Pensions: the strange calculations of Mr. Wauquiez
Jacques Faletto, Condeissiat (Ain)
Mr. Wauquiez announced on TF1, very proud of himself, a bright measure for retirees, an increase of 0.8% from January 1, 2025 instead of 1.6% planned for July 1. But what does this device bring? Spreading the same sum over twelve months instead of six, meager added value. What, however, is its hidden defect? A loss of 0.8% from January 1, 2026 on all pensions until the end of retirees’ lives. In fact on January 1, 2026 the basic amount of the new revaluation will not be 101.6% but only 100.8%. I therefore propose to Mr. Wauquiez to supplement his proposal with an addition of 0.8% to the 2026 revaluation to make it fair. (“His record will be ours”: Laurent Wauquiez, the false friend of Michel Barnier“, published on November 20 on lexpress.fr).
Let’s remove the job guarantee for civil servants!
Pierre David, Le Tourne (Gironde)
Reducing France’s chronic deficit has only one solution: reducing the number of civil servants, all categories combined, who represent far too large a part of employment in France. It’s quite easy, Spain and Portugal did it. The first measure consists of not replacing those who retire, and this in all non-sovereign fields (that is to say excluding justice, police, and army, and I add teaching). We must also reduce the attractiveness of these professions by removing the guarantee of lifelong employment (a French originality that has become incongruous) and replacing it with a formal employment contract for limited periods of the order of a few years. . In a few years of this regime, and at the risk perhaps of a little additional, but temporary, unemployment, France should finally regain some vigor. (“What would Elon Musk do at the helm of SNCF?, by Nicolas Bouzou“, L’Express of November 21.)
The selective memory of Boris Johnson
Akos Sieberth, Germany
Boris Johnson suffers from selective memory and political blindness. Donald Trump spoke very clearly on Ukraine, more clearly than he remembers. He said in particular that Ukraine should look for other allies. It’s better to prepare for the worst-case scenario than to harbor ridiculous hopes. (“Boris Johnson: “Trump will be better than you think“, L’Express of November 14.)
Poor country, poor country…
René Andron, Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône)
As we read L’Express, we see clearly that our country is going backwards, is decomposing. We clearly feel that the phenomenon is accelerating, with a political crisis which is inhibiting initiatives of all kinds and will have lasting consequences on our economy. We are falling deeper into poverty and this is only the beginning – national and international indicators bear this out. The pitiful spectacle of our political class, which shows its incompetence and is incapable of collectively producing orientations that meet the challenges, centered as it is on short-term interests and personal ambitions, is not reassuring. Nothing can be expected from Europe either, on the one hand because some of our ills are national, on the other hand because it is in the process of disintegration led by an above-ground commission. (“After the dissolution, France lost its appeal“, by Eric Chol, L’Express of November 21.)
LFI and terrorism
Louise Rivière, Toulouse (Haute-Garonne)
La France insoumise therefore wishes to repeal the offense of incitement to terrorism. Should we be surprised? And besides, if this law passed, would it make a big difference? In France, the apology of terrorism but also of racial and anti-Semitic hatred theoretically constitutes crimes. Which in no way prevents this party from engaging in it daily for years and with complete impunity. (“At the New Popular Front, autopsy of a crisis: apology for terrorism, presidential, censorship…”published on November 26 on lexpress.fr).
The great ambitions of L’Express for 2025
Five years after its purchase by Alain Weill, L’Express reached financial balance in 2024 and launched several projects in 2025. Express Europefirst of all, will take the form from September of a multilingual paid site, targeting opinion leaders from the Old Continent. The articles will be translated into the 24 official languages of the European Union. L’Express will also launch ten “signature events”, including a conference and a dinner with awards ceremony. These meetings will notably promote the Science and Health (March 10), Family businesses (April 7), Leadership (May 26) andEurope in Strasbourg (in June). The group is finally banking on Express Connecta digital platform dedicated to franchising, education and employment, which will have its first international version in Spain.