Clémence Guetté's friendship policy proposal

LFI member Clémence Guetté suggests introducing a "friendship policy" that would extend certain family-related rights to friends, such as bereavement leave for a close friend and a "friendly PACS," a legal partnership similar to a civil union. The proposal aims to redefine social bonds beyond traditional family structures.

Left's discomfort with deconstructing family ties

The article argues that Guetté's proposal seeks to further deconstruct traditional family ties, a concept that deeply unsettles the left. It notes that while the left often critiques traditional family structures, it does not have a monopoly on the concept of friendship, which is also deeply felt on the right.

Friendship as a right-wing value

The article suggests that friendship is a right-wing value, rooted in loyalty, effort, and duty. It contrasts this with the left's view of friendship as a mutual aid bond during times of economic instability and a refuge against far-right ideologies, emphasizing the left's focus on solidarity and resistance.

Cultural references to friendship

The article references the bond of the Three Musketeers, sealed by an apocryphal oath: "one for all, all for one." It also cites the late Denis Tillinac's L'âme française, noting that reading Alexandre Dumas' work would make a schoolboy unlikely to identify with the left, given the emphasis on loyalty and adventure in the story.

Friendship and political discourse

The article argues that not everything in life should be politicized, and that political matters can become absurd when discussed with friends. It suggests that one could counter Guetté's proposal by pointing out that the left often deconstructs relationships, even going as far as excommunicating former allies.

Historical examples of friendship

The article highlights the shared adventures of aviation pioneers, such as the bond between Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and Henri Guillaumet, and between Jean Mermoz and Joseph Kessel. It notes that these figures, celebrated for their courage and determination, were not left-wing egalitarians advocating for legal recognition of friendships through policies like a "friendly PACS."