Pension reform and equity
Eric Debray, Rueil-Malmaison (Hauts-de-Seine)
A fair reform must, in essence, take into account the difference in life expectancy because this, at the time of retirement, is much shorter for low-income people. According to INSEE, it was 15.8 years for the 5% of men with the lowest standard of living and 21.8 years for the most advantaged 5%, over the period 2012-2016. And male executives live an average of six years longer than male workers. Furthermore, postponing the legal retirement age beyond 64 would also have the disadvantage of increasing the number of work stoppages, thereby reducing the expected financial benefit. (“ Departure age, special schemes… Borne unveils the framework of the pension reform “, on Lexpress.fr).
China and Iran at an impasse
Bruno Longchampt, Dole (Jura)
China has always known a strong power, with emperors, dictators, feudal system and despised minorities. The West adapts to it today very well, as long as the factory of the world turns. But, over time, the central power loses the sense of reality and the ideology without counterpower has no channel to know the expectations of the populations. In Iran, the archaism of Imam Khomeini was welcomed with open arms, but time has passed and the new generations are becoming secularized as elsewhere. The unchallenged patriarchy has no sensitivity and only knows a violent relationship to the other. China and Iran are therefore locked into dogmatism at the highest level. This is their greatest internal weakness. Being unable to have doubts leads to a dead end. (“China, the hour of anger”L’Express of December 1).
Jonathan Littell and Hungary
Marian Ion, Paris
“It’s really only the Hungarian government that stands out in this region with its support for Putin,” says Jonathan Littell in the very interesting interview that you published. This specific statement is however surprising because another Eastern European state defends Putin (but for completely different reasons): Serbia. (Jonathan Littell: ‘Putin really owes everything to the war’L’Express of December 1).
The contradictions of the Francophonie
Bernard Reynier, Saint-Vincent-Lespinasse (Tarn-et-Garonne)
Jean-François Copé calls for more resolute action in favor of the Francophonie, but it would still be necessary for it to show consistency. A Cameroonian friend of mine has dedicated his life as a teacher in Yaoundé to teaching French. I recently invited him to come and spend a few days with me. He explained to me that it would be almost impossible as France demanded documents from him for a simple residence visa. He also told me about his difficulties in participating in conferences in Paris, while he publishes French books with Hatier… Here is an African intellectual steeped in French culture, in love with our language who suffers the caudine forks of our administration … (“Does the Francophonie speak to you? by Jean-Francois Cope”L’Express of November 24).
For sophrology
Laurie Picard, Toulouse (Haute-Garonne)
I am a nurse and sophrologist. I accompany pregnant and postpartum women every day in sophrology and believe me, it is a real help in many ways because a more serene patient is a patient who will experience events better. In short, sophrology is not a fashion or even less a wave on which we surf to make money on the backs of patients. I currently earn 1,200 euros per month from which I have to subtract 60% of charges. As you can see, it is a low-profit activity, but nevertheless of public utility given the situation and the lack of health professionals in clinics and hospitals. (“Sophrology: it’s time for the French to open their eyes, by Professor Edzard Ernst”on Lexpress.fr).
Erratum
In the map published on page 26 in L’Express of November 24, Colombia has been reversed with Venezuela. We apologize to our readers for this error.
Relive the awards ceremony for personalities from the Express
On December 7, L’Express distinguished five personalities who embody in their field the values that our newspaper defends: Valérie Masson-Delmotte (Ecological Transition), Thomas Jonas (Tech), Andreï Kourkov (Europe), Salman Rushdie (Freedom), Hugo Duminil-Copin (Grand Prize). The Prizes were awarded by Laura Chaubard (École polytechnique), the writer Giuliano da Empoli, lawyer Richard Malka, Vincent Rouaix (Inetum) and Benoit Bazin (Saint-Gobain). A ceremony to be found on L’Express.fr