Schools and youth violence: Macron announces reforms
French President Emmanuel Macron announced a package of measures regarding schools and youth riots on Tuesday, including more civic education classes, theatre as a compulsory subject, compulsory "Generalised National Service" for youths and (initially on a trial basis) school uniforms. Commentators think little of the plan, and some are irritated by the slogan "So that France remains France", once used by the far right.
Like a fusty old nationalist
For the Tages-Anzeiger Macron’s nationalist rhetoric is prompted by the radicalisation of French voters:
“It’s astonishing how much Emmanuel Macron’s political language has changed after almost seven years in power — not gradually, but rather abruptly. At his big press conference aired on all channels, the once so refreshingly modern and disruptively young French president suddenly sounded like a fusty old nationalist. ... He is talking like this because the polls suggest that in these times of crazy certainties, wars and purchasing power crises, many French citizens are prepared to vote for the far right.”
A left-liberal after all
These measures will not prevent new unrest, warns the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung:
“Macron’s package is ultimately an admission that France has lost control over parts of its society. When Macron says this has nothing to do with immigration, then he is once again a left-wing liberal. Of course the state should educate and mould its (young) citizens to suit its own interests. Germany is also trying to do this with integration classes and courses. But the reality of migration in the 21st century is that many immigrants and their descendants remain strongly influenced by their countries of origin. It is doubtful that school uniforms and theatre classes will be able to change this.”
Failure to understand the gravity of the situation
In an article with racist undertones, Causeur calls for more far-reaching reforms:
“When Macron addresses the issue of schools and voices the intention to introduce symbolic measures such as the trial introduction of uniforms or more civic education classes, he seems to be refusing to accept that the crisis is much broader, that it requires a real revolution and not adjustments that are just band-aids on a wooden leg. His interpretation of last summer’s riots, which he attributes to the ‘boredom’ of the participants, is further evidence of his lack of lucidity regarding the profound and almost irreversible degradation of French anthropological material.”
