Candidate chosen by the management, Marie Buisson is challenged by Céline Verzeletti, unofficial candidate close to the federations that challenge her line, as well as by Olivier Mateu, the media and controversial secretary general of the Bouches-du-Rhône Departmental Union.
A radical opponent of Martinez's line, his candidacy was blocked by a provision of the National Confederal Committee (NCC) designed to promote parity.
"Although it has been a bit tumultuous, it is proof that the delegates are not ready to be robbed of their congress and I think they have put things back in the right way," Mateu told reporters.
In the early afternoon, about twenty people had forced their way into the hall of the Grande Halle d'Auvergne in Cournon-d'Auvergne, including Mr. Mateu.
"We have a delegation of comrades from the Paris region that some want to prevent from accessing the congress (...) We believe that the mandates and votes commission did not respect the rules, that's why the delegates are there to ask the congress to decide," Amar Lagha, secretary general of the Trade and Services Federation, told reporters.
Member of the mandates and votes committee, Sandy Penne deplored "the arrival of comrades from the trade federation who were not mandated".
According to him, conflicts over the names of some delegates emerged between the Trade Federation and the Paris Departmental Union, but the issue was settled democratically, and the Federation, which went to court, was "dismissed".
Shortly after the beginning of the debates, new tensions rose when the composition of the mandate and votes commission was submitted to the congressmen for approval. Delegates positioned themselves on both sides of the platform to demand that the votes of the delegates who had voted by show of hands be recounted, shouting "49.3, we do not want it!"
Céline Verzeletti, candidate for the post of general secretary of the CGT, during the 53rd congress of the union, in Cournon-d'Auvergne, Puy-de-Dôme, March 27, 2023 © JEFF PACHOUD / AFP
"We will not give up"
"The commission is arranged before the start of the congress, so we can suspect any shenanigans that can happen behind at the level of votes, knowing that these are electronic votes," denounced the secretary general of the Federation of Chemistry, Emmanuel Lépine.
The organizers at the rostrum eventually agreed to recount, and the commission was approved with 416 votes in favour, 408 against and 89 abstentions.
The congressmen muted their divisions during Marie Buisson's opening speech, an opportunity to denounce once again the government's desire to raise the legal retirement age to 64.
Marie Buisson, candidate for the post of general secretary of the CGT, during the 53rd congress of the union, in Cournon-d'Auvergne, Puy-de-Dôme, March 27, 2023 © JEFF PACHOUD / AFP
Ms. Buisson said that Elisabeth Borne had resumed contact with the CGT, "not to announce that she renounces this unjust, unjustifiable and unjustified reform, but to wish us a good congress".
"So, Madam Prime Minister, the CGT is here and you can let her know, my comrades, that we will not give up!" she continued to loud applause.
The congressmen decided to suspend their work Tuesday morning, the time to participate in the demonstration that will take place in the center of Clermont-Ferrand at 10:00, as part of the 10th day of mobilization against the reform.
© 2023 AFP