“We are here, we are here! “. It is noon on the market place of Versailles and we only hear them. A hundred demonstrators are posted in front of a row of police. In the sky float flags of different unions: Sud, Snes-Fsu, CGT, Solidaires… All have come to disrupt the trip of Sarah El Haïry, Secretary of State in charge of Youth and the SNU (universal national service), who must visit the SNU village, a space for promoting the scheme to inform young people likely to be interested. This is the eleventh stage of the tour planned across France to encourage 15-17 year olds to register for the cohesion stays planned in particular for this summer.
In recent days, the slightest movement of a member of the government gives rise to a hostile reception committee, with its concert of pans. Sarah El Haïry has already experienced this last week in Nantes, where the SNU village had to draw the curtain early. Ditto in Caen, last Saturday, where the same village was blocked by demonstrators. The information that the Secretary of State at Versailles was coming to Versailles on Wednesday was relayed on social networks, with several unions and citizens’ groups calling for mobilization.
“We want to keep the pressure on the government”
The sounds of pots and pans, whistles and chants resound in the square, which is usually very calm. A discontent that is expressed above all against the pension reform. “We want the party at 60”, “No withdrawal, no Olympics”, they thunder in chorus. Chloé, from Paris, is determined: “It’s our way of reminding that the country is not peaceful. That even in a right-wing city like Versailles, there can be mobilization. And that we will not let go of the government. “ Flag in hand, Aude, departmental secretary of the CGT education of Yvelines, does not intend to disarm either: “With each displacement of a minister, we will be heard. We want to keep the pressure on the government. We are in a strategy of images, ”she explains.
To avoid blocking access to the SNU village, the police keep the demonstrators at a distance. Mounted police are also there. After more than an hour late, Sarah El Haïry ends up arriving discreetly. All smiles and a calm expression, she greets the officials and thanks the UNS teams, before chatting with the young volunteers. She even lends herself to a quiz with them, asking them questions: “When do we celebrate World Environment Day? “, she asks. The youngsters get into the game. “Thank you for sharing your experience with other young people. It’s precious to lift the shyness of those who don’t dare to commit, ”she says, before taking part in a photo shoot.
The demonstrators also have a grudge against the SNU
In the distance, the chants of the demonstrators resonate: “The SNU is disgusting”, they shout. “We want more teachers, not SNU”. Because the device always arouses criticism. “The SNU is weeks of indoctrination. We don’t want young people to be marked by liberal values,” says Chloé. “We do not agree with the militarization of youth. We need resources in education and the cost of the SNU is exorbitant. We hope that no one will go to the pits, ”adds Aude.
The concert of saucepans visibly scared away families and young people who wanted to obtain information on the device. Since the beginning of the morning, only about thirty people have come to the stand. But according to Sarah El Haïry’s entourage, the cohesion stays in June and July recorded very good booking rates, even if no figures are revealed, some young people can give up at the last moment to leave.
“Our country will calm down in dialogue”
No question either for the Secretary of State to remain cloistered in her Parisian ministry: “I will continue to move, even if the period calls for a musical welcome”, she explains to us. A presence on the ground encouraged by Emmanuel Macron himself: “The president invites us to be in contact with the French. Our country needs unity and will calm down in dialogue,” she said.
A final lap, a few photo poses, and the Secretary of State gets back into her vehicle. The demonstrators do not even seem to have noticed his departure. But they also continue to occupy the land.