Paris. January 28th. 11 pm. Informacion Capital
The “Frexit” posters that Marine Le Pen used in the 2017 campaign, calling for France to leave the European Union, were the motto for my conversation with Mr. M..
Mr M. – a fictional name – is an early-thirties-angry-with-life-third-generation-Algerian-descendent-Uber-driver and an activist of the yellow vests the protest.
— Is the yellow vests protest is still going on? – I asked – It turned out not to give great results … Mr M. annoyed with my provocation, retorted.
— Monsieur, our fight paid off. The minimum wage increased by 100 euros, social contribution (0.3% in reforms up to 2000 euros) is over and the big companies will pay more”.
— So it was worth it! – I said, apologizing briefly. But he went on.
— Monsieur, and all the taxes on extra work hours are over, and taxes on the great fortunes will go forward.
Although victorious, Mr. M. continued bitter all the way from the Orly airport to the charming Hotel that occupies the corner building between the Rue de Louvois and Rue de Richelieu, right in the center of Paris, 5 minutes walk from the former “Palais de la Bourse”, that is now transformed into an event and congress center.
Since the social unrest in France was announced – long before the low and middle class workers started dressing in yellow – big companies started to leave France fearing that the price President Macron payed for peace in the streets is too high for France’s economy.
After all, Frexit came out in a different way. Not a radical idea from the right wing politics for France left Europe, but a simple consequence of France’s socio-economic model bankruptcy. Citizens won’t leave, only money will.
Already operating in Portugal for sometime, multinational companies like Accenture, Natixis, Fujitsu, Armatis, Teleperformance and Chauffeur Privée received this week another the company of the French unicorn Solutions 30. They all run away from heavy taxation and huge HR costs. This is the hard evidence of facts.
This economically driven Frexit is the true reason behind Mr M’s bitterness.
Why? Because without him knowing it, the only hope that encourages Mr M. to keep on fighting , is already a lost cause.
Originally released in PT at Jornal de Notícias
