Category France

Jul 2 2023

The French Riots


Armstrong Blog/Civil Unrest Re-Posted Jul 1, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

QUESTION: Martin,

You said to watch France and an early warning indicator. Might Europe be on the precipice?

My family, friends, and I thank you for everything that you do.

Best wishes,

JC
ANSWER: What we are watching in France is far more than simply a police shooting of a 17-year-old youth. The New York Times reported that in subsequent years, several beatings by the police and deaths in custody led to minor protests. This appears to be cumulative, but economic stagnation is eating away at Europe. While the overall unemployment rate in France is about 7%, the youth unemployment rate of ages 15 to 24 remains over 20%. This is a direct source of the unrest. All civil unrest is ALWAYS rooted in economics. A simple correlation between the global economy and economics reveals the source.

The danger is that as the economic conditions of Europe get worse with all the insane regulation for Climate Change that is reducing food production to eliminating jobs, all for a theory pushed by the WEF to create a new world of totalitarian order, we see hostility rising not just internationally, but also domestically and this can spread as a contagion throughout the EU. You cannot destroy the livelihood of so many people without dire consequences. This is partly why they also want the international war to divert attention from their failed climate change agenda.

The recent events in France are an uncanny repeat of the youth/racial riots of the autumn of 2005. That is when two youngsters of Arab origin were electrocuted while trying to escape arrest by the French police. This time, two police officers shot a juvenile of Algerian origin as he tried to escape in a stolen car. The evidence that surfaced showed that the police officer was in no danger. That is what set off the rights once again.

In the hours that followed, literally tens of thousands of primarily young males, many of them minors, poured out and launched violent riots in the suburbs of French cities. These riots appeared Nantes in the north to Marseille in the south. They set fire to cars and public buildings that, included schools. They began to pillage local stores, and hundreds of people were arrested in the process. The government has reported that 170 policemen have been injured. This appears to many as once again racial since the rioters, this time, are third and fourth-generation descendants of migrants. There have been reports that some are said to have used firearms to harass the locals living mostly in social housing.

Terrorist attacks of 2013 on the Bataclan Club in Paris and 2016 in Nice resulted in a significant shock to French society. Consequently, a state of emergency was declared and then extended. It was finally lifted in 2017, but a new law passed simultaneously made some of its provisions permanent. This has left scars that some view as racial against Arab immigrants.

When we look at Europe, what is interesting is that in absolute figures, France remains much more unattractive for continued migration. Social welfare is far better compared to other European countries. In France, the proportion of people born abroad has been stable at around 10% for years because of those terrorist attacks. In Austria, this proportion of migrants has risen from 13% in 2015 to over 20% today. Friends in Austria complain that their society has been forever altered. The massive immigration wave of 2015-2016 hit Germany, the Scandinavian countries, and Austria primarily because of their welfare systems. France was at no time a target country for this mass immigration at that time.

President Emmanuel Macron had to cut his trip short to the pathetic EU summit on migration. Macron has come out and blamed TikTok for the escalation of violence. Interestingly, Twitter began to suppress user accounts in France that posted images and videos of the riots last Friday. Twitter even shut down accounts of non-France origin for posting about the riots. Because of French media law,  Twitter avoided committing a criminal offense. Macron is also making the parents of those rioting minors responsible. Back during the 2005 riots, his predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy, in response to the growing violence, cut social benefits for their families. That was 15 years ago.

Jul 1 2023

Previously: “Diversity is Our Strength” – Currently: French Police Say They are “At War” with “Savage Hordes of Vermin”


Posted originally on the CTH on July 1, 2023 | Sundance 

Things are not looking good for France as a fourth night of riots, violence, looting and general chaos is worsening. “President Macron was last night facing calls to impose a state of emergency after marauding gangs of rioters – some armed with stolen rifles – clashed with police in a fourth night of mayhem.”

https://youtube.com/watch?v=zJlD-Uj8Dl8%3Ffeature%3Doembed

(Via Daily Mail) – […] Rioters were again seen rampaging through the streets of Marseille, Lille and Paris, amid claims looters broke into a gun shop and stole hunting rifles while others ransacked a police station. Cars, buses and government buildings have been set alight and fireworks have been launched at police.

There were more than 3,800 fires on public roads last night, while more than 500 buildings were set alight.

