Bulletin février mars 2025 Wednesday evening, the Head of State spoke to the French people on the eve of aEuropean Security Council (1) , Macron warned, using the pretext of the Russian threat which would not stop at Ukraine. He promised " decisive steps" ! Solemnly warning the French that "reforms, choice, courage" will be needed... "in the "new era". "The future of Europe does not have to be decided in Washington or Moscow",declared President Macron and called on the ""strength of mind" of the French"then announced"a substantial budgetary effort"promising""additional investments" in defense, "without increasing taxes".
Macron is agitated, claiming that Russia would be an existential threat to France and Europe and poses as a warlord ready to send troops to Ukraine and double military spending. To release these additional 60 or 80 billion euros that will fill the coffers of the arms dealers. Macron says it bluntly: " We will have to revisit our national priorities ." In other words, the additional billions for the army will be taken from housing, schools, hospitals... the war economy will justify extending working hours, delaying the retirement age, eliminating vacation days... While discussions between the social partners and employers continue on pensions, the head of the Medef (French employers' association) drew a parallel with Denmark regarding pensions: "[The Danes have decided] to postpone the retirement age to 70 so that the economy can finance the war effort . " "I'm not telling you that we should raise the retirement age in France to 70, but it does mean that there is a consensus, a shared awareness that this very serious situation requires exceptional resources ," he said. According to him, such a measure could help finance the war effort. Economy Minister Eric Lombard said the country should make " more budgetary efforts" to increase its military spending " to protect ourselves, to build this economy in favor of peace and strengthen defense in a European model, " adding: " We are going to have to spend more public money and so, indeed, that will require more efforts ," such as the elimination of the 10% tax deduction on pensions to limit the deficit!
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced an €800 billion plan to finance Europe's armed forces. She also announced that military spending will be excluded from the sacrosanct rules on public deficits.
European leaders are sparing no expense in fattening the arms dealers and continuing the plundering of the world, including Ukraine. By 2027, the $340 billion earmarked for Europe's most disadvantaged regions will go to " European defense," along with $200 billion every year! Paid by the Germans, Italians, Spanish, and French.
Arms industry shares are soaring on the stock market. Defense sector stocks are taking off across Europe. In Germany, discussions about massive defense investments are causing strong market reactions. The German press has reported plans to invest €200 billion to €400 billion in the German military. For comparison, the annual German federal budget is €480 billion, with the creation of a €500 billion special fund for the country's infrastructure and economic recovery. Rheinmetall, Thales, Dassault Aviation, and Leonardo are all recording strong gains, closing up 14.7% and 16% respectively on the Paris Stock Exchange, while in Frankfurt, tank and munitions manufacturer Rheinmetall gained 13.7%, and in Stockholm, Swedish Saab rose 10.3%.
François Bayrou, addressing MPs in an effort to strengthen French imperialism, had prepared the political ground by setting the tone, defining the current situation as " in our eyes the most serious, the most destabilizing, of all those that our country and continent have experienced since the Second World War ." By dramatizing the issues from the outset, the head of government emphatically defended the French and European military reinforcement. He found immediate support from all political parties, with nuances and criticisms of Macron, but all adhere to the militarist consensus. All align behind the bellicose discourse calling for the development of the war industry: La France Insoumise, while refusing war credits, defends the greatness of France which: " must make the choice of greatness ", France must have its own " aircraft carrier catapults " and " pilot training "... and welcomes the fact that " the president uses the term non-alignment" while Roussel of the PCF repeats that: " France must make its voice heard". Participating in the political consensus for war, Olivier Faure, First Secretary of the PS, says he is " in agreement with what the President of the Republic is doing " on the situation in Ukraine, saying " perfectly in line with what was stated by the Head of State ". Marine Le Pen praised the action of the executive in terms of aid to Ukraine and budgetary choices, stating that the military aid provided by France to Ukraine is " all the more honorable as it takes place in a severely degraded budgetary context ". Insisting that " France must reconnect with its military greatness ," the RN defends a classic far-right position of support for French imperialism.
In this standoff between capitalist countries, workers must not fall into line behind their political leaders or generals, who have become experts in war strategy. Let us reject this regimentation and the sacrifices made behind the lackeys of capital. Everyone agrees to defend the interests of capitalists, financial sacrifices at the cost of blood. Capitalism is preparing us for a bloody future. In a letter, Anatole France wrote, " We believe we are dying for our country; we are dying for industrialists."
All governments, right-wing, Socialist Party, and its allies, have worked to develop and structure capitalist Europe and impose setbacks on its people. The reality is the capitalist and imperialist nature of the European Union. The fight against capitalism is the only way out. Put an end to this system that is harmful to humanity and build a society without the exploitation of man by man, a society of cooperation, solidarity, and peace between peoples, a socialist society.
(1)The leaders of the twenty-seven countries of the European Union and Volodymyr Zelenski are meeting this Thursday for an extraordinary summit on Ukraine,