NUPES split on the second day of mobilization
JULIAN DE ROSA / AFP
In contrast to the march against the high cost of living in October 2022, the second demonstration against pension reforms was organized this Saturday, January 21 by the divisive youth organization NUPES.
POLITICS – Round II of the mobilization on the street against pension reform is not as full as the first this Thursday, January 19th. While waiting for the return of employees on the 31st, dozens of youth organizations demonstrated on Saturday, January 21 in Paris. They were supported by the disobedient French who wanted it bounce” between unions.
Organizers had no intention of bringing together the two million people claimed by CGT, or even the one million put forward by police pounding the pavement. But Philippe Juraver, head “fighting network” from LFI, “hope to do better than in october”reference to “march against dear life” organized by mélenchonistes and drained 140,000 participants according to organizers, 30,000 according to police.
However, doing better is not won. The movement, which was founded by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, was more coy in its communication to organize this event, preferring to hide behind ten youth organizations. “We realize that young people want to put themselves first, that they feel cared for first”, says Philippe Juraver. Who admits that LFI is also aware that it has to show its identity to the union, “tangle” that date was announced before them.
It wasn’t the Mélenchon march defending the LFI leader
It was also to leave the field open for the unions that Unef, the main student union, was not called to demonstrate this Saturday. “We believe that for this pension reform to take place, we must have a united trade union front, to organize the struggle as broadly as possible”confirmed Imane Ouelhadj, its president.
CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
The heads of the October march against the high cost of living – around Nobel Prize winner Annie Ernaux – were far more politically diverse than expected this Saturday against pension reform.
Another big difference compared to the October demonstrations against the high cost of living and against the meeting held on Tuesday at the Japy Gymnasium in Paris, NUPES is divided. Only rebellious France would lead the procession, EELV, PCF and PS also believed the unions should be allowed to do so in this fight. “In this difficult and long battle, we must respect the trade union organization schedule”without “dissolve”warned communist leader Fabien Roussel Friday on RTL.
Not enough to discourage Jean-Luc Mélenchon who paraded Thursday in Marseille but will be in Paris this Saturday. “Saturday we play ‘Coucou nous revoilou’ behind the youth organization”, wrote Jean-Luc Mélenchon late Thursday on Twitter. Media “Want, thinking of getting in the way, to make it a ‘party political march’ and even the usual ‘Mélenchon march’. We’ve seen what it delivers in the past: it’s eye-catching! »
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