Macron promises more money, more jobs to pitch reforms to French diplomats

Issue of: 2023/03/17 – 14:25

The president promised 700 new jobs and a 20% budget increase for the country, the world’s third-largest diplomatic institution after the United States and China.

“I hope our diplomatic services will be completely re-equipped,” the president said, perhaps in light of the conflict in Ukraine.

of Que D’OrsayMacron said the ministry will have a luxurious headquarters in central Paris.

The president’s announcement was the day after the foreign minister’s Catherine Colonna We have received the final report of the commission set up to consider domestic opposition to the proposed reforms of the diplomatic sector.

Occupation under pressure

The profession is under pressure in the face of the war in Ukraine, several major conflicts in the former French colonies of Africa, Europe’s divisions over refugees, and international efforts to slow ecological disasters. It has been. cyber security and online disinformation.

Last summer, hundreds of diplomatic staff went on strike for the first time in decades, protesting changes that would see certain professional diplomatic staff lose their titles and status.

Under the reform, high-ranking officials such as foreign affairs counselors and plenipotentiary ministers will become ordinary national civil servants.

The President believes the proposal will lead to greater consistency and adaptability. Staff fear losing their status and hard-earned skills.

“This reform is good for the country,” Macron told Quai d’Orsay staff on Thursday. “It’s good for your ministry and good for you who work here.”

Referring to a controversial proposal to abolish parts of the diplomatic apparatus, President Macron assured foreign affairs staff that their work remains important whatever the institutional framework in which they work. .