Demonstrations, blockades, strikes: L'Huma gives a voice to those who are mobilizing against austerity on September 10

By playing the martyr of austerity, fallen on the field of honor to save our public finances, François Bayrou undoubtedly hoped to kill two birds with one stone: to offer himself a sensational exit while cutting the ground from under the feet of the September 10 movement, which he largely contributed to creating.

A risky bet. It is not excluded that in reality, the fall of the Prime Minister has provided an additional breath of fresh air to the participants who are preparing to act this Wednesday, September 10. "For us, it's a first victory ," assures a former yellow vest very active on several Telegram loops (encrypted messaging) of the movement. The fact that Bayrou puts his resignation in the balance proves that he was afraid of what we could do."

This movement was originally born in reaction to the policies of the outgoing Prime Minister. The announcement of the possible abolition of two public holidays, made on July 15, was quickly perceived as one symbol too many of an austerity policy targeting the majority and sparing the richest.

Born on social media outside of organized forces, the slogan "Block everything!" rallies a mixed galaxy, where we come across former yellow vests, anti-vax groups and political groups linked to the left and the far right.

From mid-August, however, it was left-wing groups that seemed to hold the upper hand on the social network X, thus marginalizing the most right-wing demands (fiscal Poujadism, reactionary sovereignty, conspiracy theories, etc.), as shown by an analysis carried out by the monitoring tool Visibrain. A shift to which several progressive parties (LFI, PCF, Ecologists, etc.) certainly contributed by displaying increasingly strong support for the movement.

In fact, the demands of one of the most active groups in the preparation of the 10th, Indignons-nous, are clearly part of a left-wing grammar, well beyond the simple response to François Bayrou's policy: citizen's right to scrutinize the use of public money, an "immediate end to gifts to the wealthy " , an anti-corruption plan, the repeal of the pension reform and the Duplomb law...

The CGT and Solidaires were not mistaken, also showing reasoned support for the movement, while maintaining strength for the inter-union day of action on the 18th against anti-social policies. "Without union organization, there can be no strike," recalled Sophie Binet, general secretary of the CGT, at the end of August.

Some business federations and unions have called for strikes starting this Wednesday in the transport, refinery, and education sectors. However, the profusion of slogans that have spread on Telegram and in general assemblies since this summer (credit card strike, self-isolation, blockades of logistics platforms and highways, etc.), as well as the informal nature of the movement, make predictions complex. One thing is certain: the social anger brewing in the country will not subside the day after the 10th, whatever the outcome of the day.