The “Injured” Liberal Democracy in Europe & the retreat of the Liberal Democracy Model as a Governance Instrument-Part I

The “injured” liberal democracy in Europe, the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron and the yellow vests movement in France appear, each for his part, to be the salient factors of a mixture of controversy that possesses a significant proportion of European citizens in terms of the effectiveness of the liberal model as a means of governance and economic prosperity on the European continent.

In this analysis we will try to point out the structural and modern causes that lead to this being challenged by European citizens, but also with the proposals that we will present we will attempt to demonstrate how to achieve the retreat of Liberal model as the only means of governance to achieve the coveted social welfare.

by Thanos S. Chonthrogiannis

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The dynamic expression of dissatisfaction with the yellow vests movement, which began in the last few months of 2018 and continues in the early months of 2019, has turned the attention of the economic and political world, and especially the EU, to the extreme events that took place in the streets of France.

A dynamic expression of frustration about the rising cost of living in French society and led to generally question the French political system and the French politicians, and especially the French President Emmanuel Macron.

In Part I, of this big in size political analysis that we will address in The Liberal Globe, we will present how was formed the yellow vests movement. In addition, we will show the demands, but above all the pioneering elements presented to date by the movement of yellow vests of the proud French people.

In Part II of this analysis we will present the pioneering political elements and decisions taken by the President of France Emmanuel Macron in his attempt to confront the movement of yellow vests. In addition, we will highlight the causes of the problems that injure the Liberal Republic of France as a means of governance and, more generally, the Liberal democracy model as a means of governance in the other member countries of the Eurozone/EU.

In Part III, this analysis will indicate how the damaged model of the Liberal Democracy can be restored as a means of governance through the restoration of its “backbone”, which is at the same time the foundation stone of a thriving Democracy. In addition, in this third part of our analysis, we will look at any other modern causes of “wounding” the functioning of the Liberal Democratic Republic both in France and more generally in the other Eurozone/EU member countries.

In Part IV, we will present ways to solve all these problems as well as the proposed Political Solutions-Strategies that should be implemented to strengthen the Liberal Democracy as a means of governance of all Eurozone/EU member countries.

The shaping of the yellow vests’ movement

The yellow vests movement began with the collection of signatures on the internet, with their main demand not to increase fuel taxation. Then this movement of protest was raised based on its rightful demands by rallying most of the French people to their side.

The fact that on the side of the yellow vests’ movement found the overwhelming majority of the proud and pioneer in political issues and values of the French people is not surprising.

Simply because the yellow vests consisted of most of the citizens who belong to the middle- and low-income class, respectively, of France.

Citizens of the middle- and low-income class of France who give daily the struggle for their survival due to the ever-increasing cost of living in relation to their monthly incomes that either remain stable or are reduced due to non-well-paid jobs. Increasing cost of living and always in relation to incomes and wages, which cost of living continues to increase not only in French society but also in most of the societies of the member countries of the Eurozone/EU. 

The increase in taxation and especially the price of fuel was the fuse that broke the glass and caused the explosion of accumulated rage in the streets of France for the stifling pressures exerted by the rising cost of living that “poor” slowly and steadily the medium and low-income class respectively of France.

Inevitably, this ever-increasing cost of living with long-lasting stable or nonlinear reduced wages and rewards dramatically expands social inequalities at the expense of many and for the benefit of the few.

The pioneering elements presented by the movement of yellow vests of the proud French people

The movement of yellow vests from its original configuration until its gigantic, presented some pioneering elements.

1. It started online and specifically through social networks by gathering signatures online.

2. Their name was acquired from the yellow vest that all drivers of motor vehicles are obliged to have in their cars/motorcycles.

3. They did not and neither showed next some physical leadership that represented them and when they were approached, they were not accepted to be manipulated.

4. Their ranks include all citizens from all social and professional classes and without this movement having the guidance of trade unionists and labour unions.

5. Their demands have to do with the cost of living and are in proportion the same to those of the French Revolution (1789-1799) that took place 230-240 years ago.

The French Revolution inspired by liberal and radical ideas became the cause of the drastic reduction of the monarchy with the simultaneous establishment of democracy as a means of governance worldwide.

The French Revolution also began with the then increased cost of bread and milk that “crossed” the whole of the French people and made it impossible to live middle- and low-income strata in France then.

The movement of the yellow vests of France resembles the movement of the indignant citizens of another proud but always betrayed by their political people, the Greek people.

The movement of indignant Greek citizens took place in Greece in 2010 with the unofficial bankruptcy of the Greek state and the forced entry of Greece into the Troika’s (EU, ECB, IMF) support programs.

The difference between them and the yellow vests movement was that it did not have the continuity and consistency of the yellow vests’ movement.

Also, their basic demands were to cut their salaries and pensions, because of Greece’s entry into the support programs, but also their indignation as to the gigantic corruption of the Greek state.

The similarities of the movement of indignant citizens in Greece with the movement of yellow vests had to do that this indignation was directed towards the political world of Greece. Moreover, they came from all the social and professional classes and not from the “parties voters-armies” of the Greek parliamentary political parties.

It was also not manipulated at first by politicians, trade unionists and labour unions, and then was preferred to dissolve rather than be manipulated.

This popular rage of the French people through the yellow vests rallied and focused on the political world of France and, above all, on the face of the President of the French Republic of Emmanuel Macron and his workable policies.

The author of this analysis believes that this expression of popular dissatisfaction and a sense of non-confidence-betrayal of the French people towards the whole of the political world of France is correct.

But it is very wrong when it is directed at the face of the President of France Emmanuel Macron because this popular dissatisfaction is accumulated from the policies of previous years and before the coming of the President Emmanuel Macron’s time in the Presidency of France.

When citizens get angry down the streets it’s too late to make out in their eyes which are the any responsibilities of the politicians and the real causes of the problems. The citizens see only the results.

The aim of this analysis is to demonstrate, in our opinion, these real causes that wounded and continue to injure the liberal democracy model as a model and instrument of governance in France and in general in all Eurozone/EU member countries. Wishing that the whole of the political world of France in a fair and sincere discussion and cooperation with the whole of the French people would correct these causes of possible structural problems.

The pioneering political elements and decisions presented by The President of French Republic Emmanuel Macron to confront the movement of yellow vests

The President of French Republic Emmanuel Macron in order to “decompress” this dynamic dissatisfaction of the yellow vests’ movement proceeded to pioneering political moves:

1. He first put on the table the “Great National Debate (GND)” that will last two months (15/01/2019-15/03/2019).

2. The topics of the GND cover the largest set of social issues animated in five main axes

1. Ecological transition,
2. Taxation and public expenditure,
3. Democracy,
4. Immigration,
5. State and public services

3. The GND is composed of many local debates which will be open to all citizens who would like to participate and express themselves.

These discussions can be organized wherever there is a possibility of a gathering (town halls, neighborhoods, clubs, workplaces, etc.). In addition, an electronic platform will be created to collect the views of citizens who will participate digitally.

For those citizens who do not have the opportunity to participate digitally, municipalities in rural communities will provide notebooks for the registration of citizens “complaints” or “hints” with aim to record requests for their problems and anxieties.

But what are the structural and modern causes of the problems that injure the Liberal Democracy model as a means of governance in France and in the other member-countries of the Eurozone/EU? We will present this in the second part of this analysis.