Considering the ideologies of the left-leaning parties, this attitude is not surprising, since it is well known that the majority of the public servants also lean toward the left. But even the conservative parties are prudent in their criticism because they acknowledge the power of the public servants. This attitude would be misleading for both financial and technical reasons. It is difficult to believe that the benefits enjoyed by public servants can continue in a system in which the public deficit must be strictly within the 3 percent dictated by the European Union. Moreover, pressure for more active measures regarding the labor market is being applied.
Technical considerations are also important regarding prospects for reform.
Ironclad guarantees for public employees seem to be the cornerstone of the French public management system. Eventually, France must deal with this or it will be forced to consider radical moves that are unrealistic in the current political system and environment. Since 1983, it has been decided that when a public servant retires, budget support for the department from which he or she departed is suppressed. This means an annual 2.5 percent reduction in the number of public servants, to a goal of about 100,000. This policy was effected for the first few years it was in place, but it quickly faded out due to political pressures and serious problems in the labor market.