Wonder too how ingrained socialism is in the French culture? Do they realize the free stuff comes from the high taxes?
People in Europe have accepted higher taxes as devil bargain to pay for lavish welfare state benefits.
Unfortunately, governments have cut those benefits while increasing taxes. And there is little public appetite to pay new taxes for elite prestige vanity projects.
Macron faces tough selling for them and if doesn’t help him his popularity rating is in low 30s.