Where message of peace in changing world order

In the face of an intense movement led by ‘Gen Z’, Nepal’s Prime Minister resigned, and soon afterwards a strong anti-government movement erupted in France. ‘Gen Z’ led the movement in Nepal, while the protests in France are being led by the leftists. Yesterday nearly 200,000 protesters took to the streets. Across the country, they declared a ‘block everything’ movement. As a result, there was widespread clashes between protesters and French law enforcement. People lifted rubbish bins from the streets and hurled them at the police. Countless vehicles were set on fire. According to international media reports, to bring the protests under control the French government deployed 80,000 police across the country. Around 500 people have been arrested. More than a hundred were injured.

This sudden political crisis in France began with the resignation of Prime Minister François Bayrou and the appointment of Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu as the new Prime Minister by President Emmanuel Macron. In the past two years President Macron has been forced to appoint five prime ministers. The main reason behind the ongoing protests in France is economic pressure and public dissatisfaction with the government’s reform measures.

Several key reasons lie behind the recent movement: pension reform, the government’s decision to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, which has spread widespread anger among workers and employees. They believe that being forced to work longer will damage their quality of life and social security. The Ukraine war and global economic crisis have pushed up energy prices, and the cost of food and other essentials has risen. With increasing debt burdens, the cost of living in France has soared. As a result, the middle class and low-income people are suffering the most.

Many complain that the new labour policy has failed to protect workers’ interests. Job security is falling, and the fear of unemployment is growing. In all these areas, the government has shown rigidity. Despite not having sufficient support in parliament, President Emmanuel Macron used a special constitutional clause to pass the pension law. This created a perception among the public that the government is ignoring their opinion. As a result, demands for President Emmanuel Macron’s resignation are now being raised. Among the protesters in Paris was Fred, one of their representatives. Demanding Macron’s resignation, he said, “It is the same story, the same situation. It is not just the ministers, the problem is Macron himself. The ministers are also a problem. But Macron and his way of working are even more problematic. That is why he must go.”

This political crisis in France has come at a time when wars are raging in Ukraine and the Middle East. The unrest in Paris is a positive development for both Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, as they delight in mocking Europe’s weakness.

Meanwhile, Nepal has been trapped in political instability for many years. From monarchy to republic, from republic to constitution—Kathmandu’s politics seems like an endless laboratory. The fall of governments every few months has now almost become a rule. Political parties are busy weighing their chances of power, but have practically failed to meet people’s basic needs. As a result, the ordinary people are angry. The tug-of-war for power, a weak economy, and internal divisions have stalled Nepal’s progress. This long-standing unstable situation is pushing the country towards an uncertain future. The space for trust and unity is gradually shrinking.

After Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal, the spread of mass protests in France too indicates that the world is becoming increasingly unstable and moving towards change. People are steadily losing faith in governments. Is this the sign of a new dawn? Is the world hearing the footsteps of a new global revolution? Where is the message of peace in this changing world order? Therefore, there is no alternative to peace worldwide.