EDITORIAL
>>> Marine Le Pen recently supported the big strike on December 5th, contrary to the traditional behavior of the National Gathering. This embarrasses the CGT, which condemned this support by the voice of its national secretary Philippe Martinez. The tension is rising, and this is the purpose of the president of the RN, analyzes our columnist Nicolas Beytout, for whom the CGT must reflect on this rally.
It is a tug of war inside the arm wrestling: the organization of the strike and the demonstrations of December 5 is the framework of a clash between the National Rally and the CGT. And when two strong mouths like Marine Le Pen and Philippe Martinez argue, it necessarily gives sparks.
Everything started from a rather unexpected position of Marine Le Pen on the strikes of the SNCF and the RATP. Whereas traditionally, the National Front was rather hostile to these movements which hinder a considerable number of people, among which its voters, the peri-urban, the middle classes, in short a part of these French which galaxes daily in transport in this time, the National Rally supports the strike, "unreserved support", trumpets Marine Le Pen.
"The solutions of people who are racist are not welcome"
This reversal has also caused some internal tensions, and some quibbles too, from historical leaders like Louis Aliot who remain on the line before: "No to the strike, and if the French are not happy, they just have to vote to get out. "
In any case, the rallying of Marine Le Pen strikers was not the taste of the CGT. "The solutions of people who are racist are not welcome in social movements," attacked Philippe Martinez. Yes, the trade unionist is more used to parade in a friendly political environment, with the Communist Party, insubordinate France, the Socialist Party too, which will be there this time. Nothing but classic, and nothing disturbing. So obviously, to see protesters from the National Assembly, it's a bit of a hiccup.
"The traditional boundaries between right and left are disappearing"
"He defends his clan, his bowl," retorted Marine Le Pen. From her point of view, she has every interest in supporting the strikers. She who has been named the best opponent of Emmanuel Macron can not be absent from what promises to be a highlight of the five-year challenge. And then, she has well garnered during the movement of "yellow vests", and she will try to grow his small capital.
And to stop this, the CGT can not do much, if not think about what it means for him and the trade unions, the rallying of Marine Le Pen strikers. Already in the presidential election of 2017, it was she who attracted the greatest number of votes of workers and employees (37 and 32% of votes). And that has not changed since. The phenomenon even affects the militants of the CGT. That is, the traditional boundaries between right and left are disappearing, and whether they like it or not, the unions' struggles on the major economic and social issues will now, more and more often, be those of the National Gathering and his catch-all strategy.