Maxime Tandonnet notably published
André Tardieu.
The misunderstood
(Perrin, 2019) and
Georges Bidault: from the Resistance to French Algeria
(Perrin, 2022).
He teaches foreigners and nationality law at the University of Paris XII.
What is at stake today, beyond people and the destiny of a government, is the future of French democracy.
The worsening of the democratic divide is a long-term phenomenon which probably dates back half a century and continues to grow.
The people have lost all confidence in their political leaders: hence the gigantic abstention rates, like the 2022 legislative elections where more than 54% of voters turned away from the polls.
It is no longer a crevasse, it is an abyss which widens every day between the people and their political class.
82% of French people believe that political leaders take no account of what
“people like them think”
(Cevipof) and 72% have a negative view of politics.
The events of recent days are the perfect illustration of the responsibility of the ruling class in the democratic disaster.
The psychodrama surrounding the ministerial reshuffle which lasted a month - as if to maintain suspense and occupy minds - focused around the Ministry of National Education.
The subject is at the heart of the concerns of deep France which, every day, notes with dismay the tragedy of the collapse of educational levels.
This catastrophe is confirmed by all international rankings, notably
Timss
according to which France is in penultimate place in the OECD in mathematics.
Also read “Release of detainees during Covid, Mila affair... Nicole Belloubet only distinguished herself in her renunciations”
However, in a few months, a stunned France witnessed a strange imbroglio around the appointment of the minister responsible for directing National Education.
For several years, the French believed they could trust Jean-Michel Blanquer, herald of secularism, whose reforms, however, only worsened the high school and baccalaureate crisis.
Then, in 2022, came Pap NDiaye, renowned for positions favorable to multiculturalism, in which he became entangled.
Gabriel Attal succeeded him for five months, attracting the praise of a majority of opinion by the strictly opposite posture, around the condemnation of the abaya at school - thereby arousing a current of hope .
Her replacement, Amélie Oudéa-Castera, only lasted a month.
The new minister, Nicole Belloubet, is known for having declared a few years earlier (regarding the Mila affair):
“Insulting religion is […] serious.”
His
nomination, in itself, seems to mark a new shift towards multicultural sensitivity.
For the tens of millions of French people, victims through their children of the educational disaster, these events can only amplify discouragement if not disgust.
The latest developments on this issue come against the backdrop of the turmoil around François Bayrou.
The latter, following a favorable court decision, was expected to return to the post of Minister of National Education - which he already held.
He finally gave up, citing
“a lack of profound agreement on the policy to follow”
.
But then, how can we explain the membership of his party, the MoDem, in the presidential majority that he does not intend to call into question?
This kind of contradiction is undoubtedly commonplace for the political world.
But in the deep country, even jaded, even accustomed, it contributes to aggravating the incomprehension.
The fundamental mistake of the leaders and public officials of this country is to believe themselves to be wiser and more learned than the people, whose intuition and revolt they underestimate at feeling thus mocked.
Maxime Tandonnet
Of course, the game of poaching and reversals of the most emblematic LR right-wing personalities is becoming commonplace and continues its ravages.
Certainly, nothing morally prohibits a political leader from changing ideas and political parties.
The incomprehensible thing is the passage in a few months or a few weeks, from the worst accusations against the head of state to unconditional support - for a cheese.
Do we have any idea of the consequences of this kind of about-face for the public image of politics?
And then, the habit develops in political circles of absurd speech, without tail or head, as if public officials were addressing a people of imbeciles.
A prominent member of the majority raves about living in a country where people ask
"whether the prime minister is too young or not, rather than a country like the United States where we ask whether we will have a president celebrating his 80th birthday
.
Has the author of these words never heard of Clemenceau and de Gaulle?
Another staunchly asserts that the increase in energy prices is due
to “the RN’s support for Russia”
.
But who do you take the French for?
Likewise, a leading candidate in the European elections believes that
“if he wins in June, the French National Assembly will have to be dissolved”
.
Which report ?
And then another “national” opponent asserts
“that having children is a political message”,
castigating political leaders without descendants.
After environmentalists who advocate
“stopping having children to save the climate”
, how far will we go in mixing the intimate and the political?
And in provocation to make people talk about themselves?
France suffers from a thousand ills that governments, for several decades, have failed to resolve: endemic violence, the explosion of deficits and public debt, the difficulty in controlling immigration, poverty and inflation, the housing crisis, public services, particularly health, etc. The great political spectacle, wherever it comes from, is intended to cover up failure and chaos.
The Paris Olympics next summer should be the apotheosis.
But the fundamental mistake of the leaders and public officials of this country (not all, but most of them) is to believe themselves to be wiser and more learned than the people, whose intuition and revolt they underestimate. feel thus mocked.
And the damage, in public opinion, is immeasurable.
This is why all this can only end badly...