In recent weeks, the government has been targeting the administration with budget cuts, blaming speeches by senior officials, and announcements of layoffs in the public service. The government is deflecting its own shortcomings onto the administration, risking further weakening the state, which is already in a precarious situation. The minister of public service, Stanislas Guerini, has proposed measures to make it easier to terminate employees in the public service, including considering the elimination of job categories A, B, and C. However, these measures may not address the true issues at hand, such as the lack of effective management within the state.
The possibility of termination already exists in the public service, and the low number of terminations may be more related to management issues rather than a regulatory gap. Eliminating job categories A, B, and C without considering an alternative for career management could worsen the current situation. Behind these unprepared announcements are electoral calculations, with the ruling party hoping to gain votes by appealing to anti-state sentiment. However, the technical nature of the measures may not resonate with the general public, leading to potential institutional damage. The perceived anti-state sentiment among the French population is rooted in the dysfunction of the state, which the government, by blaming its administration, has exacerbated.
The announcements are not just about electoral calculations; they also reflect President Emmanuel Macron’s conception of the state. Unlike past leaders who saw the state as a tool for governance, Macron views the state as a counter-power that should be pruned to increase maneuverability and flexibility. Influenced by the “new public management” of the 1990s, Macron advocates for a fully digital administration, aiming to digitize as much as possible and privatize or contract out the rest. This approach seeks to reduce the state’s presence in public services, hoping to increase agility for citizens and leaders.
The government’s attempts to reform the public service align with Macron’s vision of a leaner state that relies more on digital solutions and private partnerships. However, critics argue that this approach may further weaken public services and harm civil servants. The emphasis on efficiency and flexibility may overlook the importance of a functioning state apparatus that can provide quality services to its citizens. By blaming the administration for its own failures, the government risks undermining trust in public institutions and exacerbating existing problems in the state.
In conclusion, the government’s recent announcements regarding the public service reflect deeper ideological shifts in how the state is perceived and managed. While the government aims to modernize and streamline the administration, critics argue that this approach may overlook key issues such as effective management and quality of services. By scapegoating the administration for its own failings, the government risks further undermining public trust in institutions. Ultimately, the debate over the future of the public service is not just about technical measures but also about larger questions of governance and the role of the state in society.