Emmanuel Macron green lit the use of armoured vehicles and riot police, as 45,000 officers were deployed in a desperate attempt to regain control. But the French president has been blasted for not acting fast enough.

Eric Ciotti, the head of the Republicans party said his country ‘is on the edge of a precipice’ and that ‘we must wage a merciless war against violence and proclaim a state of emergency in all affected areas’, the Telegraph reported, as he launched a political broadside against Macron.

Domestic intelligence seen by French newspaper Le Monde has also warned the president that riots could become increasingly ‘widespread’ and continue for the ‘coming nights’.

French police have said that they are currently ‘at war’ with ‘savage hordes of vermin’, The Telegraph reported after violence continued throughout the evening.

Two of the country’s biggest police unions have threatened a revolt unless Mr Macron restores order.

They said: ‘Today the police are in combat as we are at war. Tomorrow we will be in resistance and the government should be aware of this.’ (read more)

May 24 2023

France to Confiscate All Private Land by 2025


Armstrong Economics Blog/France Re-Posted May 23, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

QUESTION: I am writing to you today to seek your expert advice on a much-discussed topic in France: the Lagleize Law. As you probably know, this law, if passed, could radically change the way property ownership is structured in France.

The Lagleize law proposes to separate the ownership of the building from the land on which it is built. This means that a buyer could become the owner of his home without owning the land on which the property is built. In exchange for occupying the land, the owner of the building would pay rent to a freehold land agency (FLO).

I am particularly interested in the potential impact of this law on the French property market. Do you think that the Lagleize law could lead to a decrease in property prices, as some suggest? Or do you think it could have other effects, such as creating new investment opportunities or solving some of the problems in the current property market?

In addition, I would also like to know your views on how this law compares with similar legislation in other countries. For example, the UK has a long tradition of “leasehold” where land and buildings are often held separately. Do you think that the Lagleize law could have similar effects to those observed in the UK or in other countries with similar legislation?

I would be very grateful if you could share your thoughts on these issues. Your expertise would be invaluable in informing my understanding of this law and its potential implications.
I thank you in advance for your time and look forward to reading your response.
Yours sincerely

ANSWER: Europe is a Marxist paradise. The left has dominated Europe and when you just look at our Real Estate Index for each country, there is just no comparison. Of course, the left will always interpret the way to stop inflation they cause is to always confiscate property.

The entire “Commune” project began in France. They convinced Marx that Communism is the answer to stop the business cycle. We can see how that devastated human society in Russia, Eastern Europe, and China. Nevertheless, this Lagleize Law is in line with this same thinking but they are trying to do it just for landownership. As Socrates has written: “Keep in mind that given the dramatic decline of 70% from the last high established during 2015, that if we continue to move in the same direction after one target, then the move will not subside until the next target in time is reached. We have elected 2 Bearish Reversals from the last high thus far to date.”

We have not elected any Yearly Bearish Reversals in US property. It is highly questionable that the government could even try that since the 5th Amendment states plainly in what is known as the Takings Clause:

“nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.”

Whenever we analyze the law, we MUST look at the historical reason for its creation. The genesis of the Takings Clause can be found in Section 38 of the Magna Charta, which declared that land would not be taken without some form of due process.  King John (1166–1216), who signed that document, almost immediately denounced this undertaking to his barons.  However, that promise eventually made its way into the coronation oaths taken by kings, and, in England, it became a protection against the confiscation of lands without some form of a hearing.

I had to study international law in order to even be in a position to advise clients on global investment. On this subject, I found Sir Edward Coke (1552-1634), who was the Lord Chief Justice of England, really defined the English Common Law. He wrote the “Petition of Right,” which established specific rights, of alleged ancient provenance, against the powers of the King to prevent tyranny.  He eventually compiled everything in the law and prepared a full-volume series called the “Institutes of the Laws of England,” which set out his views on the role of the common law in protecting ancient rights against royal power.

Sir William Blackstone (1723-1780) wrote a four-volume series entitled the “Commentaries on the Laws of England,” which was used as a foundation for legal education in England. However, the founding of the United States relied upon his Commentaries to establish the American foundation of law. I would refer to his Commentaries to seek an understanding of the intent behind the Constitutional provisions as do US Supreme Court Justices from time to time.

