French word of the day: L’Attentisme
Published on 23 December 2024
Well its the last newsletter of the year, 2025 here we come! I confess I had a hard time figuring out a topic for this one, the mood at the moment is rather “wait and see”. L’Attentisme.
Yes, there are the Christmas markets in full swing in towns across France, malls are packed, the vin chaud flowing, the foie gras purchased, oysters preordered, and gifts ready for that big day. The kids are off school, so let the holidays begin!
My kids briefly fell in love with the idea of constructing and decorating these mini wooden houses, before giving up when the bits and pieces starting falling off. And as I was pondering what to write, it struck me that this is probably a good representation for France at the moment: very charming at first glance, but falling apart the more closely you look at it.
France is currently on its 4th Prime Minister of 2024. PM Michel Barnier has exited after 3 months, and we now have PM François Bayrou. No guarantees as to how long he will last, but fingers crossed he makes it to the Nouvel An (new year.)
Surprisingly, things have gotten quite bad economically quite quickly. There is this romantic vision of France that is usually presented by writers like me, but I would be doing you a disservice if I pretended that all was jingle bells ahoy. If you turn on the news in France, this is all the economists and tv pundits can talk about. (Perhaps it is because my background is in accounting, not literature!)
In essence, after President Macron’s disastrous government dissolution in June, no one has a clear majority and no one knows which way to go. Even the major union groups and business group leaders put out a joint statement asking the politicians to put their differences aside for a return to stability.
To add to the drama, France is the most taxed country in the world, but at the moment government receipts are plummeting quickly, making the budget deficit worse.
People are waiting. Waiting to see what happens before investing in new homes, businesses, projects, big purchases, etc. And not spending means they are not paying that 20% VAT or any plethora of other taxes. Waiting for the Prime Minister and the opposition politicians to arrive at a compromise. How do you say recessionary spiral in French?
So while we are all looking forward to 2025, the outlook is cloudy with a high chance of rain. Can Macron and the country can hold on till June 2025 which is the earliest that another parliamentary election can be called? Can Macron last till 2027 when his term ends? And can the weather in Paris be any different?
Anyway, I want to end on a positive note because it is the holiday season after all. So here is one of my favorite French Christmas songs, the Valse de Noël.
And I think the mini house on the right could use a lot more paint and glue, don’t you? (The lyrics in French and English are below.)
| French Lyrics | English Translation |
|---|---|
| (Refrain) C’est la valse de Noël, qui tourne, tourne toujours Jolie valse de Noël, qui nous chante les beaux jours Rappelle-nous que ce soir, c’est fête dans tous les coeurs Nos rêves et nos espoirs, seront des jours de bonheur | (Refrain) It’s the Christmas waltz, which turns, always turns Pretty Christmas Waltz, who sings us on sunny days Remind us that tonight, it’s a celebration in all hearts Our dreams and hopes, will be happy days |
| Le sapin illuminé, jusqu’à I’aurore, jette son parfum si doux, Noël Les enfants qui crient joyeux, devant leurs beaux jouets, Noël, La neige qui tourbillonne et qui danse, dans l’air en retombant sur nous, Noël, Et les carillons joyeux résonnent tous en choeur, Noël | The illuminated tree, until dawn, casts its sweet scent, Christmas Children who cry joyfully, in front of their beautiful toys, Christmas, The snow whirling and dancing, in the air falling on us, Christmas, And the joyful chimes all ring in chorus, Christmas |
| Repeat | Repeat |
| Refrain | Refrain |
| Seront des jours de bonheur | Will be happy days |
In other news:
- Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral has now reopened after that devastating 2019 fire. Construction is still going on the outside structure, but the inside is open to visitors.
- Pope Francis refused to come to the opening of Notre Dame (maybe he didn’t want to sit in between all the squabbling politicians who insisted on being present), but he did make a point to visit the French island of Corsica a week later. The Pope couldn’t escape so easily however as President Macron and a bunch of politicians showed up at the airport to give him a book on Notre Dame’s restoration.
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