From our special correspondent in Brétigny-sur-Orge (Essonne)
Fabien Roussel’s big media debut necessarily involves a thunderous declaration. This year, it is his call to “invade” in particular “the prefectures” to put pressure on the government. Thursday morning, in Humanity then on France Info, the national secretary of the French Communist Party in fact called on the population to gather in front of the prefectures, and “invade them even if necessary”, to ask the State to “act” in the face of the increase in prices of food, energy and fuel. Later he called for the same to be done, for example, at gas stations.
Then this Friday, in front of the journalists that the communists gathered for the opening of the Fête de L’Humanité, Fabien Roussel clarified his point. As is often the case after a statement that creates controversy, the communist puts things into perspective a bit. “I have the impression that with this government, if we don’t bite the line a little, we won’t be heard,” explains the deputy from the North, who admits in some way to have forced the line a little. “I have the impression that with the meetings they want to string us through, they want to put us to sleep. And I won’t let myself fall asleep.”
Fabien Roussel refers here to the big meeting in Saint-Denis with party leaders and Emmanuel Macron at the beginning of the month, which could have a follow-up, and to the consultations that the Prime Minister, Élisabeth Borne, is holding these days with the parties represented in Parliament. The Communists must be received on Monday.
“Actions, immediately”
Fabien Roussel wants “acts, immediately, for purchasing power”. And if there is none “in the coming weeks (…), then we take action. Yes, we will call for peaceful, non-violent mobilizations. » The communist leader wants to be the “relay of the anger” of the people, of the tenants with massive load regulations, of those who pay more than 2 euros per liter for their gasoline. “The FN (sic) says ”it will change in 2027”, the French Communist Party says: ”it will change in 2023”. »
These Thursday’s statements, which have the color of those of the rebels – whom Fabien Roussel has criticized so much in form in recent months – did not go unnoticed by Jean-Luc Mélenchon. The former presidential candidate made a tweet, which we imagine was mocking on the edges: “This violent initiative is purely personal. (…) I therefore believe that it would not be reasonable to join in given the violence that it would imply in this total unpreparedness. » Response from Fabien Roussel: “I found that Mélenchon was slackening…” The rebellious leader will make a visit to the Fête de L’Humanité this Friday evening, in an atmosphere that promises to be tense.
Surprise guests from Nupes
In the entourage of the leader of the communists, it is explained that this outing was intended to put social questions at the heart of the media agenda. And it was successful. Unless the PCF is reminded of the eternal question of the union of the left with the looming European elections. At the very beginning of his lunch with the press, Fabien Roussel was surrounded by the Jeunes de la Nupes. These young rebels, ecologists, socialists and Generations – but not communists -, who recently published 166 common proposals for a united campaign for June 9, are demanding a meeting with the boss of the PCF. According to them, he did not follow through, so they provoked fate.
In a bittersweet, but cordial exchange, Fabien Roussel promised to read their proposals. “These are the methods of young people, I did the same thing when I was a Young Communist,” concluded the deputy from the North when his entourage, annoyed, had finished bringing out these few surprise guests.