May Day in France 2023

May Day in France is different from May Day in the US.  It’s not about children leaving May Day bouquets on front doors or kitchen tables.  Yes, it does include exchanging Mugets (lilies of the valley), but it’s also Labor Day in France.  May Day in France occurs on the 1^st of May.  It is a date full of symbols in France and throughout Europe.  It is the day of parades, demonstrations, and trade union protests for many French people.

Curious about why the French are protesting so vehemently against raising the retirement age from 62 to 64??  Especially when most of the western world’s retirement age is 2-3 years higher than 64?  We had an interesting conversation about that today with some French friends.  It turns out that to the French, the issue is a lot broader than just a couple of years of work.  It really represents the unease we see in a lot of the Western world about work-life balance, and more importantly, the ecological health of our world.   

Muguet and French Flag in our Apartment

There is a real concern that society is not moving fast enough to address either of these concerns, and many people are determined to make their voices heard.  French people who have not participated in a street protest since college days are planning on turning out tomorrow, May first, a traditional day to celebrate the value brought to society by the efforts of workers at all levels.

For this reason, this day and event may mark a turning point for France’s government and society in how its structure appears to address these concerns.  As is common with many pivotal historical moments, big change may result from concerns that have not been clearly articulated or understood. 

The entire viability of M. Macron’s government may hinge on how large and sustained these demonstrations are.  If people in the streets can convince enough people not to keep the wheels of commerce and government moving, then the country may grind to a halt.  If such a thing were to occur for any significant period of time, then M. Macron would find himself unable to govern.  His term has four more years to run, but if parliament votes no-confidence in the government, then new elections for parliament would have to take place.  The result may be a president [Macron] and a parliament that cannot agree to work together on any issue, so everything could come to a halt. 

Observe how many people turn out May 1, and at subsequent protest events in May.  Stay tuned.