American
singer/songwriter Tracy Chapman sang ‘Talkin'
'bout a revolution...
people gonna rise up.’ Turmoil
is occurring in both In
France and Nepal but in both cases it’s certainly not a rising up
that will instigate a revolution leading to the replacement of
capitalism with socialism. The French Trades Union representative is
incorrect, it’s not President Macron is just the problem, it’s
the exploitative social system which puts surplus
value
and war profits
before all else.
‘Hundreds
have been arrested in France as riot police clashed with
demonstrators, who vowed to “block
everything”
nationwide amid rising discontent with President Emmanuel Macron’s
government.
Around
175,000 people took part in the protests on 10 September across Paris
and other cities, including Marseille, Montpellier, Nantes, and Lyon,
the Interior Ministry said. Officials reported 473 arrests
nationwide, while security services logged over 800 protest actions
and hundreds of fires and blockades of roads and buildings.
The
demonstrations were called under the slogan ‘Bloquons Tout’, or
‘Let’s block everything’ – signalling an intent to strike,
block roads, and disrupt public services in opposition to proposed
austerity measures. Over 80,000 police officers were deployed to
swiftly dismantle barricades and clear blockades.
In
Paris, police fired tear gas outside Gare du Nord train station,
where around a thousand protesters gathered, some holding signs
declaring Wednesday a ‘public holiday’. In Nantes, demonstrators
set tires and bins ablaze to block a highway before being dispersed
with gas. In Montpellier, scuffles erupted as protesters erected
barricades, with one banner demanding ‘Macron resign’.
Protesters
attempted to start a blockade in Bordeaux, while in Toulouse a fire
briefly disrupted train services before being extinguished. Some 400
people stormed the Gare de Lyon station in Paris.
The
rallies come as France grapples with a spiralling budget deficit that
hit 5.8% of GDP in 2024 – almost double the EU 3% ceiling. The
unrest recalls the Yellow Vest revolt that erupted over fuel taxes
and economic inequality in Macron’s first term. It follows Monday’s
no-confidence vote that forced out Prime Minister Francois Bayrou,
clearing the way for Sebastien Lecornu to become the country’s
fourth premier in a year.
Bayrou’s
austerity plan – scrapping public holidays, cutting public jobs and
freezing welfare payments while boosting military spending – has
sparked fierce backlash.
“It’s
the same shit… it’s Macron who’s the problem, not the
ministers,”
a CGT transport union representative told Reuters. “It’s
more Macron and his way of working, which means he has to go.”
Polls
show Macron’s approval rating has fallen to its lowest since 2017,
with eight in ten French saying they no longer trust him.’
The
protests in Nepal were occasioned by the banning by the Nepalese
government of twenty six social media platforms. This was seen as an
attack on free speech and political dissent. The demonstrations
escalated into a protest against government corruption and the
behaviour of elites. Economic inequality is also a consideration in
the actions of those demanding change.
The
change being sought, the installation of new ‘leaders’, will not
alleviate the problems inherent in a global social system that
exploits and controls the majority for the benefit of a minority.
‘The
youth leaders of Nepal’s protest movement have proposed former
Chief Justice Sushila Karki to serve as the country’s interim prime
minister, Reuters reported on 10 September citing the secretary of
the Supreme Court Bar Association.
The
decision followed a nearly four-hour virtual meeting in which between
300 and 400 participants of the protest movement took part, according
to local media.
Karki,
73, is the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nepal and the
only woman to have held the post.
Speaking
to India-based CNN News18, Karki said the immediate focus of the
interim government would be to honour those who died in the protests
and address the protesters’ demands, including tackling corruption.
The
development comes after K.P. Sharma Oli resigned as prime minister on
Tuesday amidst violent protests across the Himalayan nation. During
the two-day demonstrations, hundreds of protesters stormed the Prime
Minister’s Office, set fire to the Supreme Court and Parliament
buildings, and vandalised the homes of several senior leaders.
The
Ministry of Health and Population of Nepal on 10 September stated
that the death toll has risen to 30. According to the ministry, 1,033
people were injured during the nationwide protests.
Authorities
in Kathmandu said anarchists and criminal elements had infiltrated
the protests, engaging in arson, looting, property destruction,
targeted violence, and attempted sexual assault. “Any criminal
activities carried out under the guise of protest will be prosecuted,
and security forces will take strong action against offenders,”
the Nepalese Army said in a statement.
Meanwhile,
young volunteers took to the streets on 10 September for a clean up
campaign – hours before the army’s curfew announcement, local
media reported. The clean ups are being organised and promoted via
online platforms.
During
the curfew, only essential vehicles – such as ambulances, hearses,
fire engines, and those used by health workers and security personnel
– will be permitted. The army urged citizens needing assistance to
coordinate with local security officials.’
