Hollande ‘gamble’ over unemployment

PRESIDENT Hollande has given 37-year-old Myriam El Khomri the job of ensuring his re-election in 2017 by naming her the new Employment Minister with the job of reversing the rise in unemployment.

She is his third employment minister since he came to office in 2012 takes over from François Rebsamen, who has resigned to be mayor of Dijon.

Ms El Khomri is recognised as a very good communicator, in contrast to Mr Rebsamen, and has also been praised for her “dynamism, pugnacity and pragmatism”. She takes over as new unemployment figures edge up to 10.4% in July from 10.3% in June.

The number of jobless has steadily risen to record levels since 2008 – when it was at 7.2% - hovering around the 10% mark over the past three years and Mr Hollande has said he will not stand in 2017 if the rise is not reversed.

But with no experience of employment law and no background in social affairs Ms El Khomri has already been labelled a “lightweight” by L'Humanité and a “surprise gamble” by Les Echos, which feared she did not have “solid shoulders” to lead negotiations on reforming the 3,000 pages of the Code du Travail and the social welfare system.

However, La Charente Libre said Ms El Khomri was like Mr Hollande and had an “optimistic outlook” and La Presse de la Manche said she “gives a youthful and open image of a Parti Socialiste capable of relaunching social dialogue”.

Le Point was a bit more cynical, noting that with no background in employment or social welfare she was “perfect” for the job as she had none of the baggage of a traditional employment minister and had no preconceived notions or entrenched positions.

The former junior minister for towns has little government experience and only joined the government after several years working in security, crime prevention and child protection at the Mairie de Paris, where she was a close adviser of new mayor Anne Hidalgo.
Photo of Myriam El Khomri: Ministere du travail/DICOM