Charlotte, Pittsburgh, and Washington, DC. She is the author of “Free At Last: A Life-Changing Journey through the Gospel of Luke.”
