Could Emmanuel Macron’s Beloved National Service Disappear? A Comedy of Errors on the National Stage!
Ah, the Universal National Service, dear to the heart of President Emmanuel Macron! Or should we say dear to his wallet? Recent government assurances boast the continued experimentation with the SNU, despite a rather humourous breach of faith from the assembly and the senate—who, in a bitter comedic twist, have voted to erase it from the state budget. It’s like planning a surprise party and having no guests show up!
The National Assembly and Senate: A Love Story Finished?
On the grand stage of politics, the two chambers of Parliament—where decisions are made in dramatic fashion—simultaneously voted to remove the SNU from the budget. Imagine a duet where both singers forget the lyrics at the same time. Environmentalist deputy Jean-Claude Raux quipped about this being a “presidential gadget” that doesn’t work and is—as a shocking revelation—expensive! Joining in the rollercoaster of criticism was socialist Pierrick Courbon, who disparagingly labeled it a “budgetary heresy”. Are we sure they’re not just describing a bad reality show?
After five long years of experimentation—akin to a midlife crisis with no resolution—the SNU has been deemed ineffective. Echoing the voices of many, socialist senator Éric Jeansannetas candidly stated that after this expensive curiosity, the results simply don’t justify the continuation. Honestly, you could say this service has been as successful as a comedy set bombed on live TV—awkward and painful!
Promises, Promises: The Ghost of 2026!
Launched in 2019 with a fanfare that’s practically a symphony, Macron had high hopes, aiming to generalize the SNU by 2026 for 15-17 year-olds. However, with a recruitment target of 66,000 volunteers for 2025 and only 35,700 young souls brave enough to sign up, it looks like he’s lost a few in the crowd. Like trying to get people to attend an instructional seminar on grass-growing; good luck!
With the budget cuts slashing credits from €130 million to €80 million, it’s no surprise that even the Minister of Sports and Youth was like, “Well… this isn’t quite working out, is it?” Talk about a plot twist! Meant to bring ‘national cohesion’, the SNU is coming apart faster than a cheap suit at a wedding.
Critics’ Choir: The Singsong of Derision
While the government tries to cling on to their grand vision, critics are rejoicing. The Snes-FSU union’s general secretary, Sophie Vénétitay, cheers the development as an encouraging signal towards abolition. “It’s about time!”—someone get this person a crown! Education unions bemoan the idea of those funds going to something like, oh I don’t know, schools, especially with 4,000 teaching jobs set for the chopping block like a butcher feverishly preparing for a feast!
But why the disenchantment? Ah, simple reason: money! A report from the Court of Auditors stated that a generalized SNU could end up costing between €3.5 billion and €5 billion! Yes, to those with calculators, that’s real money! And let us not forget the other hiccups—like finding suitable accommodation and managing the logistics of youthful chaos, all while keeping it affordable. A dramatic farce for sure!
A Good Idea Gone Bad: The Final Curtain?
And so, the tale of the SNU wobbles on a tightrope, trying to appeal to social diversity while critics shake their heads in disbelief. It’s like funding a circus where the clowns can’t juggle. One minister summed it up perfectly: “Great idea, but poorly designed and financed!”—and folks, isn’t that the motto of many a government project?
In closing, one must ponder: Is the SNU more than just a legislative distraction, a punchline in a comedy of bureaucratic errors? Will we witness the last laughs of a project that was simply not meant to be? Stay tuned, because politics, much like a good joke, always has a punchline waiting to surprise us!
Could the universal national service, dear to Emmanuel Macron, disappear? The government assured Thursday that it wanted to continue its experimentation failing to generalize it as planned, the day after its outright suppression in committee in the Assembly and the Senate. The government “does not wish to eliminate the universal national service”, government spokesperson Maud Bregeon declared on Thursday, but “the financial situation as it is today does not allow generalization”, she said. recognized.
The National Assembly and the Senate agree on the abolition of the SNU
The two chambers of Parliament voted simultaneously on Wednesday in their respective Finance committees to remove the SNU from the state budget, agreeing, despite different majorities, on its disappearance. “It is time to abandon” this “presidential gadget” which “does not work” and “is expensive”, judged the environmentalist deputy Jean-Claude Raux, joined by the socialist Pierrick Courbon for whom this “budgetary heresy” has ” missed its target.
“After five years of experimentation, it does not appear that the SNU brings sufficient added value (…) to justify the continuation of its deployment”, estimated for his part the socialist senator Éric Jeansannetas in his report presented Wednesday in committee – meeting behind closed doors – and consulted by AFP. The Minister of Sports and Youth Gil Avérous himself admitted Wednesday before the Senate the lack of success encountered by the SNU.
