May 1: Nupes wants to be united against pensions, despite internal disagreements

The unions hope for a historic Labor Day: 500,000 to 650,000 people are expected in demonstrations this May 1 by the authorities and the inter-union hopes to reach 1.5 million, while the mobilization against the pension reform decreases in the street in recent weeks. For this, all the trade unions will be side by side in the processions, a first since 2009, even if the disagreement is there: the CFDT says it is open to new negotiations with the government, not the CGT or Force Ouvrière.

New political impetus for Nupes?

Politicians will also be present in the midst of social discontent. This will be the case of Nupes, which plays big during this mobilization. Because within the Left Alliance, we say that a popular momentum this May 1 would be synonymous with a new political momentum. The image of a strong, united left, on the front line against pension reform, is an almost unexpected boon for the elected representatives of Nupes, more torn than ever.

Between the debate for or against a common list in the European elections, the tensions with Fabien Roussel or the Adrien Quatennens affair, only the pension reform is still resolving Nupes a little bit. There is therefore no question of missing the opportunity of this May 1st. Internally, the message is clear: “we are only talking about pensions”, confides an ecologist deputy, even if this new day of mobilization will not make the government back down.

The left wants to maintain the pressure until May 3, the day of the decision of the Constitutional Council to validate or not the referendum of shared initiative. A kind of last stand of the Nupes which will have, in case of refusal, to find a new common fight to avoid the implosion.