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Declaration by the French Communist Party National Council – 20th of June 2016

The huge demonstration on the 14th of June showed that mobilisation against the draft labour law in France is greater than ever. Employees refuse to see the rights they have gained over the years through struggle, and thanks to victories of the left, pulverised in one fell swoop. Pubic opinion broadly supports the movement for withdrawal of the law.

Rallies, demonstrations, strikes and other forms of action used by workers and citizens, responding to the call of a growing, united trade union front and youth organisations, are completely legitimate. These actions bear the mark of responsibility, the refusal of violence and provocations.

While mobilisation has been continuous over more than four months, the public continues to support the movement despite the daily difficulties it occasions, despite the violence of hoodlums on the fringes of demonstrations, despite police violence against peaceful demonstrators, and despite the hateful campaign against the CGT trade union. The people, the workers, youth no longer accept to live in the constant state of vulnerability and insecurity that the government seeks to impose, with the generalisation of uncertain employment and social dumping that the El Khomri law promotes, in a country that is creating more wealth than ever.

The mobilisation has already achieved results and may win the day. The Communist Party calls for participation in the actions organised next 23rd and 28th of June, and for further solidarity with the striking workers.

Rather than admitting the reality of this movement, the government and the president of the Republic are locked in denial, contempt, and authoritarianism as they attempt to force their draft law through. Because they cannot get a majority in parliament, they intend to use Article 49-3 of the Constitution to prevent all debate. The objective consists in letting the right do the dirty work in the Senate, despite the intense resistance of the Communist senators, in order to persuade the public that this law is the lesser of two evils. And yet, their manoeuvring notwithstanding, they have not been able to gain popular support. They continue to wage a campaign against the CGT and trade unions, using division and lies; they even tried to imply that a vile terrorist assassination was somehow related to the CGT. They are now threatening to revert to a completely unconstitutional prohibition on demonstrations. This is unacceptable.

The French Communist Party has warned the people about the irresponsible attitude of the authorities in power. It is the government’s attitude that is entirely responsible for the standoff, a standoff that could come to an end immediately if the government would suspend the parliamentary debate on the labour law and open negotiations with the unions.

Two other options are open. Our members of parliament, in the Senate and the National Assembly, are carrying out the battle with questions for debate and alternative proposals. The El Khomri law is the French employers’ association – the MEDEF’s – law. It is also a law directly dictated by European institutions. To fight unemployment and social dumping, we need a law that makes employment and training more secure, a reduction of the workweek, actions to cut the costs of finance and capital – proposals that the Communist MPs are drawing up now.
The government’s stubbornness is proof that it is desperate, abandoned by those who worked for its election. It provokes resentment, creates a risk of radicalisation, irreparable fissures in society, and violence. Their actions imperil the rule of law.

The government’s obstinance opens the door to right-wing extremists and the far right who seek to take power less than one year from now, in which case they would implement policies of social and democratic regression of a scope beyond belief.

Faced with this enormous danger, the social movement underway in opposition to the destruction of the French Labour Code is an opportunity for France and for the left. Faced with the authoritarianism of the government, we bring a message of hope for the defence of the principles of equality and solidarity, the foundation of our republican pact. Faced with the exploitation of fears and divisions within French society, we defend the collective action of workers, youth, and citizens. This is why the French Communist Party calls for support of the movement and unity.

The French Communist Party renews the appeal for building a new citizen’s Popular Front. It is time to open up a popular, citizens’ debate to define a pact of shared commitments for our country.

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le 22 June 2016

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