You must understand the basic differences in law between nations before you dare step foot into that jurisdiction. The #1 mistake is to assume your legal tradition will apply in a foreign jurisdiction. For example, under common law, a wife or clergy cannot testify against a defendant. However, children can be forced to testify against a parent. Under French Civil/Canon Law, no family member can be forced to testify against another even a brother-in-law. The Canon Law recognized the sanctity of the family unit whereas the English King did not.

There is no constitutional prohibition against confiscating all the land in France and handing it to the State. In Fact, during the 1789 French Revolution, they confiscated all the land of the Catholic Church. On November 2nd, 1789, in the midst of the early enthusiasm for the Revolution and to solve the fiscal crisis of the Monarchy, the French Constituent Assembly passed a law to confiscate all Church property and to redistribute it by auction. The Assignat notes of the French Revolution were issued from 1790 – 1796.  To buy the land, you had to exchange coins for these notes.

So as you can see, history repeats. They confiscated land before, so the same idea resurfaces once again.

Apr 17 2023

Le Pen Criticizes Meloni – Encourages France to Leave NATO


Armstrong Economics Blog/Politics Re-Posted Apr 17, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

“I’m not Meloni’s twin sister, I remain faithful to Salvini,” French politician Marine Le Pen said in regard to the Italian PM. Le Pen condemned Italy’s Meloni for supporting NATO and the EU, and while she condemns Russia’s actions in Ukraine, she does not believe that the proxy war should continue. Le Pen said that European countries should remain “Eurosceptic” as there is clearly a larger agenda at play that does not consider individual nations.

She also said that she is convinced France should leave NATO immediately and cease all weapon exports to Ukraine. Why?

“I would do everything possible for France to promote a peaceful resolution of the conflict. For one simple reason: I don't see any other valid solutions.” “Or Russia – continues Le Pen – wins the war, and it would be catastrophic because all the countries that have a territorial conflict will think they can solve it with weapons. Either Ukraine wins, and this would mean that NATO has entered the conflict, and thus the beginning of the Third World War. It doesn't seem like a happy prospect to me. Or, we will continue to supply Ukraine with weapons and then we will find ourselves facing a new Hundred Years War which, given the human losses, would be a tragedy.”

This is the exact problem. No one is going to “win” this war and World War III is imminent as NATO continues to embed itself in the conflict. All NATO leaders are abandoning their domestic policies in favor of an international one that does not benefit their respective countries in any way. This entire proxy war the entire world is now fighting is merely a ploy to eliminate Russia and end fossil fuel production. I discuss these topics in depth in my book, “The Plot to Seize Russia,” which my publisher is currently working on completing. I will let everyone know once the book is available for purchase in the coming weeks.

Apr 12 2023

Macron Claims Innovation and Capitalism Is Needed While Decrying Economic Nationalism in the Nation State


Posted originally on the CTH on April 11, 2023 | Sundance 

French President Emmanuel Macron was in the Netherlands today speaking to an audience in the Hague about his vision for the future of Europe.  A remarkably disassociated speech was the outcome.

Speaking of the importance of innovation to maintain economic competitiveness, on his right-hand Macron cheers for capitalism as an outcome of competition from the only venue it exists, the nation state.  Yet on his left hand, Macron proclaims the importance of ‘globalism’ and economic socialism, which is the anthesis of creating innovation.

Economic nationalism is the only way competition between nation states succeeds. Innovation is born from competition, and without the nation state there is no baseline to maintain capitalism.  Globalism creates socialism, equity as the baseline for distribution of innovative outcomes.  Capitalism and socialism cannot coexist if innovation and competition is the goal.  The pillars which form the baseline for Macron’s view of a new Europe, collapse in his contradictory worldview.  Prompted to 10:55, WATCH:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=f29MOGEIGkk%3Fstart%3D655%26feature%3Doembed

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Macron’s solution to the problem of innovation lacking in ‘globalist‘ economic models, is to force citizens to produce and innovate.  This is what he means by “reforms” in the competitive agenda.  Forced innovation, is the worldview of totalitarians.   Capitalism relies on freedom, not coercion.

Apr 10 2023

Macron Says Europe Must Reduce Dependency on United States and Avoid Being Pulled into Pending Taiwan Crisis


Posted originally on the CTH on April 9, 2023 | Sundance | 199 Comments

If you overlay the U.S. intelligence leaks as a potential excuse for the U.S. not getting deeper into the never-ending Ukraine conflict we support, then the comments by Emmanuel Macron about the EU not wanting to get involved with U.S. interests in Taiwan make more sense.

