Jean-Luc Boujon (in Clermont-Ferrand)
Sophie Binet created a surprise this Friday at the 53rd Congress of the CGT, becoming the first woman elected to head the union. Unknown to the general public a few hours ago, the new secretary general has nevertheless shown a lot of fighting spirit from her first hours at the head of the CGT.
For the first time, a woman was elected general secretary of the CGT. Sophie Binet, 41, was not one of the declared candidates and created a surprise on Friday at the 53rd Congress held in Clermont-Ferrand. Coming from the Federation of Executives, Engineers and Technicians, she showed a lot of fighting spirit from her first hours at the head of the union.
Your willful and combative
Just over 24 hours ago, Sophie Binet was an unknown. But her first steps at the head of the CGT showed a woman very comfortable in the gallery, with a determined and very combative tone. The proof: this song hostile to the President of the Republic that she launches even before her first speech. “Emmanuel Macron, if you continue, it will be all dark at home…”, she sings in chorus with the activists.
Combative also when it comes to putting pressure on Elisabeth Borne before Wednesday’s meeting at Matignon. “It’s very simple: we are waiting for the withdrawal of the pension reform. Point”, she announces from the outset. “It may only last 5 minutes. It’s really very simple: things are in the hands of the government.”
“When she makes commitments, she keeps them”
A determination and a radicalism displayed which can only please the hardest fringe of the CGT, which expressed itself a lot during this congress, in particular to challenge the balance sheet of the outgoing management. One of its representatives, Sébastien Menesplier, from the Fédération Mines Énergies, was won over. “She’s like me: when she has things to say, she says them. When she makes commitments, she keeps them. That’s what I appreciate in CGT unionism today,” he said. -he.
A very successful introduction therefore for the first woman elected at the head of the CGT in 128 years of existence.