Alexis Delafontaine
modified to
10:34 a.m., March 06, 2023
First day of a crucial week regarding pension reform. The unions promise a France at a standstill on Tuesday and the executive has its eyes riveted on the Senate where the text is being examined. For the Nupes, the day of March 7 will be decisive in tipping the movement.
This Tuesday, March 7, we block everything. This is the slogan carried by the Nupes in recent days. The New Popular Ecological and Social Union is aware that the battle is lost in Parliament and the left-wing elected representatives are leaving it to the streets. Beyond the blocking of transport, factories and refineries, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of La France insoumise, is counting on French youth to rock the movement. His protege, the rebellious MP Louis Boyard, challenged the students.
“We are launching the #BlocusChallenge. Post your most beautiful photos of blockades, high schools and universities. Among these photos, we will draw one and the team of blockers will be invited to visit the National Assembly with us. So , we meet on Tuesday March 7 to put the country at a standstill and participate in the blockade challenge”, declares the deputy of the 3rd district of Val-de-Marne.
Less than 24 hours before the start of a general strike against the pension reform, the Nupes multiplies this kind of initiative and tries to regain control of the social movement, for the moment dominated by the CGT and the CFDT. This Monday, March 6, the competition between politicians and trade unionists should therefore go up a notch.