With the strike scheduled for June 2, the tightness that French diplomatic circles usually feel about reforms, which, in their opinion, amplify the decline of France’s influence in the international arena, is revealed.
This grumbling was dormant for months or even years, but it came out after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decree on the implementation of the reform concerning the highest public positions was published in the Official Gazette in April.
This reform, which French President Emmanuel Macron wants, introduces a new corps of officials who control the administration of the state and provides that top officials will no longer be tied to one department or another, but, on the contrary, are called upon to change the department to which they regularly associate throughout throughout his career.
Diplomats affected by the reform, who number about 700, believe that this will lead to a gradual process of merger and “decline” by 2023 of the two historical corps of the French Foreign Ministry: Ambassadors Extraordinary and Foreign Affairs Advisors.
Many see this as “the end of professional diplomacy” in France, which has the third global network after the US and China.
Six trade unions and an assembly of 500 young diplomats went on strike on 2 June, a rare move in the history of the French Foreign Ministry since the last strike dates back to 2003. Olivier da Silva, head of the CFTC, said: “The French Foreign Ministry has not witnessed many opposition movements in its history.”
In recent days, dozens of senior diplomats have announced on Twitter that they have joined or supported the strike, reflecting the level of discontent.
“I will go on strike on June 2 to protest the reform of the diplomatic corps and the ongoing reduction of funds available to the diplomatic community,” French Ambassador to Kuwait Claire LeFlecht tweeted.
