I t is the sign of the times, transcending geographical frontiers, that democracy is being grotesquely distorted, giving a raw deal to the ordinary citizens for whom this form of government was supposed to be the best conceived as of now. The ruling class in several Asian and European countries has let down the people by not improving their lot, but serving the interests of the super-rich and in the process, feathering their own nests too. This has prompted the people suffering from privations and colossal governmental neglect to take to the streets, resort to violence when their patience wears thin and remove by force politicians perceived to be corrupt from their high offices. Those who swear by democracy but line their own pockets and their cronies have been taking the people for granted for far too long, using them only for their votes that give them the passport to state power and pelf. Now, some of them are being compelled to work for the people or else not only face the music but getting killed in the process.
In Nepal, after Bangladesh and earlier Sri Lanka, the people used violence to effect a change of government. The severe violence engulfed politicians and also bureaucrats. In France, the protesters who had launched fierce and violent street protests with a call for “Block Everything” have sent a clear message to the government to adopt immediate corrective measures for the survival of democracy. In the face of violence organised by irate mobs, a new Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has been appointed to replace the unpopular Francois Bayrou. He is the fifth since the start of President Emmanuel Macron’s second term and the third since the disastrous 2024 dissolution of the Assemblée Nationale. His first few words as PM only underline the rapid loss of prestige of the democratic system in place in France.
Experts are sceptical about the success of the new man entrusted with the task of restoring the people’s faith in the efficacy of democracy as is being practiced. The reason for this is the mess that the existing political parties have made in the name of democracy. A veritable political circus is going on in France. The frequent permutations and combinations of political alliances made to prop up a government have created more problems than solving them. The fragile alliance between Macron’s Centrists and the traditional right is tottering, while the new appointee’s profile does not seem to inspire any degree of confidence among the Socialists, whose support is now essential for even passing the budget. The 39-year-old new PM, whose name was announced on 9 September, is a product of the old Center-Right party, the UMP (now known as Les Republicains). His main qualification for becoming PM is his closeness to Macron, while he is little known to the French public. The Left does not trust him either, as he was seen hobnobbing with Far-Right leader Marine Le Pen. However, the Socialist leader Olivier Faure, who initially fired salvos at the new PM, does not rule out tough negotiations, which is a euphemism for hard bargaining for the benefit of the party rather than for the people.
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In contrast, the radical Left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon is trying to cash in on the political chaos by pushing for fresh legislative elections. He believes his party can upstage the Far-Right Rassemblement National, which is now leading in opinion polls. Democracy in France is now dangerously poised. Realising the gravity of the situation, Lecornu, in his first speech as PM adopted a posture of humility and accommodation, stressing the freedom the President had given him to engage in open, broad discussions – without a fixed timetable – with any political forces and social partners willing to work with him. At the same time, in order to win back the people’s trust, he has declared he would not pursue the policy of his immediate predecessor Bayrou, who endlessly harped on debt that only deepened his unpopularity. Mere posturing is not enough.
The new PM has to convince the people whether he would dump Bayrou’s draft budget, which is widely rejected in its current form. While the Right, with whom he hoped to strengthen ties, remains unyielding on tax issues, the Socialists will only agree not to censure the government if they secure real concessions on taxing the wealthiest households. As in the case of the Asian countries that saw the spectacle of people forcing the rulers to listen to their voice, the French public, it appears, will accept a new arrangement only if they perceive it as fair. While the immediate trigger for the explosion of people’s anger in Nepal was the ban on 26 social media platforms, the case of France was that it was the proposed elimination of two public holidays, which meant more work and less pay for the working people.
As stand alone, these could be seen as small reasons but the resultant anger surely came from deep-seated frustrations. Democratic countries like France, UK, Germany, Japan, India, and so many others across the goal need to have their leaders sit up and get their ears to the ground. If they pursue the current path of neglecting people’s day-to-day needs, they too could end up in complete disarray and maybe even dismemberment.