After ten days of debate, the National Assembly did not finally go to the end of the study of the pension reform. While the text is now about to arrive in the Senate, the protest movement continues and could even gain momentum in early March. But the last few days have brought to light tensions and strategic differences between the unions and the Nupes parties, in particular La France insoumise.
On paper, everything is going for the best in the best of worlds between the unions and Nupes. ” We talk to each other every day “, welcomes the deputy Boris Vallaud in charge of the interface for the socialists. ” We are complementary, each in its own lane “, Adds his Insoumise counterpart, Aurélie Trouvé.
Except that the lines of this corridor tend to be bitten on both sides, and this, since the beginning of the mobilization. First hitch: the walk for our retirements organized in January by La France insoumise (LFI), experienced by the unions as an attempt to take control of the social movement and which accentuated their mistrust.
Unions responded this week by weighing in with all their weight so that article 7 of the reform, which pushes back the retirement age from 62 to 64, be put to the vote. Objective: to put the deputies of the majority and the right before their responsibilities, but also to impose their strategy on Nupes.
Jean-Luc Melenchon angry
The leader Insoumis got angry with the communist deputies subscribing to the tactics of the unions. This obviously tensed the PCF, but also among the other allies of the Nupes. ” Mélenchon always wants to impose his law, he is the saboteur of the social movement “, thus annoyed an ecologist deputy.
But the score played by the union leaders is also criticized beyond the Insoumis. Their refusal to appear in the demonstrations with the representatives of the parties annoys. And their strategy of influence in the parliamentary battle was experienced as an affront. ” When Laurent Berger, the boss of the CFDT, gives me orders, it pisses me off, he knows nothing about parliamentary procedure “, grumbled a communist deputy.
The pressure now on the unions
Yes, because they are the ones who take control. They threaten to block France from March 7, if the government still does not give up the reform. ” Too late “, we regret in the ranks Insoumis. The blocking of the country, Jean-Luc Mélenchon advocated it from the start of the movement.
But La France Insoumise wants to bury the hatchet and has decided to reach out to the unions. LFI wants to organize a big joint meeting to show unity and defuse tensions. No response from union leaders for the moment.