Has the government underestimated the strength of the CGT and the workers? After a three-week strike at refineries, nearly 30% of service stations are now experiencing gasoline supply difficulties. In Hauts-de-France, more than half of the stations experience difficulties with at least one fuel.
A situation that could continue, and that forces the President of the Republic to regain control of this file.
“He looked after him very closely this weekend,” Emmanuel Macron’s entourage told BFMTV, adding that the Head of State discussed the issue with the Prime Minister.
Macron “tries to calm things down”
“He had discussions with the main actors in this crisis (…) He had an attempt to try to calm things down and resolve the situation. Since Saturday morning, she has been trying to calm things down and find a way out.” We are still in the President’s entourage.
On Friday, traveling to Prague, in the Czech Republic, where a European summit was being held, Emmanuel Macron had already called for “calm” and “responsibility” in the face of gasoline fever.
A call repeated by several of his ministers, which was not necessarily heeded. The entourage of the head of state is thus quite severe with the management of the crisis in recent days and recognizes errors in communication, underlining the gap between the political discourse of the Government and the reality that the French are experiencing.
He cites as an example Olivier Véran, who a few days ago refused to speak explicitly about scarcity, or Agnès Pannier Runacher, who hinted that the crisis would be resolved this weekend.
“There is a debate about the level of wealth redistribution”
However, the crisis only worsened throughout the week and into the weekend. While thousands of French people have had great difficulty getting supplies in recent hours, discussions will start on Monday between the unions and Esso-ExxonMobil management.
“There may be an agreement tomorrow (Monday) at Esso. That leaves two options for the CGT, to know if the strike ends or not”, analyzes the entourage of the President of the Republic.
“For Total, either they stop the movement to enter into negotiations, or they continue. But if they continue, there is a risk of isolating this movement,” continues this source, who recalls that the company “is at the center of the debates.” about super-profits”. And according to Emmanuel Macron’s entourage, “there is a debate about the level of redistribution of wealth”.
“The executive has shown immense lightness”
Because Total has generated staggering profits. But wages have not increased accordingly. Hence the anger of the employees and the twenty-day strike.
And the calendar did not work in favor of the President of the Republic and the government. This weekend, Elisabeth Borne and a dozen ministers were in Algeria, a trip scheduled to start in late September. But keeping Clément Beaune in the delegation raised questions.
“The executive has shown immense lightness. (…) Where is the Minister of Transport?” So asked editorialist Christophe Barbier on our set on Sunday night.
Especially since, in a few days, on Sunday October 16, the Nupes organize a big march in Paris against the high cost of living and climate inaction. A demonstration in which many personalities call to participate, and which could breathe new life into the social conflict.
Source: BFM TV
