All sections of the French left seem are calling for immediate mobilisations against the Sarko government, according to Le Monde. Well, all sections of the French left except for Lutte ouvrière, which doesn’t seem to regard the new administration as much of a problem.
Olivier Besancenot of the LCR argues that with the election of Sarkozy, ‘it is the programme of Medef [the French employers’ organisation] that is ingrained in power’.
He adds: ‘It is to the construction of social and democratic resistance that the LCR intends to dedicate all its forces from now on. It will take all initiatives in this direction in the coming days.’
The Communist Party’s Marie-George Buffet argues: ‘Our social system has already been badly damaged by years of neoliberal policies. Our democratic rights are in danger.
‘It is necessary to assemble to block the politics that the right is going to set in motion. I make an urgent call for the mobilisation of all the forces of the left to organise a ripost.’
José Bové – the preferred candidate of the SWP in Britain – wants ‘resistance in the face of a regime that promises to be authoritarian, and solidarity with all those who risk suffering in the coming months measures of discrimination and exclusion’. Even the Greens profess themselves up for ‘the battles’.
But LO’s Arlette Laguiller isn’t getting worked up on this one. She observes casually: ‘The world of work should not lower its head, because this election isn’t a catastrophe.’
In a way, I hope her contrarian view is justified, and that the French working class aren’t about to be subjected to the full neoliberal monty.
Maybe Sarkozy will play for time in the first instance, as he assesses the balance of class forces. That’s what Thatcher did for the first few years in office. But I suspect she is utterly, utterly wrong.
Comments (14)
‘The world of work should not lower its head, because this election isn’t a catastrophe.’
Arlette is just giving the typical "It's just the same old capitalism, run by the same old (new) capitalists" LO line. In some sense, she might be right.
And in saying that workers "shouldn't lower their heads", isn't she just saying that the working class mustn't buckle down and give in - and in a very coded way saying they should "prepare to fight".
Although Sarkosy has won, the result was pretty close. He hasn't got carte blanche to do what he likes - yet. That might come after the parliamentary elections.
'Jose Bove - the preferred candidate of the SWP in Britain'
Hmm - given the British SWP called for votes for Olivier Besancenot (for the second time running) this statement is a little odd.
Also odd is the fact that there is no mention of the fact that the preferred candidate of the leader of Dave's Party was, er, Sarkozy...
Snowball, you're almost as irritating as the increasingly irrelevant Trot gimp groups of the French far-left.
Quite. You know full well, Snowball, who the SWP "preferred". It's not necessarily the same thing as who they "called for votes for" - and in this case it certainly wasn't.
As we've seen before snowball doesnt *do* politics.
another political illiterate is Richard Seymour of Lenins Tomb.
anyone wanting a laugh should have a look at his take on France and/or Turkey at the moment.
Write it down and pass it on, I'm backing the Paris jihad the second it hits the streets. Damn it
can anyone think how Richard,the Ballymena boy student is going to back jihad?
And the SWP hack has now posted a bit of nearly started shaving psephology on France headed "Paris Jihad"
Which he claims is a title to "enrage Neocons"
No one is enraged Richard.
They're too busy laughing.
I'm just amazed you haven't tried to pin the blame for Sarkozy's victory on Tommy Sheridan and/or the Socialist Party yet - you're obviously slipping...
I think Arlette's comment's - taken in context - are not so stupid: wait until Sarko attacks, then organise to resist. The problem with that section of the left that has already started rioting against him, is that it looks as though it objects to democracy.
I'm backing the Paris jihad the second it hits the streets.
Hahahahahahaha! LMAO that should go on a beer mat or something!
What is the exact point of insulting Snowball or baiting the SWP? Callinicos argued for Bove as the unitary candidate. After he wasn't the unitary candidate Socialist Worker called for a vote for Besancecot. In the latest ISJ Harman is very sniffy about Bove. You're not sectarians are you?
Heavens, no.
"I think Arlette's comment's - taken in context - are not so stupid: wait until Sarko attacks, then organise to resist. The problem with that section of the left that has already started rioting against him, is that it looks as though it objects to democracy."
Yeah that seems eminently sensible to be honest, at this point. I'm sure Sarko's gonna set plenty of traps for the Left to fall into, as Thatcher did. Rioting on day one might end up being one of those traps.
I get the feeling the left should not have lost this election.
There seems to be a minor version of American cultural voting going on in France. Some working class perhaps ex-Left voted for Le Pen and/or Sarkozy on cultural, 'moral', nationalitic issues, rather than economics and previous ideology.
This is similar to some poorer folk in the US voting for the Republicans on conservative cultural issues - hence obviating economic concerns.
Benji, it's not 'American' at all: remember a certain de Gaulle?
I blame the electors.
Get another lot, say I.