It’s been a terrible start to the year for Emmanuel Macron and his new government. Aside from the well-publicised farmers’ protest, there has also been industrial action by teachers, train workers and staff at the Eiffel Tower. Cases of violent crime are at a record high, and the drugs trade is flourishing as never before with an annual turnover of €3 billion (£2.6 billion).
Sunday was arguably the worst day of the year so far for the president, who likes to convey an image of a man in complete control. The glum-faced Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, appeared on television to announce that he has revised the Republic’s growth forecasts for 2024 downwards, from 1.4 per cent to 1 per cent of GDP. This means the state will need to make €10 billion (£8.5 billion) in additional savings from this year onwards.
With France in such a sorry state, Macron’s only strategy is to scare-monger
Macron, the ex-banker, came to power in 2017 with a promise to make France an economic powerhouse but under his presidency public debt has soared to 112.5
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