According to journalist and writer Jean-François Bouthors, "it is very serious that some of the bodies that should embody the dialogue and the democratic culture - the parties and the unions - lose sight of their responsibility. "
Force Ouvrière Secretary General Pascal Pavageau resigned from his position six months after being elected to succeed Jean-Claude Mailly. It was forced after the revelation, by Le Canard chained , of the existence of a file of the main executives of the organization, qualifying them in a shocking, insulting or discriminating way, but also because of their fidelity or their supposed animosity against the leader of the union. His election, while he was the only candidate, had taken the turn of an aggressive disavowal of his predecessor, Jean-Claude Mailly.
But this crisis is not only that of FO. Thus, the CGT was shaken after the end of Bernard Thibault's term. Indeed, tensions are high, not only between the unions, but also within them, between the partisans of a reformist line and the heirs of the anarchist or revolutionary traditions.
We have seen sections of reformist organizations join processions to which their leadership did not want to associate ... No doubt the loss of influence and rooting of the unions fuels dissension. When it seems difficult to have a voice, the temptation of radicalism becomes stronger.
This situation must be seen in the context of the democratic and relational crisis of our societies. It seems more and more difficult to get along when you do not share the same opinion. We see it on social networks, where exchanges often give rise to anathemas, but also on the political scene.
Brutalized democracy
The vindictive manner in which Jean-Luc Mélenchon reacted to the search of the premises of insubordinate France is the most recent illustration. But it is on the whole political scene that excess and bad faith, sometimes deliberate deception, are recipes, where one would expect self-control and respect. This drift began in the United States during the election campaign that saw the victory of George Bush Sr., and Trump is the culmination.
What we are witnessing is the transformation of the adversary into an enemy, who is not recognized as belonging to the democratic field. It must be neutralized or eliminated symbolically, rather than debating with him. When it is the point of view of the adversary that prevails, at the end of democratic procedures, failing to accept the sanction of a vote, we immediately establish a debate in "legitimacy", to disqualify it. The confrontation of ideas turns into trench warfare.
What is lost is the very necessary democratic civility, in favor of end-to-end strategies and radicalism. Behind these postures, it is the trust in democratic institutions that is undermined, in a sustainable way.
Finally, from social networks to political and trade union organizations, we are faced with a kind of continuum of the brutalization of social and political relations, which constitutes a form of regression and a denial of the values on which our country was rebuilt after the two wars. world.
It is very serious that some of the bodies that should embody dialogue and democratic culture - parties and trade unions - lose their responsibility in this regard. They become the counter-models. The most perverse aspect of this situation is that they do so by claiming, as often as they can, the defense of democracy.