“It was Covid, now it’s Ukraine. It’s getting harder and harder to be heard. Annoyed, Sylviane tries to make up for bad luck. Coming to Paris for the day of mobilization, she notes, looking at the Place de la République, the gathering place, that the demonstration of the day will not break participation records.
A nurse in a public establishment in Val-de-Marne, she “went to the capital” to defend her purchasing power. If the unions each carry their demands, all agree. If these demands echo the galloping inflation due to the war in Ukraine, they do not date from recent days. With inflation estimated at 3.4% for the year 2021, many employees have seen their purchasing power decrease. A point on which insists Marie, social worker: “The government wants to believe that everything is due to the conflict in Ukraine and that it will pass with 15 cents less on fuel and a few promises for the presidential election. »
Difficult to gather in the Covid and the war in Ukraine
Many would have liked to see more ranks. “People are a little resigned. We are coming out of two atrocious years, there is this horror that is happening in Ukraine and which threatens us. Some understand the absentees, others lecture them, but all of them especially regret the lack of support from politicians.
Because the latter are the great absentees of the day. Fabien Roussel, the communist candidate did make a (very) short appearance, the time to respond to the media. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a time announced present, was made to wear pale. “Those are the big ones, we never really expect them,” smiles Mohammed. The disappointment is rather not to see Nathalie Arthaud, the Lutte Ouvrière candidate, and especially Philippe Poutou: “They are real defenders of the workers. It’s a shame they didn’t come,” sighs Mohammed.
Macron announces his program and re-energizes protesters
If the low number of participants undermines some, the enthusiasm does not weaken in the ranks of the demonstrators. And the sight of Marine Le Pen’s campaign bus, in a street parallel to the route, even gives a spectacular boost to the crowd which presses into this crossroads, blocked by a dozen police officers, and begins to sing: “No d ‘fachos in our neighborhoods, no neighborhood for fachos! “The candidate of the National Rally, also absent, at least has the virtue of gathering… against her.
A message that could be sent to all candidates: the demonstrators will not disarm.