These are actions intended to sound like a warning to the head of state Emmanuel Macron, whose government has yet to be named. On July 18, the first day of the legislature of the newly elected National Assembly, the CGT railway workers, like their counterparts in the energy sectors, are calling for rallies in front of the prefectures and the Palais Bourbon, to “demand the establishment of a government from the New Popular Front.”
The union intends to put pressure on the President of the Republic to call on the New Popular Front (NFP), the political force with the most elected representatives in the National Assembly but without an absolute majority, to govern.
“Popular pressure”
“We need popular, citizen pressure so that the election results are respected,” declared CGT Secretary General Sophie Binet on LCI Thursday morning. Breaking his silence three days after the second round of the legislative elections, the president addressed the French people in a letter on Wednesday, asking the “republican political forces” to “build a solid majority” to govern. “No one won on Sunday,” he declared, scandalizing the left, which continues to demand the government. “He must hear the result of the ballot boxes,” said Sophie Binet. “Emmanuel Macron must acknowledge the fact that he lost, must appoint the Prime Minister who will be proposed by the New Popular Front and let the New Popular Front work with the Assembly to build majorities.”
“If he does not respect the result of the ballot box, he risks plunging the country into chaos once again,” worried the number 1 of the CGT. Sophie Binet recalled that the priority for her union was to “have a government, whatever it may be, that repeals the pension reform, increases salaries and provides money for our public services.”
“Apply the program of the block that comes first”
Considering that relations with the CFDT were still “excellent”, Sophie Binet promised communication “in the coming days” on common “social demands”. In a column published by the daily The worldthe general secretary of the CFDT Marylise Léon also proposes to parliamentarians and all local elected officials who want to act for social progress to work together.”
The relief of the results must not turn into ‘above all, let’s not change anything’. Unless we are preparing for the worst once again,” she wrote, judging it “legitimate” that it is the “bloc that comes out on top” that “sets the conditions and that we start from their program.”
Questioned by L’Express, the leader of the socialists Boris Vallaud said nothing else. “We are ready. Let the president appoint a government from the New Popular Front!” And added: “The French no longer trust the President of the Republic to show them a path. They chose him in spite of him. Emmanuel Macron no longer has the upper hand. Power is not in the Elysée but in Parliament. This path is the New Popular Front in government to implement as quickly as possible the emergency social measures expected by the French…”