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The Intelligence from The Economist

Laïcité, égalité, fraternité? France’s secularism bill

The Intelligence from The Economist

The Economist

Global News, Daily News, News

4.53.7K Ratings

🗓️ 9 December 2020

⏱️ 20 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

President Emmanuel Macron’s draft bill walks a fine line balancing the country’s foundational secularism and worries about Islamist terrorism. Amid slumping economies everywhere, Taiwan’s looks surprisingly buoyant; we ask how that might continue after the pandemic. And how managers can best navigate the holiday-party season in a cheerless year.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

Hello and welcome to the Intelligence on Economist Radio.

0:07.0

I'm your host, Jason Palmer.

0:09.0

Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

0:17.0

Not so long ago Taiwan's economy looked to be in a death spiral.

0:22.0

Now it might even outpace China's.

0:25.0

A sharp pandemic response is partly responsible, but the country was already making savvy bets to navigate the waters of global trade.

0:34.0

And it's almost time for the office Christmas party season.

0:38.0

Things are going to be different this year.

0:41.0

Our columnist discusses how managers can keep up employees morale beyond the bland seasonal encouragements and tedious zoom drinks.

0:55.0

But first...

0:58.0

Today, France's president and manual Macron will unveil a new draft law designed to tackle religious extremism and to bolster the country's foundational idea of secular government.

1:12.0

The proposed legislation follows a series of terrorist attacks.

1:16.0

In October, France was rocked by the beheading of a schoolteacher named Samuel Batte in a suburb of Paris.

1:23.0

Thousands took to the streets to pay their respects.

1:27.0

The people of France were the ones who were the most vulnerable to the war.

1:35.0

Just two weeks later, more sadness and the wilderness.

1:39.0

Three people were stabbed to death at a church in Nice.

1:43.0

In the wake of these tragedies, Mr. Macron launched a crackdown on what he described as Islamist separatism.

1:50.0

He was accused by some at home and abroad of stigmatizing Muslims. But in the draft law that'll be presented to the French cabinet today, there will be no mention of Islam or any particular religion.

2:03.0

The draft bill that in manual Macron will unveil today, I think is really about reinforcing what are in effect the founding values of France.

2:15.0

Sophie Petter is our Paris bureau chief.

2:17.0

He's trying to strengthen French secularism and to reinforce all the laws that limit religious influence on public life.

...

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