Topic Of The Day:-“Quick Retreat: On French Protests”
The French Government Rolls Back A Planned Fuel Tax Hike, But The Protests Are Widening
French President Emmanuel Macron’s reforms programme could be at risk of losing steam in the wake of weeks of violent countrywide protests triggered by a proposed increase in the fuel tax. Paradoxically, as head of the centrist La République En Marche party, he had swept to power on a pledge of modernising the economy and restoring popular trust in politicians. Public anger against the fuel tax has escalated into a broad-based opposition to the government’s overall policies. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe initially said the duty hike would be deferred for six months. But on Wednesday the government cancelled the tax proposal altogether, arguing that a levy that was meant to induce motorists to go green was not worth the price if it undermined social cohesion. Mr. Philippe has also suggested that the introduction of additional safety checks on cars due to take effect next year could be delayed. The U-turn on measures to reduce CO2 emissions suggested that the government was on the back foot. The government has also said that it was open to reinstating the wealth tax, which was revised last year to narrow its scope. The measure wasintended to improve the investment climate and boost growth and employment. But the accompanying flat tax rate on capital gains and dividends, besides limits on trade unions to negotiate wages, only served toreinforce Mr. Macron’s image as a President of the rich.The yellow-vest protests have shone the light on France’s tax system, its rates said to be the highest in the European Union, and buttressed the demand for improvements in the standard of living. The government is committed to increasing the minimum wage from next year but could now face pressure for furtherconcessions on social welfare. Conversely, Paris would also be constrained to demonstrate compliance with EU rules that set an annual fiscal deficit target of below 3% of GDP on member-states. Adherence to common norms would especially be on Brussels’s radar after the recent stand-off involving the Italian government. A concern linked to the withdrawal of the tax increase is the rise in France’s carbon emissions. The mass protests have, unwittingly, pitted the majority who would have been hit by the higher levy against the imperative to meet the Paris climate agreement targets. Mr. Macron, who has fashioned himself as a champion of the green cause, can realise the mission to combat global warming only by rallying his people. His ability to regain lost ground will determine the prospects of warding off the populist threat in the 2019 European Parliament elections. His handling of the challenges at home will crucially define his ambitions on the EU stage.
MEANINGS AND WORDS
1) Paradoxically
Meaning : in a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory way.(adv)
Synonyms : incongruously
Antonyms : logically
Example : “the strength of capitalism is, paradoxically, also its weakness”
2) swept
Meaning : clean (an area) by brushing away dirt or litter.
Synonyms : broom
Antonyms : dirty
Example : “I’ve swept the floor”
3) escalated
Meaning : increase rapidly.
Synonyms : heighten
Antonyms : decrease
Example : “the price of tickets escalated”
4) deferred
Meaning : put off (an action or event) to a later time; postpone(v).
Synonyms : delayed
Antonyms : advanced
Example : “they deferred the decision until February”
5) levy
Meaning : impose (a tax, fee, or fine).
Synonyms : excise
Antonyms : displace
Example : “a tax of two per cent was levied on all cargoes”
6) induce
Meaning : succeed in persuading or leading (someone) to do something.(v)
Synonyms : convince
Antonyms : destroy
Example : “the pickets induced many workers to stay away”
7) reinstating
Meaning : restore (someone or something) to their former position or state(v).
Synonyms : renew
Antonyms : destroy
Example : “the union threatened strike action if Owen was not reinstated”
8) intended
Meaning : the person one intends to marry; one’s fiancé or fiancée(n).
Synonyms : contracted
Antonyms : unfixed
Example : “she used to be my intended”
9) reinforce
Meaning : strengthen or support (an object or substance), especially with additional material(v).
Synonyms : bolster
Antonyms : diminish
Example : “the helmet has been reinforced with a double layer of cork”
10) shone
Meaning : (of the sun or another source of light) give out a bright light(v).
Synonyms : gleam
Antonyms : darken
Example : “the sun shone through the window”
11) concessions
Meaning : a thing that is granted, especially in response to demands.(n)
Synonyms : privilege
Antonyms : denial
Example : “the government was unwilling to make any further concessions”
12) constrained
Meaning : compel or force (someone) to follow a particular course of action(v).
Synonyms : strained
Antonyms : freed
Example : “children are constrained to work in the way the book dictates”
13) radar
Meaning : a person’s capacity for intuitive perception; a special sensitivity for factors, trends, etc.
Synonyms : sonar
Example : “keep your radar tuned to changes at work”
14) concern
Meaning : make (someone) anxious or worried.
Synonyms : involvement
Antonyms : fun
Example : “the roof of the barn concerns me because eventually it will fall in”
15) pitted
Meaning : having a hollow or indentation on the surface(adj).
Synonyms : contend
Antonyms : agree
Example : “his jowled and pitted face”
16) combat
Meaning : fighting between armed forces.(n)
Synonyms : conflict
Antonyms : harmony
Example : “five Hurricanes were shot down in combat”
17) rallying
Meaning : having the effect of calling people to action.(adj)
Synonyms : assemble
Antonyms : disenchant
Example : “a rallying cry”
18) Conversely
Meaning : introducing a statement or idea which reverses one that has just been made or referred to.
Synonyms : contrarily
Example : “he would have preferred his wife not to work, although conversely he was also proud of what she did”
19) prospects
Meaning : the possibility or likelihood of some future event occurring.(n)
Synonyms : expectation
Antonyms : impossibility
Example : “there was no prospect of a reconciliation”
