The General Confederation of Labour (CGT) threatened national protests if President Emmanuel Macron refused to call the left-wing alliance, the New Popular Front (NFP), to power.
The CGT is France’s largest trade union. On 10 July, its railway workers called for rallies across France in front of prefectures and the National Assembly on 18 July, when the French parliament was expected to take office. They are demanding an NFP-led government.
“The CGT and its organisations solemnly call on Emmanuel Macron to respect the results of the ballot box. There is no question of continuing its violent economic and social policies. The new government must be formed as quickly as possible around the New Popular Front programme.”
Response to letter
The union’s demands were a direct response to Macron’s 10 July letter to French citizens. Addressing French citizens, he stated in relation to the recent general election:
In the end, nobody won. No single political force has a sufficient majority, and the blocs or coalitions that have emerged from these elections are all in the minority.
Macron then called on MPs to meet together and propose “a broad political force that meets a series of criteria that would guarantee institutional and national stability.”
“It is in the light of these principles that I will appoint a Prime Minister.”
Sophie Binet, the leader of the CGT, publicly supported the railway workers.
We must join these gatherings to put the National Assembly under surveillance. There must be pressure so that the results of the elections are respected.
Guarantor of democracy
The 42-year-old trade unionist warned that Macron “must be the guarantor of democracy and the ballot box. If Emmanuel Macron does not respect the choice of the ballot box, the country will plunge into chaos.” According to Binet, the president’s letter has become “a source of great anger in the country.”
Phillipe Poutou, the leader of the French radical anti-capitalist party (NPA) is also calling for mass protests.
“It is still very likely that to obtain a left-wing government pursuing left-wing policies, we will have to push very hard from below, through united mobilisation, demonstrations, strikes. This is our only way of countering the manoeuvres and the hostility of the dominants.”
Negotiations to form a government will continue on 11 July. Many national-oriented and centre-right politicians vowed to overthrow any left-wing government. However, Sébastien Chenu, National Rally Vice-President, stated that he would not support such an administration.
I don’t want a Popular Front government; we will support a vote of no confidence against them if the opportunity arises. We do not want our country to be destroyed, we do not want the ruin of the economy and the disarmament of our police.
