Edito :Words whilst awaiting Acts

Edito

Words whilst awaiting Act

by Robert ASSADOURIAN

Throughout the campaign which has ended, we heard an avalanche of propositions, messages, criticisms … The small candidates (less than 5 %), certain they would not be elected, content themselves with their 800 000 euros fortune and with their short-lived media celebrity. Among the big (campaign expenses taken in charge), François Bayrou and Jean- Marie Le Pen, who expected to be in the 2nd tour, find it hard to digest their elimination. For the leader of the National Front, this defeat probably seals the end of a long career.

On the other hand, for the centrist it is the reign of ambiguity. Boosted by his 18 % in the first tour but offended by being excluded from the second, he no longer plays any part in this election. His only choice is to give his support to one of the two finalists, or to remain silent. Indeed, if the centre were to become a majority force, it would inevitably be at the cost of one of two big currents of dominating ideas, of which he would take the place. The one, a rather conservative tendency, is the guardian of acquisitions, of our social model, of a France that’s different from the rest of the planet. The other proposes reforms to question the organisation of work, the pensions, the economy and the tax system, to adapt itself to the world that surrounds us. The Centre, the political entity, is a zone of balance where the certainly respectable ideas are occasionally “Sarko or Sego compatible” according to the subject. These ideas justify its presence in the 1st tour, but for the second, an official positioning of the UDF would cause its collapse. The fact that a majority of UDF representatives joined Nicolas Sarkozy expresses its dominant orientation, which is not that recommended by François Bayrou. Besides, his debate with Ségolène Royal constitutes a personal position, but no longer places him in the centre.

All democracies are traversed by two major tendencies. Today the traditional left-right cleavage is out of date. The problems that the future president will have to resolve bear no political colour, but they demand pragmatic not doctrinal solutions. We live in an open world and France must adapt itself by improving its competitiveness and by freeing itself from a suffocating debt. The only solution, if it wishes to recover a 2,5 % growth, is to work more without wasting time in social or personal conflicts.

Nicolas Sarkozy bearing his Presidential Project and Ségolène Royal advancing her Presidential Pact, held a debate last Wednesday. The well-advised commentators immediately declared the match a draw, advancing the technical superiority of the one and the pugnacity of the other. Nevertheless, the analysis of the poll of Opinion Way gave 52 % to Sarkozy against 31 % for Ségolène ! This gap should make the journalists and politicians think. They are not, or no longer, followed by the electorate, which for this ballot participated massively after listening and reflecting. The end of campaign hardened unnecessarily because the President of the Republic will be elected on a project and his capacity to share it.

Nicolas Sarkozy has just been elected… we now wait for him to act. He has the necessary means and legitimacy.

Marseille looked with nostalgia at the America Cup trials, initially postponed due to a lack of wind, whereas our city has plenty of it! But Valencia did not allow its dustmen to decorate the city during the visit of the Helvetian decision-makers. We have the wind but not the race, we have a port but few harbour activities, we have a beautiful city but endless construction sites and paralyzing traffic, at Plan de Campagne we have a thriving commercial centre on Sundays but it is condemned to be closed down…

While the maritime business is rapidly expanding, the Port of Marseille (PAM) has a 2 % growth rate whereas it attains 49 % for all the ports of the South of Europe, according to the national audit office. Not only is the PAM incapable to guarantee fast and reliable services, but it is also paralyzed by quasi-annual strikes which impoverish the port and distort its image. The margin of development lies with the container traffic. The scheduled Fos 2XL site should be operational by 2009 ! But it is hindered by a discord between the future developers and the trade unions. In fact, the majority CGT (French trade union) refuses that the commanding unity and the port staff that are presently dependent on the PAM, depend on Port – Synergy, the investor. In these conditions it is not easy to restore social peace and regain the confidence of customers.
Moreover, the recent conflict between Gas of France and the CGT is significant. GDF is investing 500 million euros in the construction of the terminal, and wants to use its own staff for reasons of security. Because, to release natural liquid gas at less 163° implies a very specific know-how and requires one sole person in charge of all the operations. GDF will not give in, neither will the CGT… the oil companies have lost more than 25 million euros. It is imperative to resolve this noxious situation.
Marseille and its port, revitalized by Euroméditerranée, must avoid lapsing into quarrels of another age. The time of acts must now succeed blunders and palaver, otherwise beware of the consequences !