‘EUROPE’S SICK MAN!’ EU on verge of civil war as Poland RAGES at Macron’s French disaster
FRANCE is the “sick man of Europe” and its problems could have a devastating impact on the European Union, Poland’s foreign minister said, citing the “yellow vest” anti-government rebellion and last week’s jihadist attack.
By ROMINA MCGUINNESS
Express.co.uk
Tue, Dec 18, 2018
Paris and Warsaw have been at loggerheads for years with France openly criticising Poland’s controversial judicial reforms, which it says threaten the independence of the judiciary. Jacek Czaputowicz told the Polish television channel Polsat News: “France is the sick man of Europe – it is dragging the bloc down – while Poland is a bright spot [in Europe]. The terrorist attack proves that something is not right in France, the protests over the past weeks, President Macron’s withdrawal on state reforms – it’s sad.
“If at the same time, you are lecturing Poland, then something is not right. You must first put your own country in order.”
France’s europhile leader Emmanuel Macron last week was forced to put the brakes on his reform drive and announce conciliatory measures to quell the citizen-driven “yellow vest” movement after weeks of often violent protests that have shaken the country to its core.
The protest movement, named after the fluorescent jackets all French drivers must carry in their cars in the event of a breakdown, started last month as a backlash against planned fuel tax hikes and rising living costs, but has snowballed into a wider revolt against M Macron’s liberal economic policies and perceived elitism.
“I think there is a major threat to the rule of law in France, namely the deficit on public finances,” Mr Czaputowicz continued, referring to the “yellow vest” concessions which are expected to cost up to £9billion (€10billion) and push France back over the EU deficit limit of 3 percent of national output.
Mr Czaputowicz was also referring to the terrorist attack on a popular Christmas market in the eastern town of Strasbourg.
Chérif Chekatt, a 29-year-old French jihadist, opened fire on the market last Tuesday, killing five people, including a 36-year-old Polish national who died of his wounds on Sunday.
Mr Chekatt was known to have become radicalised during his time in prison and had been on the French government’s “Fiche S” terrorism watchlist since 2016.
But he had never been convicted of a terror-related crime.
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