Tragedy and loss unite France: 2019 in review

World

2019.12.24 21:00 GMT+8

Tragedy and loss unite France: 2019 in review

Updated 2019.12.29 01:47 GMT+8

By Toni Waterman

For France, 2019 was a year of duality. Tragedy and loss united the nation, but political policy and economic injustice highlighted deep frustrations, pulling the nation at the seams.

In April, the world watched in horror as flames engulfed Notre-Dame Cathedral. The fire burned unchecked for 30 minutes. By the time firefighters arrived, flames had ripped through the 850-year-old Gothic masterpiece. The roof collapsed and the world famous spire toppled into the raging inferno.

Flames and smoke rise from Notre-Dame Cathedral as it burns in Paris, April 15, 2019. /Courtesy of Thibault Camus via AP

The steeple and spire of the historic Notre-Dame Cathedral collapses as the cathedral is engulfed in flames in central Paris, April 15, 2019. /Courtesy of Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt via AFP

Flames rise from Notre-Dame Cathedral, April 15, 2019. /Courtesy of Thibault Camus via AP Photo

People watch as flames and smoke rise from Notre-Dame Cathedral, April 15, 2019. /Courtesy of Thibault Camus via AP

Firefighters tackle the blaze, April 15, 2019. /Courtesy of Michel Euler via AP

France halted, united in grief.

"Throughout our history, we have built cities, ports and churches. Many have burned, have been destroyed by wars, revolutions, or human faults," French President Emmanuel Marcon said in a televised speech. "Every time, we have rebuilt them."

Eight months later, the debate rages over how to rebuild the Cathedral.

This is part of a series of articles looking back at Europe in 2019

Another event which rallied the nation was a rallying call against femicide. In November, 150,000 took to the streets protesting violence against women.

France has one of the highest domestic violence rates in Europe and more than 115 women were killed by their partners in 2019 alone.

People gather near the Eiffel Tower in Paris during a demonstration called by the "Nous Toutes" feminist organization to denounce the 100th femicide of the year, September 1, 2019. /Courtesy of Zakaria Abdelkafi via AFP

The demonstration called by the "Nous Toutes" feminist organization to denounce the 100th femicide of the year, September 1, 2019. /Courtesy of Zakaria Abdelkafi via AFP

A woman holds a placard enumerating the names of femicide victims in France in 2019, during a protest to condemn violence against women, in Marseille, southern France, November 23, 2019. /Courtesy of Clement Mahoudeau via AFP

A woman holds a placard enumerating the victims in France in 2019, during a protest to condemn violence against women, in Marseille, southern France, November 23, 2019. /Courtesy of Clement Mahoudeau via AFP

A sign reading "Break the silence" during a rally to denounce femicides and domestic violence in Le Havre, northwestern France, 18 September 2019. /Courtesy of Lou Benoist via AFP

Women wearing blindfolds take part in a flash mob to protest against femicide and sexual violence, organized by the feminist collective #NousToutes and inspired by the Chilean feminist group Las Tesis, at the Trocadero esplanade in Paris, 29 November 2019. /Courtesy of Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt via AFP

"France is proud to be the country of human rights," said Virginie Martin, political expert at Kedge Business School. "But maybe it will become some day the country of women's rights.”

The government quickly announced fresh measures to tackle the issue. Advocacy groups said the proposals did not go far enough.

The most significant social movement in years branded itself in neon yellow. Les Gilets Jaunes, or yellow vests, often violent weekly demonstrations laid bare France's social and economic ills. It had early success, but the movement has largely fizzled out.

Tear gas envelopes protesters during a yellow vest demonstration marking its first anniversary, in Paris, November 16, 2019. /Courtesy of Francois Mori via AP

Yellow vest protesters holding a portrait of French President Macron and a French flag march in Paris, December 7, 2019. /Courtesy of Francois Mori via AP

In this combination of six images, yellow vest protesters take part in their 56th demonstrations in Paris, December 7, 2019. /Courtesy of Francois Mori via AP

Yellow vest activists demonstrate in Paris, December 12, 2019. /Courtesy of Francois Mori via AP

A sign reading "Strikes Blockades", flags with flares are displayed during the yellow vest 56th demonstrations in Paris, December 7, 2019. /Courtesy of Francois Mori via AP

The year was also marked by the passing of two-time president Jacques Chirac, who died in September, aged 86.

He was a fierce champion of European unity, a sharp critic of the U.S. war in Iraq, and a masterful politician who bridged the left-right divide.

But it was his every-man persona that made him one of the most popular figures in French politics. It stands in stark contrast to Marcon, who is often criticized as being out of touch.

Jacques Chirac, a two-term French president who was the first leader to acknowledge France's role in the Holocaust and defiantly opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, who died at age 86. /AP File Photo/Francois Mori

The coffin of late French president Jacques Chirac at the Invalides monument in Paris, September 29, 2019. /Courtesy of Kamil Zihnioglu via AP

French President Emmanuel Macron attends the military funeral honors ceremony at the Invalides monument during a national day of mourning in Paris, September 30, 2019. /Courtesy of Philippe Wojazer/Pool via AP

People queue at the Invalides monument to pay their respects to late French president Jacques Chirac, September 29, 2019, in Paris. /Courtesy of Kamil Zihnioglu via AP

One thing Presidents Macron and Chirac do have in common is a desire to overhaul the pension system.

An attempt at reform in 1995 led to weeks of paralyzing strikes, which eventually forced the government to back down. Twenty-four years later, Macron is in a similar standoff with France's powerful unions.

Workers walked off the job on December 5 and have yet to return, which could see 2020 ushered in on a rocky note.

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