Sophie Binet (CGT) sees “a disregard for the voters’ vote” in the appointment of a right-wing prime minister
The secretary general of the CGT, Sophie Binet, affirmed on Thursday that the appointment of Michel Barnier, from the Republicans (LR), as prime minister, demonstrated “a disregard for the voters’ vote”reporting “a lot of worry”, to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
This is about“a person from the party that came in last place, whose political survival will depend on the RN since it is they who will swing a motion of censure one way or the other”she said, stressing that “Voters mobilized like never before to beat the RN” during the legislative elections. “In all other democracies in the world, the party that comes out on top is asked to form a government and find a majority, and it is only if it does not succeed that something else is built.”she noted.
“Previous positions [de Michel Barnier] “We are very worried about this.” in view of the issues on the table, she continued, while the new Prime Minister had notably spoken out in favour of retirement at 65 during his campaign for the right-wing primary in 2021 and a drastic toughening of immigration.
Asked about a possible call from the union to join Saturday’s demonstration with La France Insoumise and several student union organizations against Emmanuel Macron’s “coup de force”, she stressed that the CGT has “already decided” by not joining this call. But she judged that this nomination confirms that the mobilization “is legitimate”. Other union officials were expectant.
“We’ll see on the evidence”said François Hommeril (CFE-CGC), while Cyril Chabanier (CFTC) noted that Michel Barnier « sembl[ait] to be someone who is in dialogue and compromise”. Laurent Escure (UNSA) observed on X that “Anything that would be in a form of continuity, tolerated by the RN, will only increase the crisis”while for Solidaires the appointment of Mr. Barnier “does not respond to social and ecological emergencies”.
