Dissolving would be courageous
Bruno Lonchampt, Dole (Jura)
The rejection motion adopted against the immigration bill reveals a deep unease. Since 2022, we have had a poorly elected President and Assembly with a very relative majority. Aware of the result, Emmanuel Macron declared: “This situation obliges me.” Finally, the texts come through in force with 49.3 in a violent way. The Constitution of the Fifth Republic is built for a strong head of state, with a real majority in the Assembly. It also works during assumed cohabitation with a determined Prime Minister. Dissolving would be courageous. Because the time of what remains of the mandate will be hellish if we look elsewhere. (“Macron: the specter of political impotence”L’Express of December 14.)
Let’s get the students back to work!
Laurent Neulat, La Motte-Servolex (Savoie)
I totally agree with Eric Chol’s editorial. In the countries located in Asia at the top of the Pisa ranking, students are under very strong pressure to work, which even goes as far as exhaustion. In France, it is the opposite. Middle school students have less and less work and have less and less mastery of the fundamentals, particularly in math and French. I have devoted myself to academic support and homework help for seven years and I see it: this situation unfortunately does not encourage young people to make an effort. It would be time to react. (“Education: stop the losing machine”L’Express of November 7.)
Israel has no choice
Dominika Warmuz, Brussels (Belgium)
After the attacks by Hamas terrorists on October 7, the democratic world was in shock, supported Israel, understood and even sometimes justified its responses, describing them (wrongly) as acts of “legitimate revenge.” Alas, it didn’t last. Under pressure from social networks, humanitarian organizations and certain right-thinking governments, “legitimate revenge” has become “disproportionate revenge”. But Israel never wanted revenge. What the Jewish state wants is simply to stay alive and bring all the hostages “home”. Is there no one in this world who understands that this war is a question of life and death for Israel and that if its army loses it, it will be wiped off the map? Israel must wage this war, with all the forces at its disposal, until Hamas is completely incapable of harming both Israelis and Gazans. (“Israel-Hamas conflict: the five Middle East scenarios”L’Express of December 14.)
“Simplicity” ? A foreign word in France
Volker Koettgen, Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône)
Nicolas Bouzou needs a single page to describe the normative complexity of the French administration. Yes, circulars and directives – often illegible and in dizzying quantities – end up paying dearly, whether in terms of growth, income or jobs, and I would like to add “in purchasing power”. How to get out? One thing is clear: martial formulas like “shock of simplification” are useless without being accompanied by effective actions. Simplicity seems a foreign word in France. (“Standards: simplification is a social project”L’Express of December 7.)
Immigration fuels populism
Dominique Calmels, Millau (Aveyron)
Another fantastic column from Abnousse Shalmani. Everything is said there: it is in fact “uncontrolled immigration that puts populists in power” and not purchasing power. Having sought permanent compromise through laxity and cowardice means that the French no longer feel at home. With great bursts of good feeling, the right-thinking left, aided by a weak right, is at the origin of this surge in populism. However, if the latter wins, it will be terrible… (“It is above all uncontrolled immigration that puts populists in power.L’Express of December 7.)
Discover our special birthday book
Did you like the special anniversary issue of our 70th anniversary? You’ll love the “luxury” edition, now available in Fnac. There we find the history of L’Express and the upheavals of the world told over the last seven decades, as well as interviews with the four great voices who speak to us about the future. We have added the portraits of five giants of the Express, painted by prestigious pens: Françoise Giroud, by Catherine Nay; François Mauriac by Bernard Cazeneuve; Albert Camus, by Marylin Maeso; Raymond Aron, by Nicolas Baverez and Jean-François Revel, by Gaspard Koenig. 195 pages, without advertising and at 19.90 euros: to put under the tree!