French Kiss Meets Indian Hug

French Kiss Meets Indian Hug

- Rachna Joshi

France does not take kindly to change. Resistance to change has allowed the French to keep alive traditions and a distinctive way of life. And yet, a revolutionary fire sleeps under this civilised veneer, forcing economist Jacques Attali to exclaim, “France is incapable of reforms; hence, we advance through revolution.”

Emmanuel Macron’s 2017 election as president and the subsequent absolute majority given to his fledgling political party, La Republique en Marche! (The Republic on the Move or REM), signals a return to more global, inclusive and Europe-centric values, especially when contrasted with his opponent Marine Le Pen, the extreme right-wing candidate.

By declaring themselves to be socially inclusive, fiscally liberal and politically reformist, Macron’s REM was able to muster support for the perhaps revolutionary concept of breaking down traditional party lines and ideological dogma in favour of bolstering France’s competitiveness on the global landscape, while protecting the rights of the working classes and providing social justice for all sections of society.

India can identify with this soul-searching, as the country plays growth catch-up in the face of rising inequalities. Even as the Indian economy is set to overtake France in 2018, in terms of the Human Development Index (HDI), which takes into account inequalities in income, education and life expectancy, there is a long way to go and much to do.