It’s the same thing every year, the oracles of the new political year announce a risk of massive mobilization against the government – whatever its color – and social damage. Salaries, pensions, unemployment insurance, energy costs… All the ingredients are there to bring about this third social round in this presidential election year. “If things don’t go as planned, we will have to take the victory to the streets. Popular mobilization is one of the keys to moving society forward”had assured the rebellious deputy Clémentine Autin on France 2, a few days after the results of the second round.
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There is a scent or a desire for mobilization in the air. The left opposition has regained strength in the National Assembly with 75 rebellious deputies. One of them, Manuel Bompard, estimated on franceinfo Monday August 22 that it was likely that there would be “mobilizations at the start of the school year”.
Unemployment insurance reform ➡️ “We are going to fight in the National Assembly and in the mobilizations”, assures the rebellious deputy. “It is clear that the government has chosen to work with the right of the hemicycle. has a form of political clarification.” pic.twitter.com/CGPCD9yo7d
— franceinfo (@franceinfo) August 22, 2022
The elected LFI of Bouches-du-Rhône sees proof of this in the joint call of the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) and the Solidaires trade union for a day of interprofessional strike on September 29 to demand wage increases. Across the Channel, “anger strikes” are multiplying in transport, industry, at the Post Office… These social movements, caused by inflation and the explosion in energy costs, could be likely to be imported into France.
If the precedent of “yellow vests” encourages caution, the other trade union confederations did not join the call for mobilization on September 29. The left political forces, under the Nupes banner, have achieved almost no results on purchasing power and want their revenge. A revenge they expect in the hemicycle, and not in the street, which would reflect their helplessness.
As for public opinion, it anticipates 68% of major social movements in September, according to a ViaVoice poll for Release, without however wishing for a return to demonstrations. According to some of his supporters, Emmanuel Macron would be “concerned” of this social tremor. The President of the Republic can still count on the great concern of the French, weary of the crises and more inclined, for the moment, to favor appeasement. Far from there “dog bed” of May-68.