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Hollande’s Re-election Bid Could Hinge on Effort to Ease Unemployment Hollande’s Re-election Bid Could Hinge on Effort to Ease Unemployment
(35 minutes later)
President François Hollande of France, facing dismal approval ratings at the midpoint of his five-year term, has strongly hinted in a television interview that he would not seek a second term if he could not reduce the nation’s stubbornly high unemployment rate.President François Hollande of France, facing dismal approval ratings at the midpoint of his five-year term, has strongly hinted in a television interview that he would not seek a second term if he could not reduce the nation’s stubbornly high unemployment rate.
In a bold effort to reassert his relevance, the French leader went on prime-time television on Thursday night for a rare 90-minute interview during which he faced questions about tax increases and public spending cuts intended as overhauls. The measures have been broadly unpopular among virtually all sectors of the electorate.In a bold effort to reassert his relevance, the French leader went on prime-time television on Thursday night for a rare 90-minute interview during which he faced questions about tax increases and public spending cuts intended as overhauls. The measures have been broadly unpopular among virtually all sectors of the electorate.
Referring to his promise to reduce unemployment, which has crept inexorably above 10 percent as growth has faltered, Mr. Hollande said, “I talked about reversing the trend in unemployment; it didn’t happen.”Referring to his promise to reduce unemployment, which has crept inexorably above 10 percent as growth has faltered, Mr. Hollande said, “I talked about reversing the trend in unemployment; it didn’t happen.”
“I was criticized for this,” he continued, “because it was a high hope for many, especially those seeking work.”“I was criticized for this,” he continued, “because it was a high hope for many, especially those seeking work.”
He added: “If I don’t succeed by the end of my term, do you think I will present myself to the French people in 2017? The French would be unforgiving and rightly so.”He added: “If I don’t succeed by the end of my term, do you think I will present myself to the French people in 2017? The French would be unforgiving and rightly so.”
There is probably little Mr. Hollande can do to reverse high unemployment anytime soon. He has presented a program intended to encourage more hiring at companies by easing parts of France’s stringent labor code, but with the economy continuing to stumble, new employment has not picked up significantly.
If anything, French employers continue to complain that a thicket of regulations and high taxes makes it difficult for them to maintain profitability or hire new workers. Hours after Mr. Hollande’s television appearance, the employers’ union Medef called on the chief executives of all small and medium-size businesses to take to the streets on Dec. 1 in Paris and in the large southern city of Toulouse to protest constraints that the union says are killing businesses.
Forecasts for a French economic recovery after two years of stagnation continue to be downgraded. In the last week alone, the European Commission, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the French central bank cautioned that the economy would grow at a rate of less than 1 percent a year for the foreseeable future, much more slowly than expected at the beginning of the year.
The number of long-term unemployed people — those still looking for a job after a year of unemployment — has surged to 43.8 percent of all job seekers, according to Eurostat, the statistical agency of the European Union. Joblessness is growing fastest among people older than 50 and remains high for young people under 24.
In the interview, Mr. Hollande also pledged not to raise individual taxes in an effort to address the nation’s persistent budget deficits.In the interview, Mr. Hollande also pledged not to raise individual taxes in an effort to address the nation’s persistent budget deficits.
“Starting next year, there will be no additional taxes on anybody whatsoever,” Mr. Hollande said. The business newspaper Les Echos reported this week that the Hollande administration planned to impose a special tax on second homes in densely populated areas next year.“Starting next year, there will be no additional taxes on anybody whatsoever,” Mr. Hollande said. The business newspaper Les Echos reported this week that the Hollande administration planned to impose a special tax on second homes in densely populated areas next year.
Troubled by critics and rebels in his Socialist Party, while facing a determined challenge from the far-right National Front, Mr. Hollande said he had been “hanging on.”Troubled by critics and rebels in his Socialist Party, while facing a determined challenge from the far-right National Front, Mr. Hollande said he had been “hanging on.”
But, he said, he would go “to the end” to make France “stronger in the two and a half years I have left.”But, he said, he would go “to the end” to make France “stronger in the two and a half years I have left.”
The latest opinion surveys suggest that nearly all French voters believe he has failed to turn around the economy, and four-fifths of them do not want him to run for a second term.The latest opinion surveys suggest that nearly all French voters believe he has failed to turn around the economy, and four-fifths of them do not want him to run for a second term.
“I have got a thick skin,” he said. “For two and a half years, I have been hanging on.”“I have got a thick skin,” he said. “For two and a half years, I have been hanging on.”
“I have made mistakes,” he added. “Who hasn’t?”“I have made mistakes,” he added. “Who hasn’t?”