The theme of France's economic decline following the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes has, after more than four centuries, transformed into a myth that continues to captivate the educated public—that is to say, you, dear readers. Why have so many authors, even non-Protestants, disseminated and perpetuated it so extensively? Could it be the masked face of regret, if not national remorse? #Huguenots #Protestants #EditNantes #RevocationEditNantes #Revolution #Centralisation #St

In France, the fall of a government generally results in a partial suspension of institutional functioning, particularly of Parliament. Not so in the Netherlands, where coalition governments are practiced in a purely parliamentary system. Recently in France, after the European elections of June 9, 2024, President Emmanuel Macron decided to dissolve the National Assembly, leading to early parliamentary elections on June 30 and July 7. These elections resulted in the absence of

The Netherlands experienced by a French resident, in Wassenaar, South Holland region, The Hague. The far-right PVV party in the Netherlands has just come first in the results of the legislative elections in November 2023. The French media, accustomed to the French presidential majority regime, and eager for sensationalism, are not reporting the event in the context of proportional elections specific to a parliamentary system as the Netherlands has known for generations. They

For the first time since the establishment of the Fifth Republic, the French did not grant a parliamentary majority to the newly elected president. The logic of the majority vote which prevailed until now in the unique French presidential system in Europe, has just cracked, like a taboo which is falling in Europe. The formation of coalitions has long been the norm and the practice in the European Union, except in France. How could it still discuss and be credible with its par

France keeps referring to the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen which it created in 1789. However, there is another subsequent declaration of Human Rights, that of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) of 1948, which prevails everywhere else in Europe. This new Declaration of Rights adresses concerns of the modern post-war era, and leads to different mentalities, cultures and social behavior in Europe. Declaration of 1789 (1) Inspired by the declar

The Maastricht Treaty restored the German sovereignty within a broader federal European framework, accepted by its neighbors. Maastricht was the treaty of German reunification and the first version of « federal » Europe “. Although from the same root resulting from the split of the empire of Charlemagne in 843, France and Germany took divergent paths leading to opposite nature and destiny, and above all, opposite views on Europe. Germany is a federal state with a late unifica

The Treaty of Rome follows a setback, that of the European Defense Community (EDC) in 1952, yet proposed by France but then rejected by its parliament. The construction of Europe thereafter focused on economic issues. As a matter os fact, the treaty of Rome in 1957 was inspired by the 3 countries of the Economic and Monetary Union of the BENELUX (BElgium, NEderland, LUXembourg). The Treaty of Rome follows a failure, that of the European Defense Community (EDC) in 1952, yet pr

#EuropeTalks is an international platform for political dialogue. #EuropeTalks brings people together for a day of political dialogue. On December 13, 2020, thousands of participants from across the continent met for one-on-one conversations to discuss issues that matter to all Europeans. https://www.mycountrytalks.org/events/europe-talks When Marie, a young German female (25) former Erasmus student in Lithuania, having lived in western Germany (Braunschweig) and in former Ea

At the end of June 2019, the tall ships armada arrived from Rouen for a stop at The Hague in The Netherlands, for a few days. The general public came in numbers to admire and visit these ships, both historical and magnificent. Like an aerobatic air patrol, these ships are the ambassadors of their respective nations. Thanks to their long-distance sailing history, thanks to their size and their tall masts reaching the sky, thanks to the ostentatious professionalism of their cre