When French leaders sidestep problems instead of confronting them.

Arson .
2 days ago
4 min read

Why do French leaders let problems drag on?

In France, we often get the impression that our political leaders prefer cosmetic solutions or measures that shift problems, rather than tackling their roots. Here are a few examples, not exhaustive, that demonstrate this worrying trend:

How to cure evil? With stupidity?

#Road_safety and plane trees:
French leaders sidestep the problem. Faced with fatal accidents caused by collisions with trees, some communities have chosen to cut down century-old plane trees along roads, rather than investing in safety infrastructure (guardrails, signage) or strengthening road safety education. The result: environmental heritage is being sacrificed without guaranteeing fewer accidents.

Drugs or alcohol, you have to choose!

Macron drunk or drugged?

How to sweep problems under the rug?

#Crime near schools :
In some cities, drug dealing and violence sites are developing near schools. Rather than dismantling networks or investing in prevention (education, social support), we sometimes see schools relocated or schedules modified to avoid "risk areas." The problem remains intact, just pushed elsewhere.

Macron close to the French
Macron close to the "French" and their difficulties

Why solve problems when they suit our politicians?

#HospitalCrisis: Announcements without solutions :
Emergency departments are overflowing, with patients waiting for hours, sometimes with dramatic consequences. Instead of massively recruiting healthcare workers or reopening closed beds, some measures are limited to communication campaigns or closing small local hospitals, worsening access to care for rural areas.

Uncontrolled Immigration: Like Our Public Finances?

#Insecurity and communitarianism:
Faced with tensions in certain neighborhoods, responses often focus on symbolic bans (wearing the veil, religious symbols) or high-profile police operations. But the underlying causes—inequality, unemployment, academic failure—are rarely addressed through ambitious integration or economic development policies.

Political lies at every level

#Ecological_crisis and superficial measures:
As France embarks on an ecological transition, we see measures such as banning plastic bags and straws, which give the impression of action, but which carry little weight in the face of the absence of massive plans to renovate housing, develop public transport or reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

A deviant, lying and thieving political class

#YellowVests and demonstrations:
During the Yellow Vest crisis in 2018-2019, demands for purchasing power and social justice were partially addressed by one-off bonuses or targeted tax cuts. But the structural reforms demanded (taxing the wealthiest, strengthening public services) were not forthcoming, and the repression of protests often took precedence over dialogue.

Where did the missing 40 billion from the 2024 budget go?

#Education and school divides:
Faced with declining educational attainment (confirmed by the PISA rankings), responses are often limited to cosmetic adjustments (curriculum reforms, course name changes). Investments in teacher training, class size reductions, and support for struggling students remain insufficient.

Never fix the problem, move it so you don't see it anymore!

#delinquency and petty daily murders:
Many murders and injuries are caused by "bladed weapons," meaning knives, very regularly and often not by teenagers. The politicians' response: ban knives!

Where did the missing 6 billion from social security go?

Why do French leaders avoid problems ?

Cowardly, corrupt, hypocritical politicians, or all three?

Beyond the cosmetic solutions, the question remains: what if these unresolved problems were convenient for our leaders? Here's why some issues persist without real solutions:
A political lever:
Crises such as insecurity or the Yellow Vest protests are sometimes exploited for electioneering purposes. A high-profile police operation or a one-off bonus gives the illusion of action without addressing the root causes (inequality, unemployment).
Protecting the powerful:
Deep reforms—fair taxation, ecological transition, public hospitals—would risk alienating lobbies and vested interests. For example, the housing crisis benefits developers, while social housing remains scarce.
Short-termism:
Elected officials prefer visible measures (banning straw, cutting down plane trees) to long-term reforms, such as investing in education or infrastructure, which do not pay off until the next election.
Strategic polarization:
Debates over immigration and insecurity divide opinion, which can mobilize voters. Solving these problems in depth would require a consensus that few leaders seek.

Macron has three trillion in debt, everything is fine, he's still running...

Macron, the PNF on his ass

Politicians who work for their own profit.

Clearly, these non-solutions maintain a status quo that benefits some, but not the French people. We expect courageous leadership, one that focuses on lasting reforms rather than empty announcements.

Why this headlong rush? The reasons are multiple: the search for quick results for the media, budgetary constraints, a lack of courage in the face of lobbies or polarized electorates. But this approach fuels the feeling that leaders are out of touch with the concerns of the French people—purchasing power, security, access to healthcare, education.

What we need is leadership that addresses problems with long-term solutions: investing in hospitals rather than closing beds, fundamentally reforming education rather than changing curricula every five years, tackling the causes of insecurity rather than moving schools.