En Passant

From John Mullen in Paris 9 December 2018 It is hard to count demonstrators spread out across thousands of mobilizations, but it seems that over half a million people were involved in « Act Four » of the Yellow Vest mobilization in France on Saturday 8th December. In Bordeaux a huge joint demonstration between university […]

John Mullen in France wrote this after the events of Saturday but before the back-down (at least for the time being) by Macron on imposing the fuel tax. He says, among other things: ‘Macron’s pathetic excuse for the fuel tax rises is the environment, whereas in fact he is busy closing down thousands of kilometres of regional railway lines, cutting the funding for local government, and slashing the social housing programmes which allow employees to live near their workplaces. So it would be good to draw the links.’

This is a 29 November 2018 interview with John Mullen in Paris by Left Berlin. It gives a good background to and analysis of the yellow vest protests in France and their class nature. I will publish a second even more recent report by John in a day or two. 

The weakness of our side has been the strategy of the union leaderships. Though they have supported sections calling strikes, they have not wanted to build even for a one-day general strike, which could realistically have been organized on this issue. And there is not an alternative leadership for the working class.

Similarly on the political front. Throughout the movement members of anticapitalist groups (such as Ensemble, the group I belong to, or the New Anticapitalist Party) have been very much involved in building up actions. And the Communist Party and Left Party have mobilized comprehensively. Nevertheless, no organization has given a clear and visible political lead on how to win.

Writing in Socialist Worker UK, and republished in Australian socialist magazine Solidarity, Dave Sewell starts off by saying:

‘A wave of strikes and protests to defend workers’ rights is causing a crisis for France’s Labour-type government. President Francois Hollande’s proposed Work Law increases working hours and gives bosses more power to sack workers.’

To read the whole article in Solidarity magazine click here (via my blog). The French resistance that could take down a government

Protesters filled the streets of Paris on the eve of the United Nations Cop21 climate change summit–despite president Francois Hollande’s best attempts to keep them away writes Dave Sewell in Socialist Worker UK from Paris.

John Mullen in Paris has written a heartfelt note about the bombings, the anti-democratic and brutal nature of the French State, the real risks of a racist and fascist backlash and the need for the left to unite to fight Islamophobia. Click ‘Paris three days after the attacks: State of emergency, profiteers and confusions’ to read the whole article on John’s blog.

I have read a few letter in newspapers recently drawing reactionary conclusions from the terrorist attacks in France. These include one which said if there were a terrorist attack in Australia it would be the fault of all we bleeding hearts. Here is my response to this drivel.

Nick Riemer in France writes about the terrorist attacks and the ruling class’s warmongering response in socialist magazine Solidarity. Among other things he says:

‘The opportunism of France’s political leadership will be paid for in more tragic and avoidable blood-baths, whether in France or in Raqqa. As a worshipper at a northern Paris mosque told Libération, “If we consider ourselves as at war, then the terrorists will have won their battle”. The three mainstream parties have no interest in that lesson: ordinary people’s interests do not figure in their calculations. A new French war on terror won’t bring peace; it will only reinforce the power of the political establishment.

‘Everyone else’s interests can only be safeguarded by a progressive and democratic movement from below. The radical, anti-capitalist left has a heavy responsibility, both in France and outside it.’

To read the whole article click here.

Julien Salingue lives in Paris and is a leading member of the New Anti-capitalist Party in France. He is a long-time Palestine solidarity activist and the author of La Palestine d’Oslo. He wrote the following comments after coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13 that left at least 129 dead and 352 injured. The article was first published at Resisteralairdutemps.blogspot.fr. It was translated by Todd Chretien and published in Socialist Worker US.

Fight for another world, a world that is not only possible, but more necessary than ever. Keep our heads and don’t give in to emotional pressure and shock. You may accuse me of being a dreamer. But my dreams never killed anyone in contrast to your “pragmatism.” More than ever, we must “resist the irresistible.” That’s the only way to move ahead. So…No, Cambadélis. No, Sarkozy. No, Hollande. “We” are not at war. It is not my war, it is not our war. It is your war. And once more, they are our dead. Just like Madrid in 2004, London in 2005, Egypt two weeks ago, Beirut this week. And everywhere else you sow your terror. Your wars, our dead. Your war, no more.