Chotti’s permanence while high: “It’s not normal that we’re coming to this,” Philippe Martinez says.

Philippe Martinez condemns the violence, but blames Emmanuel Macron for it. Four days after the launch of 49.3 on pension reform, the CGT leader was a guest this Sunday, March 19, of the BFM Politique program in partnership with Le Parisien – Today in France. After the outbursts that took place at several rallies in France, Martinez stressed that his union “always condemned violence on the sidelines of demonstrations.” In calmness and determination.

When asked about the stoning of LR MP Eric Ciotti in Nice, Philippe Martinez agreed that “it’s not normal that we end up doing this”. Other hotlines, including most parliamentarians, were vandalized over the weekend. Cégétiste assured that this had nothing to do with actions aimed at cutting off the electricity of some elected officials. “This is different,” he chiseled, maintaining those cuts.

Without insisting on condemning the violence, he recalled that unions in a letter sent to Emmanuel Macron “warned” about these risks. “I don’t understand that the government and especially the president don’t take our warnings seriously, the discontent is deep,” he insisted.

“More than ever, I ask them to keep moving”

“The government and the president must assume their responsibilities, it is their responsibility if the anger reaches this level,” insisted Philip Martinez. Before a new day of demonstration on Thursday, at the call of the union, he said he was sure: “I’m sure people will.” He did not deny that at the moment there are few young people on the street, and admitted that he would like this to change. “Young people, their future is at stake, must be mobilized more massively. But discussing, showing what is likely to happen to them, it touches,” he said.

As for the bachelor’s degree exams, which start on Monday, he stressed that it was “important”. “This must be done in good conditions so that they go as well as possible,” he asked, not assuring that this would be the case. “When there is such anger, I can wish for anything, there is anger…”

Finally, speaking of garbage pickers, Philippe Martinez brushed aside the health risks in cities where trash cans are not collected, calling instead for the strike to continue. “More than ever, I ask them to keep moving, garbage collectors and others. This is the symbol of the staff that we welcomed during Covid and for whom nothing has changed since then. (…) Can we for once put ourselves in the shoes of the working people? What is Darmanin, Dussopt and Le Maire doing this for a month to see? »

Once again condemning the use of 49.3, the unionist asked MPs to vote this Monday for a vote of no confidence: “This is an opportunity to vote for what you were unable to vote for last Thursday.”