- My two favorite bloggers on French politics have included -- and referenced -- several commentaries on President François Hollande’s press conference last week. The New York Times summarized his proposals as including tax cuts, spending reductions, and a generally business-friendly tone. So far he seems to have upset those on the outer edges of the right and the left, created divisions within the UMP, and received encouraging words from some Germans and E.U. officials. This all suggests his move to the center could turn out to be smart politically. And, what seems less likely, it could even be good for France’s economy and for hiring.
Still, I doubt this business-friendly turn is going to be good for the environmental issues I tend to follow. Right off the bat, I’d say that this turn makes it more likely the government will go ahead with construction of the new airport at Notre-Dame-des-Landes. In the name of regional economic development (à la les Trente Glorieuses) and jobs, I expect Hollande and Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault will clear out the camped-in protesters and move in the bulldozers, probably in the next few weeks. It’s also hard to see how the government resist local development interests in the department-by-department face-offs over flood plain zoning along the Loire and other rivers. And how likely is it the government will insist to the always over-burdened farmers that they cut back on fertilizers and pesticides to clean up local drinking water supplies? We’ll see, but I’m not optimistic.
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