On his flight back from Beijing, French President Macron told traveling media, Europe needs to reduce dependency on the United States.  Remarkably, this is what President Donald Trump has been saying for years as part of his overall EU and NATO policy. However, this could also be an indication of a strategic Taiwan pivot by the U.S. as shared from the Foggy Bottom diplomats who love their French connections.

(Via Politico) – Europe must reduce its dependency on the United States and avoid getting dragged into a confrontation between China and the U.S. over Taiwan, French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview on his plane back from a three-day state visit to China.

Speaking with POLITICO and two French journalists after spending around six hours with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his trip, Macron emphasized his pet theory of “strategic autonomy” for Europe, presumably led by France, to become a “third superpower.”

He said “the great risk” Europe faces is that it “gets caught up in crises that are not ours, which prevents it from building its strategic autonomy,” while flying from Beijing to Guangzhou, in southern China, aboard COTAM Unité, France’s Air Force One.

Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party have enthusiastically endorsed Macron’s concept of strategic autonomy and Chinese officials constantly refer to it in their dealings with European countries. Party leaders and theorists in Beijing are convinced the West is in decline and China is on the ascendant and that weakening the transatlantic relationship will help accelerate this trend.

“The paradox would be that, overcome with panic, we believe we are just America’s followers,” Macron said in the interview. “The question Europeans need to answer … is it in our interest to accelerate [a crisis] on Taiwan? No. The worse thing would be to think that we Europeans must become followers on this topic and take our cue from the U.S. agenda and a Chinese overreaction,” he said.

Just hours after his flight left Guangzhou headed back to Paris, China launched large military exercises around the self-ruled island of Taiwan, which China claims as its territory but the U.S. has promised to arm and defend. (read more)

A traditional Nikki Haley Republican would view these words by Macron as sacrilegious.  However, finally cutting the cord between the EU dependency on the U.S. would be in our best economic interests as well. Wouldn’t it be great to finally see the end to the Marshal plan tariffs?…

Oh wait, did Macron factor in that aspect?….   lolol

Face it folks, there’s only one man in America who can navigate through the geopolitical times we are living in and succeed in putting America in the winning position against a multitude of oppositional interests.  That man’s name is Donald John Trump.

Apr 7 2023

Epic Panda!


Posted originally on the CTH on April 6, 2023 | Sundance 

This is the funniest thing in months.  Take the time to enjoy and laugh folks… Really, take the time.

French President Emmanuel Macron is in Beijing for an official state visit and his geopolitical priority is to break, or at least weaken, the China-Russia alliance. Yes, the western alliance sent diminutive Macron for this task.  That is funny enough… but what comes next is buckets funnier.

In order to give power to their position, the brilliant NATO minds decided that President Macron should take European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as a way to express the united ‘western alliance’ message that Macron was intended to leverage in his efforts.  Obviously cunning Panda knew the intent, and the way China literally diminished the effort is not only funny in diplomatic action, but also in the optics they present.  LOOK:

Upon arrival in Beijing, and customary with keeping good panda face, Macron “was given the full red-carpet treatment this week in Beijing, fêted at a state banquet, and greeted by military parades and firing cannons on Tiananmen Square. When Macron’s plane touched down, China’s foreign minister personally welcomed him.”  However, “when European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived, she got the ecology minister — at the regular passenger exit.” [link]

Big Panda is subtle like a brick through a window. lolol.

(Politico) – […] While Macron’s schedule was overflowing, von der Leyen’s was bare-bones. While Macron was attending a lavish state banquet Thursday night with Chinese President Xi Jinping, von der Leyen was giving a sober press conference at the EU delegation’s own headquarters. While state media trumpeted the Sino-French relationship, Chinese social media demonized von der Leyen as an American puppet.

The distinction illustrates the difficulties Europe is having in dealing with China. The EU’s 27 members have an array of opinions about how to approach China — and Beijing knows this. And in the case of Macron and von der Leyen, Beijing sees a greater chance to make headway with the French leader, rendering the EU executive to a somewhat subordinate position.

