A Public Address by H.E. Jean-Marc Ayrault, Prime Minister of the Republic of France (2012-2014) with commentary by former Canadian Liberal Party Leader and Harvard Kennedy Professor Michael Ignatieff.
France today is under heavy pressure from its European partners to reform its social model and reduce its long-standing budget deficit. At the same time, many French citizens doubt that France can achieve sustainable growth by following an austerity program prescribed by what is perceived to be a German-led European Union. At this event, two former political leaders discussed the politics of reform in France where social change has traditionally come about through crisis or revolution. (Note: Jean-Marc Ayrault spoke in French accompanied by an English translator.)
