French diplomats strike over careers plan
PARIS — Members of the French diplomatic corps dropped their traditional reserve on Thursday to go on a rare strike, angered by a planned policy change that they worry will hurt their careers and France’s standing in the world. It was only the second such strike in nearly 20 years.
About 100 diplomats dropped the veil of invisibility that often defines their work to demonstrate in full view of the imposing Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs that is the home base for the foreign service. In overseas posts, ranging from Tokyo to the Middle East and Washington, numerous diplomats, including some ambassadors, honored the day-long strike.
They want President Emmanuel Macron to scrap a plan to merge career diplomats with a larger body of civil servants, starting in January, or at least hold a dialogue.
The action, announced by Macron in an April decree, will reportedly affect about 800 diplomats. Opponents claim that’s just the beginning.
“We risk the disappearance of our professional diplomacy,” a group of 500 diplomats wrote in a commentary published last week in Le Monde newspaper. “Today, [diplomatic] agents … are convinced it is the very existence of the ministry that is now being put into question.”
The planned change comes amid the war in Ukraine and complex negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, and while France holds the European Union’s rotating presidency. Newly appointed Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, herself a career diplomat, has not commented.
Demonstrators held a large banner reading “Professional Diplomats on Strike” during the protest across from the ministry, best known as the Quai d’Orsay for its location by the River Seine.
“To say that diplomacy is in danger, that word may be too strong,” said Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, a former ambassador to China, Japan and Britain, who was taking part in the public protest near the ministry. But, he added, “diplomacy will be weakened,” at a time when those skills are especially needed.
“To become an ambassador, before getting to the top of the ladder, it is necessary to actually tick some boxes,” said another demonstrating diplomat, identifying himself only as Benjamin. “And this reform supports the idea that there is no need for such skills.” Like others not yet at the top rung, he declined to give his full name.
The government change is meant to modernize and diversify France’s diplomatic corps, which was created in the 16th century, and to bring down the walls of what some in the government see as an elite institution turned in on itself.
It will put diplomats into a large pool from all branches of public service, encouraging switches to other ministries and forcing personnel to compete with outsiders for prized diplomatic posts.
Diplomats contend their job requires specialization and expertise acquired over years in posts around the world — and has no room for amateurs.
“Today, I am on strike,” Deputy Ambassador to the United States Aurelie Bonal tweeted. “Diplomats negotiate, talk, compromise. They generally do not go on strike.”
Among concerns over the reform, Bonal raised yet another worry of protesting diplomats: cronyism. “Without a diplomatic corps, it will be much easier for the [government] to appoint friends at all levels of diplomatic jobs,” she tweeted.
Even before Macron’s decree, anger and frustration had festered in the foreign ministry’s halls over cuts in funding, personnel and outsourcing. The group commentary in Le Monde deplored “decades of marginalization of the ministry’s role within the [French] state” as well as “a vertiginous reduction” in personnel — down by 30% in 10 years, the diplomats claim. Funding, they said, is but 0.7% of the state budget.