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WUR is incredibly diverse, with hundreds of internationals working and studying here. In the Meanwhile In column, we ask one of them to comment on events in their home country. This time, exchange student Dorothée Bellégo (20) shares her thoughts about the ongoing protests in France in reaction to the political instability.
‘When the French strikes started in September I was already here in the Netherlands. I’m a bit ashamed to say, I didn’t really care too much. People kept saying, oh I’m so sorry France is on strike, but I was like, okay, what’s new? Striking is a national sport. France is always a mess when it comes to the government. Over here in the Netherlands, your government failed twice, so that’s bad, but somehow in France it seems worse since people react to it so passionately. And also because it’s been a sort of struggle for years. At this point I don’t even ask what it’s for. Maybe I should pay more attention, but in France we have a big culture of not being put down by any higher forms of power. And just the fact that we protest doesn’t mean it’s not worth protesting. I think the government forgets that as well and sort of sees us as a population throwing a tantrum every once in a while without actually listening to what we’re saying.
‘The news usually wants to make protesters look bad by saying they’re unemployed or young people that have nothing better to do. But we young people are the ones who are going to have to resolve the debts and who are affected most by the laws, because everything that’s voted for we are stuck with. Young people are frustrated, because they are more left-wing than right-wing, unlike most older people. And since there are a lot more older people than there are younger people, it’s very difficult to be heard. Younger people have their studies and are trying to find a place in the world so they don’t always have the time to listen to the politicians and vote, which means that they’re not listened to at all. And then they get frustrated with the policies that are made, so they protest.
‘I think the way forward is for the government to be more decisive. Otherwise we can’t resolve anything. Especially today, with all the ongoing wars and more and more governments going towards the far right in Europe and in America. Now is probably the worst time to be so indecisive.’
