Barthélémy Philippe, edited by Alexandre Dalifard 06h13, March 27, 2023

Monday is the 53rd congress of the CGT. An important moment for the second trade union centre in France because the face of its leader will change. Philippe Martinez passes the hand and if there are several candidates to succeed him, a woman is favorite: Marie Buisson.

In the midst of the pension crisis, the CGT opens this Monday its 53rd congress in Clermont-Ferrand. This is a milestone for the union, which claims just over 600,000 members, because Philippe Martinez, head of the CGT since 2015, has decided not to run for another term. To replace him, he proposed the candidacy of Marie Buisson, an unknown to the general public.

First woman elected General Secretary of the CGT?

For now, she shines especially by her discretion. Small round glasses, a square cut and a gentle tone of voice, this 55-year-old teacher in high school pro does not have the fiery temperament of Philippe Martinez. And yet Marie Buisson could be the first woman elected general secretary of the CGT, 128 years after the creation of the union. Committed since the early 2000s, she became head of the CGT Education and Research Federation in 2017. She also represents the organization in the collective "Never again", which brings together associations and unions around social and climate justice.

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In the demonstrations against the pension reform, Marie Buisson wisely remains in the shadow of Philippe Martinez. However, it will have to split the armor because the powerful federations of chemistry, metallurgy or energy fear the social-ecological line that it embodies and wait for it at the turn. The attacks begin to rain: on his career as a teacher, not really in line with the workers' DNA of the movement. On his supposed rigidity and lack of charisma, too, in a union accustomed to being embodied by big mouths, like Bernard Thibaut and Philippe Martinez.

On the other hand, Marie Buisson is not alone in the race. There is the very radical Olivier Mateu, who heads the CGT of the Bouches du Rhône and there is especially Céline Verzeletti. At 54, the boss of the CGT federation of the state civil service is a serious threat to Marie Buisson. Unifying, it has the support of several important federations, including those of railway workers.