The strategy was on full display Thursday, as Xi descended the outsized steps of the Great Hall of the People to greet the French president with smiles and a handshake. Below a line of flapping red flags, the two leaders exchanged greetings with a gathering that included some of Macron’s advisers. 

Not present: von der Leyen. She would join later for the meetings, walking up the Great Hall stairs in solitude. (read more)

The only world leader who was/is able to diminute Chairman Xi Jinping, was U.S. President Donald Trump.

This entire effort by Macron and Von der Leyen is an exhibition in painful and slow-moving Panda humiliation.  Even Politico had to note the cringe factor that surrounds the diplomatic undressing.

Even if you don’t like Big Panda, and obviously we do not, you still have to give them credit.  It really is funny.

Well played, big panda… Well played. 

Apr 7 2023

Protests Continue in France Against Macron’s Unilateral Decision to Raise Worker Retirement Age


April 6, 2023 | Sundance

The labor unions are trying to maintain the momentum against French President Emmanuel Macron’s unilateral decision to raise the retirement age.  However, despite nationwide majority support, on the 11th day of a national strike there are fewer protests disrupting commerce.

On the positive side, the offices of Blackrock were targeted and torched.  So, we know the focus is generally on the right multinational target.  Meanwhile, President Macron is in Beijing, China, getting slapped around by the panda paw.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=US_QP5yuYuI%3Ffeature%3Doembed

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PARIS (Reuters) -Clashes erupted in Paris next to a Left Bank brasserie favoured by French President Emmanuel Macron during a day of nationwide protests against a pension bill that he has pushed through despite widespread opposition.

La Rotonde, whose awning was briefly on fire as protesters threw bottles and paint at police, is well known in France for hosting a much-criticised celebratory dinner for Macron when he led the first round of the 2017 presidential election.

Protests since January have gathered huge crowds against the flagship reform of Macron’s second term, which lifts the retirement age by two years to 64.

But the rallies and strikes have also coalesced widespread anger against the president, who is often the target of banners and chants.

“Strike, blockade, Macron walk away!” protesters chanted in the western city of Rennes, where police fired tear gas at protesters who threw projectiles at them and set bins on fire.

The protests have otherwise been largely peaceful, though violence has broken out on the fringes in cities across France. On Thursday, a Credit Agricole bank branch was ransacked in Paris.

Polls show a wide majority of voters oppose the pension legislation and the government’s decision to push it through parliament without a vote. But a source close to Macron said that was not what mattered.  (read more)

Apr 6 2023

Criticizing Government Leaders is now a Crime #MacronOrdure


Armstrong Economics Blog/Corruption Re-Posted Apr 6, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

Free speech no longer exists. People are now scared to speak out against their government as if they were in the old USSR. Emmanuel Macron is an absolute tyrant and the French people have had enough. The protests in France over pension reforms receive little news coverage by design. The elite do not want the people to see how tyrannical governments across the world have become.

A French woman is facing criminal charges for simply speaking out against Macron on her personal Facebook page. “L’ordure va parler demain à 13 heures, pour les gens qui ne sont rien, c’est tjrs (sic) à la télé que l’on trouve les ordures,” the post read (translation: “This piece of filth is going to address you at 1:00 pm… it’s always on television that we see this filth”). French police went directly to the woman’s home to arrest her. “I asked them if it was a joke, I had never been arrested,” she said. “I am not public enemy number one.”

She has been charged with “insulting the president of the republic” and will face trial in June. She could be forced to pay up to 12,000 euros for saying the president was “filth” (other English translations say “garbage”) She did not incite violence or do anything other than post her views on social media. Clearly, the government wants to make an example out of this woman. Will the people of France be forced to frame pictures of Macron in their homes as they do with Kim Jung-Un in North Korea?

This innocent woman is claiming now that autocorrect changed “l’or dur” (“hard gold”) into an insult and is pleading for forgiveness. “I did make this post but I wanted to make a pun and write “hard gold,” the proof-check changed it and I didn’t proofread it before sending. Besides, I don’t even mention him.” French Politician François Ruffin denounced the trial by stating, “Soon the return of the crime against the crown?” In fact, insulting the crown was a criminal offense in France until 2013.

The French people are doubling down on their protests, and #MacronOrdure has gone viral on Twitter. We have seen countless world leaders across “free” nations do everything in their power to silence opposition. We are not free when our politicians can control our speech.