Several unions called for a strike on June 2 at the Quai d'Orsay (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), an extremely rare event in French diplomacy, to express their "
unease
" in the face of an "
avalanche of reforms
", particularly that ending the French diplomatic corps.
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This is the second strike movement in the history of the ministry, the first having taken place in 2003 for questions of allowances, indicates Olivier da Silva, head of the union of CFTC executives, proof according to him "
of the real malaise in a house which however does not have a rebellious tradition
".
"The straw that broke the camel's back"
"
The Quai d'Orsay is gradually disappearing
", worry the six unions as well as a group of 400 young diplomats, denouncing in particular the reform recording the end of career diplomats, the reduction of consular activities, the abolition of positions - 50% fewer staff in all categories in 30 years.
“
These measures dismantling our diplomatic tool are nonsense at a time when war has just returned to Europe
,” they write.
The most controversial reform concerns the gradual "
extinction
" by 2023 of the two historical bodies of French diplomacy, ministers plenipotentiary and foreign affairs advisers.
The diplomats concerned - some 700 people - are called upon to join a new corps of "
state administrators
".
The reform of the senior civil service desired by Emmanuel Macron provides that senior civil servants will no longer be attached to a specific administration but will, on the contrary, be invited to change regularly throughout their career.
“
That was the straw that broke the camel's back.
There is a major concern about the continuation of careers, questions about the meaning of our mission and the relationship with power
, ”explains Olivier da Silva.
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“
We are very worried
”, abounds an ambassador in post on condition of anonymity.
“
We are not interchangeable!
I have the greatest respect for my colleagues in other administrations, but I don't know how to do their job and they don't know how to do mine.
Diplomats have a bad image of lazy kings who steal public money when in reality they are civil servants very attached to the republican administration.
And there is already a great diversity of courses at the Quai d'Orsay
, ”he pleads.
France has the third largest diplomatic network in the world after the United States and China.
About 14,000 agents (permanent, contractual, local recruitments, etc.) are employed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to official figures.
