Force Ouvrière will change its face.
The union opens its XXVth congress on Monday in the Rouen agglomeration, culminating in the election on Friday of the successor to the current secretary general, Yves Veyrier.
Except surprise, it should be the “reformist” Frédéric Souillot.
"I think this Congress will be united and determined," said Yves Veyrier on BFM Business on Wednesday.
After the stormy congress of Lille in 2018, which had seen the secretary general Jean-Claude Mailly copiously booed, then the departure after six months of his successor Pascal Pavageau following the revelation of the existence of a file on the leaders of the union, FO will be keen to project an image of unity.
During his election, Yves Veyrier, representative of the “reformist” current, had himself had to face Christian Grolier, representatives of the “Trotskyists”, and the anarchist Patrice Clos.
Towards a duel
About 3,000 delegates are expected at the Parc des Expositions in Rouen.
The election of the Secretary General by the National Confederal Committee (the "parliament" of FO, bringing together representatives of the federations and departmental unions) is scheduled for Friday at the end of the day, after the formal closing of the Congress.
This time two candidates are in the running: Frédéric Souillot and again Christian Grolier
Frédéric Souillot, current Confederal Secretary for Organization and Legal Affairs, is 54 years old.
From the federation of metallurgy, he is also a "reformist", and enjoys the unofficial support of Jean-Claude Mailly.
Christian Grolier, head of the powerful General Federation of Civil Servants, would benefit this time from the support of some of the anarchists.
An election already played?
The transport federation, headed by Patrice Clos, "has not made a choice yet", however indicated the latter.
The Trotskyists are divided, and part of them, behind Hubert Raguin, supports Frédéric Souillot, according to some giving priority to strategic considerations over ideological coherence.
On both sides, the victory of the latter does not seem in any case to be debated, which could lead Christian Grolier to withdraw his candidacy next week.
This perspective does not only make people happy.
Fabrice Lerestif, anarchist, says he can "neither support nor endorse Frédéric Souillot", which is why he will vote for the Trotskyist candidate.
With ten other union officials, including Patrice Clos, he signed a text which worries about the "decline" of FO, and calls for a statutory reform, while "the silent majority" is "currently excluded from the administration of the confederation.
The lack of democratic debate pointed out
The vote of the CCN, which brings together "the great electors" of FO, is sometimes far from the demands of the base, he points out.
“Let the base take charge of its destiny, including leaving the well-marked paths that we would like it to take,” he wrote to AFP.
Frédéric Lerestif would like the two candidates to be able to speak at the Congress podium, which is not provided for by statute, stressing that there is "an incongruity: the delegates, when they leave, will not know who Frédéric is Soullot”.
The latter's opponents criticize both his line, deemed too conciliatory with power, and a lack of embodiment.
"Given his career, I find it difficult to imagine him in the mandate of secretary general", said in April to some journalists Christian Grolier, pointing to the lack of experience "of files, the press, discussions at Matignon" by Frederic Souillot.
On condition of anonymity, a manager castigates an election “on the sly”, the late announcement of the departure of Yves Veyrier, at the end of February, not having allowed “a more successful democratic debate”.
Frédéric Souillot "will be elected without having spoken, and I think he will organize things so that it lasts as long as possible", he predicts.
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