Baguettes, Eiffel Tower, art and independent film. These are some of the things that come to mind when people hear the word “France”. It’s much more than that though. There is increasing unemployment, abuse of migrant workers, intolerance, union-busting and other social and political problems. A left-wing coalition by the name of the New Anti-Capitalist Party or Nouveau Parti Anticapitaliste (NPA) is trying to fix these problems.
The NPA began its existence after the Revolutionary Communist League (LCR) decided to form a stronger, broader and more independent and radical left-wing organisation to unite leftists of all varieties throughout Frances. This has so far been effective in some ways including their new support from members of unions, anarchists and other activists.
The sudden announcement early this year of the NPA by its leader, Olivier Besancenot, a postman, was refreshing news for many leftists in Europe and elsewhere.
The experience has so far been as refreshing for the NPA themselves. Most of its newcomers have no previous political association and while the LCR had weak support from migrant communities, they are also starting to make a significant portion of their member base under the NPA. This is significant to the social and political situation in France, where migrant workers are increasingly becoming radicalised due to poorer working conditions and wages. Over the past few weeks, thousands of undocumented workers in Paris have been going on strike. France24 also covered a story just last week of the inhumane working conditions of undocumented migrant workers working on the Paris metro. Apparently, every metro, subway and rail station in Paris are built by these undocumented migrant worker. [1]
Despite its aim to be a broad left coalition, the NPA is refusing to go down the path of the French Communist Party (PCF) and the Greens which have been dragged to the right by the social liberal Socialist Party (PS).
Many older members of the NPA support it based on their experiences with trying to build the left wing movement in France. We should not think of a revolution in France or around the world as one that is overdue, but one that should be expected to come much later. Hence, their broad coalition, moving steadily to win support among the masses.
This patient and broad struggle includes activities regularly held in their Paris office and bookshop at rue Taine, which had a hive of activity.
While capitalism is the enemy of the working class around the world, the experiences of our struggles are different. There are many things, though, that we can learn. How do we build such a broad movement here? The anti-ISA campaigns and some ad-hoc campaigns like the anti-fuel price hike have have large support from the masses, but we lack those numbers elsewhere.
Our nationwide coalitions, campaigns and mobilisations like May Day, JERIT and its campaigns like the 2008 bicycle campaign and World Habitat Day need to be broader. These events fight for the rights of low-income workers which make up the majority of the population and make a direct and positive impact on their lives. Yet, only hundreds of activists have been actively involved in them, and they are each organised by a few dozen. How do we get the hundreds and thousands of other Malaysians involved?
At the time site, we cannot compromise on our values. The point after all is to turn the nation left, not to broaden our left-wing movement only for it to become a broad, impotent movement dragged to the right. The NPA has so far been very careful about this, hence their need to keep a safe distance from the Socialist Party. This is something we can all learn from the experiences of others including the NPA to apply rationally in the Malaysian context.