September 1, 2025 editorial of the New Anticapitalist Party-Revolutionaries (NPA-R) in France, translated from French.
French Prime Minister Bayrou’s counterattack, calling for a “confidence” vote in the [National Assembly] two days before the September 10th mobilization, which will likely cause the collapse of his government and his resignation, did not affect all those who are actively preparing or eagerly awaiting this day “to block everything.” On the contrary, it has increased the desire to be there, to defy this government that is so servile to the rich and the bosses. On Sunday evening, the (for now) Prime Minister made a small concession: he will only steal one day of vacation from us instead of two, but he remains inflexible on stealing two years of our lives through pension cuts. This makes us furious, and we must show it!
It’s not up to us to foot Macron and Bayrou’s €44 billion ($51 billion) bill!
This “plan” to save money is a declaration of war on workers and the working class, made in the name of employers and the bourgeoisie. Under the pretext of making us pay their debt, [President] Macron and Bayrou are trying to pick our pockets to finance the more than 50% increase in the military budget since 2017 and, above all, the €211 ($247) billion in annual subsidies to companies, i.e., to their CEOs and shareholders. They want to cut 3,000 jobs in the civil service and freeze salaries, reduce the duration of unemployment benefits for workers who have lost their jobs, freeze pensions, and eliminate the 10% tax allowance for retirees. And, to top it all off, they want to extend the waiting period for sick leave to seven days, increase deductibles, and eliminate or reduce reimbursement for essential medications, including for some long-term conditions. Not to mention calling into question the fifth week of the legal minimum for paid vacation… Just that!
Workers’ anger is just waiting to explode, and no one should try to divert it!
While the trade unions spent the summer “petitioning,” challenging, or distancing themselves from the call for September 10th, assemblies were held in many cities to prepare to “block the country” on this date. This prompted major maneuvers within all the political and trade union apparatuses, which fear that this movement, beyond their control, will lead to a strike that will spread and sweep away everything in its path. Very quickly, the far-right party RN (National Rally) and its spokespeople Bardella and Le Pen said they had nothing to do with the movement and positioned themselves as a solution… to strike even harder against public services and immigrant workers. The socialist party (PS), shameless, is now offering to govern… at the head of a pluralistic left… with Macron! But without La France Insoumise (the furthest left party in the national assembly), which is calling for a general strike to bring down Macron… and to divert everything towards an early presidential election from which nothing good can come. As for the “united” union leadership, there is no call for the 10th, but a call to strike on the 18th, which makes no mention of the 10th… As for those who are calling for the 10th, such as the CGT union, this comes after a 180-degree turnaround, under pressure from the expected success of the 10th.
Clearly, to win, we must unite and organize at the grassroots level!
Let’s strengthen the mobilization starting now: We need to discuss among colleagues to see how far each of us is willing to go, how to build and expand a real movement “that blocks everything” to defeat Macron and the bosses, and build a strike that spreads until it becomes general. Blocking means striking. Bayrou wants to commit political suicide: good riddance. But whatever government emerges from the upcoming parliamentary upheavals, it will be a government that fights against workers. Let’s make Bayrou and all his clones pack their bags. Let’s impose a general wage increase—no one can live on less than €2,000 a month! Let’s impose a ban on layoffs and impose massive hiring in the public services. There’s money in the bosses’ pockets!