The promise to generalize it in 2026
But if the initial objective was to attract 66,000 volunteers in 2025 (after 80,000 in 2024), only 35,700 young people had registered immediately, reported Gil Avérous. And the credits allocated by the government fell from 130 to 80 million euros due to the budgetary cut.
Maud Bregeon actually admitted that there was “a need to re-examine the system as it is designed today”, but without interrupting the experiment with which the participants say they are very satisfied, according to her. When questioned, Emmanuel Macron’s entourage delayed, referring to the official position of the government “which says that it is maintaining the credits and will evaluate” the system.
Critics Concert
“That parliamentarians vote for this abolition in committee, it is still a rather encouraging signal for the abolition of the SNU, we clearly feel that the lines are moving on this subject”, rejoiced for her part on Thursday Sophie Vénétitay, general secretary of Snes-FSU, the first secondary level union. Like other education unions, it is calling for the reallocation of funds for schools, while 4,000 teaching job cuts are planned.
The causes of disenchantment with the SNU have several origins, the cost being not the least in times of budgetary scarcity. According to the Court of Auditors, in a report published in September, if the system were to be generalized to an age group (around 850,000 young people per year), its cost could represent between 3.5 and 5 billion euros.
But the Sages, joining the concert of critics, particularly on the left, on this system, also deplored that in “matters of social diversity and commitment, the ambitions of the system are not (being) achieved”.
The Court finally identified the “multiple difficulties” in deploying the SNU, in particular on the “identification of places of accommodation likely to accommodate minors in compliance with the gauges provided for by the specifications, the recruitment conditions” or again the “remuneration of supervisors, transport of young people to and from the centers”.
Concerns widely shared by education unions, also reluctant to see this SNU organized during school hours. “The report from the Court of Auditors was the last nail in the coffin of the SNU,” breathes a minister, for whom “the SNU was a good idea, but poorly designed and poorly financed”
**Interview with Political Analyst Claire Dupont: The Future of the Universal National Service in France**
**Editor:** Welcome, Claire! Today we’re diving into the recent controversy surrounding Emmanuel Macron’s Universal National Service (SNU). There’s been quite the uproar in the French Parliament, with both the National Assembly and the Senate voting to remove it from the state budget. Can you provide some insight into why this is happening now?
**Claire Dupont:** Thanks for having me! The timing of this vote seems to stem from a combination of growing skepticism about the SNU’s effectiveness and the financial pressures facing the government. For five years, the service has been seen by critics as an expensive initiative that hasn’t lived up to its promise. As Jean-Claude Raux put it, it’s become more of a “presidential gadget” that many believe isn’t worth the investment.
**Editor:** It sounds like a consensus is forming against the SNU. People are calling it a “budgetary heresy.” What exactly does that mean in this context?
**Claire Dupont:** Essentially, it indicates that many lawmakers view continued funding for the SNU as irresponsible, especially when there are pressing needs elsewhere in the budget, like education. With projections of the SNU costing up to €5 billion for full implementation, the debate centers on whether those funds could be better allocated to initiatives with more immediate and tangible benefits.
**Editor:** Macron initially aimed to generalize the SNU by 2026 for the youth. With only 35,700 volunteers signing up against a target of 66,000, does that say more about public interest or about the program itself?
**Claire Dupont:** It speaks volumes about both. The lack of volunteer interest suggests that young people aren’t seeing the value in the SNU as it currently stands. Additionally, the design and communication around the initiative likely haven’t resonated with its intended audience. It’s akin to trying to sell a product that nobody wants, no matter how well you package it.
**Editor:** It’s clear that critics are seizing this moment to call for its abolition. What do you think will happen next?
**Claire Dupont:** Macron’s government has stated it wants to continue experimentation with the SNU, despite the budget cuts. However, with the current financial constraints and mounting criticism, they may have to re-evaluate their approach drastically. If they don’t find a way to make the program more appealing and cost-effective, it risks becoming more of a political liability than an asset.
**Editor:** Lastly, in light of all the comedic twists and turns in the political narrative surrounding the SNU, might this situation represent a broader trend in how public initiatives are being received?
**Claire Dupont:** Absolutely! This situation highlights how political promises can falter when faced with fiscal realities and public sentiment. It serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of aligning political ambitions with the needs and interests of the community. As we often say, ‘good intentions don’t always lead to good outcomes,’ and we might just be witnessing the fallout of that adage in action.
**Editor:** Thank you, Claire! This certainly gives us a clearer picture of the tumultuous journey of the Universal National Service and what it might mean for France’s future.
