Edith Kurzweil
AN INTERVIEW WITH CLAUDE ESTIER
Edith KUTzweil:
Monsieur Estier, you have worked with Franr;ois
Mitterand for eighteen years, always as part of the opposition but
hoping to come to power. Then you could criticize, propose pro–
grams to improve the distribution of goods, the condition of the
working class, of immigrants, etc., and to raise the social–
security level. I hear it said that your government made many
promises-promises that have brought you to power. Now, after
eighteen months, some say that you have not done enough in this
direction, and others, while aware of the effect of the current
international crisis, nevertheless feel that the extent of un–
employment in France also may be due to the fact that the
increased level of aid to the unemployed keeps some from
seeking or even accepting work, and that the new laws will lead
the country into an economic abyss. How do you see these
problems and their long-term resolution?
Claude Estier:
Yes, we have worked for many years in the opposition
and we have elaborated a reform program for France, stemming
from the conviction that the French economy, under the direction
of the Right-that is to say, under a government whose dominant
idea is that of capitalist profit-had developed very profound
social inequalities. France has a high standard of living-every–
thing is relative-but profound inequalities exist between the
richest and the poorest. When we won the elections in May and
June 1981, we at once began to institute some of the reforms we
had previously advocated. They were of two different types. The
first was to redress immediately the most glaring inequities, to
improve the situation of the most disadvantaged. This included,
for example, increasing allocations for the elderly, for women who
live alone, for the handicapped . We also raised the guaranteed
minimum wage substantially. In other words, if the rate of
Claude Estier is the editor of the Socialist weekly
['Unite.
He is also deputy of the
Paris Municipal and Regional Council, a spokesman of the Socialist Group
International Assembly, and vice president of the Policy Committee in the current
government.
Translated from the French by Mary Barno.
