WHAT PRESIDENT HOLLANDE DID NOT EXPLAIN !

Comments by the Public and in the Press after the interview of President Hollande on TV, watched by 8 million citizens, have been withering ! "Why did he want to be interviewed when he had nothing new to say ?", is a gentle way to summarise the discontent !

After two and a half years as President, the mid-point of his five year term, what has Hollande done to reverse, as he has said, the mess left by Sarkozy, his predecessor ?  The general public impression is "NOTHING !". 

To make France more competitive and to kick-start the economy, Cost Savings by the State are required for more State and/or Private Investments.  This would then help to reduce unemployment and the National Debt ! 

To be really precise, Hollande has not attacked any of the following possibilities;

1)   -  Created cost savings by     

           - streamlining government services and departments.

           - raising the retirement age in line with inreased longevity,

          - introducing a declining scale of benefits for the long term unemployed to force them to accept to work, 

          - decentralising certain national services.

2)   -  Created more jobs through direct government investment,

           - by building more housing for the needy (as had been planned),

          - by launching long-term modernisation projects,

3)  -  Redefined the rights and duties of Employers, Unions and the Government when businesses face severe economic difficulties, by

          - revising the rules of the 35 hour working week,

          - modernising employment rules for employers.

                - modernising the rights of Trade Unions.

 

These are just a few options that should have been exploited during the first two years of President Hollande's term of office.  In this way the National Debt would not be as serious as it is now ! 

Everyone in France is acutely aware that Brussels and the EUROZONE have been very critical of the 2015 Budget and Plan submitted by France !  Logically, if France cannot reduce its overspending , the EURO itself could be in danger.   In his TV interview Hollande avoided all discussion of this subject but Brussels will surely want action ! 

All these matters need attention, and they will not simply go away if they are not addressed ! 

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