Is it the 75% tax trap? Poor communication skills? Or is he just too normal? Unluckily for Hollande, it's all these things and more
By Agnès Poirier, The Guardian
His approval ratings were already disastrous, but François Hollande is now confirmed as the most unpopular president
on record. A survey on Monday put his personal approval ratings at 26%,
the first time a president has dropped below 30% since presidential
popularity began to be measured by BVI polling agency. For voters across
the political spectrum it seems, poor Hollande can do no right. Here
are 10 possible reasons why it's all gone pear-shaped for the president.
1. The 75% tax trap
The
pledge made by Hollande during his election campaign, that he would tax
the highest incomes at 75%, alongside his earlier "I don't like the
rich" statement, has almost defined his presidency and not in a good
way. The biggest irony is that the 75% tax rate, since deemed unconstitutional, will never be implemented. A case of communication gone terribly wrong. Zéro points.
2. He has perfected the art of putting the cart before the horse (otherwise known as getting his priorities wrong)
To start his five year reign with the same-sex marriage bill battle
was probably courageous, but ill-advised. In the eyes of most French
people, even those in favour of gay marriage, the new government's
efforts should have been focused on fighting the public deficit,
tackling unemployment and reforming institutions.
3. Hating conflict is not ideal when you're the president of France
Hollande
hates confrontation, can't stand discord, and like most self-confessed
social democrats, he wants to calm heated debate at all costs. If this
has proved useful when negotiating with trade unions over greater
flexibility in the labour market, a conciliatory tone in all things is
not always useful.
4. He is indecisive
Conciliation often
leads to indecision, or the appearance of indecision. His advisers
confide that they never know what he really thinks and that his answers
to questions are either "oui" or "oui oui". In a country where the
favourite three letter word is "non", the presidential habit sounds more
than hesitant, it sounds ominous.
5. He doesn't seem able to rein in his party factions
That
the Left party's pitbull, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, keeps insulting the head
of state on prime-time television and on the airwaves is bad enough, but
you could argue that not being a member of the government, he doesn't
have to show any deference. However, the Greens holding ministerial
positions, calling for French youngsters to take to the streets, is a step too far that even a conciliatory president shouldn't accept.
6. He's too normal
I
admit, we quite liked it at first. After five years of sheer
abnormality with the histrionic Nicolas Sarkozy, most of us welcomed
"Monsieur Normal", a slightly overweight regular bloke, not a
jack-in-the-box prone to outrageous behaviour and policies. The problem
is, France requires a less than ordinary president, a personality able
to grasp the complexities and beauties of such a contrarian nation.
7. He has a weak prime minister
Why
oh why is Hollande sticking to Jean-Marc Ayrault as PM? The mayor of
Nantes should have kept doing what he does best, being a local figure.
The poor man looks so exhausted; he has no authority on his unruly
government. Manuel Valls, the current dashing and firm interior
minister, would as prime minister stir passions and wake France up.
8. He lacks communication skills
Can
Alastair Campbell please help? If Sarkozy was a master dazzler, leaving
us no time to rest between announcements of eye-catching new measures,
Hollande seems unable to present his actions in clear and effective
terms. We don't see him much and when he speaks out, we're not
convinced.
9. He has stopped being himself
This is
probably the saddest thing. François Hollande, bon viveur and witty
charmer, used to make us laugh. If he's still charming and warm in
private, with us, his people, he feels he needs to act out a part. We
don't see him eat, drink and be merry, he doesn't humour us anymore, he
even walks strangely, as stiff as a broom.
10. He hasn't eased our existentialist angst
Many
of us hoped he would be able to soothe our national anxiety, which
reached alarming levels after five years of Sarkozy paroxysm. Alas,
after a wait and see period, we feel increasingly impatient. Soon, we'll
be getting angry.
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