The great protests that recently erupted in France did not manage to stop the implementation of the Sarkozy government’s proposed pension reform, which was adopted in the French Senate on the 27^th October. In the aftermath of the law’s passage, the protests continued on a smaller scale and have by now slowly fizzled out.

Alain Krivine is a well-known veteran activist all the way back to the ’68 protests. He was a leading member of the former Ligue Communiste Révolutionnaire (LCR), which initiated the formation of the new anti-capitalist party, the Nouveau Parti Anticapitaliste (NPA).

In this 29^th October interview, Alain Krivine speaks about the importance of the protests. He outlines the NPA’s involvement as well as its development since its founding in February 2009.

The protests against the pension reform were spearheaded by the trade unions. While the unions were indispensable in turning out huge numbers of people into the streets, Alain Krivine pointed out that their strategy did not include the mobilisation of a national confrontation with the power, such as a general strike. But as the leadership of the big unions – especially the large CGT with about 700 000 members – feared being bypassed by the rank-and-file, they did support every strike, blockade and protest that took place.

Concretely, I don’t think there will be a general strike. But that is not only because of the trade union leaders, but also because of the financial crisis – it is difficult for people now and they need money. It is impossible for many to continue striking, and many don’t participate for money reasons.

Still, Krivine is optimistic:

– Each day the radicalisation of a very significant minority of people is growing. The inter-union organisation that is taking place, the blockages et cetera are making people radicalised, which is very important for us in the future.

And, he says, people still support the protests, even given widespread clashes between youth and police. Alain Krivine cited a poll that showed 61 per cent of the population were in favour of the protests.

The situation with regard to the unions is complex, he says. On the one hand, people have no illusions about the leadership and do not have much trust in them. On the other, they feel that the unions is the only force strong enough to mobilise a significant number of people.

Unlike earlier large protests in France this movement also lack self-organised structures, like strike committees, which is a big weakness, according to Alain Krivine. However, people spontaneously did take part in the movement:

In the demonstrations, many people come without banners. They participate but are not organised by the trade unions.

For the NPA, he says, the situation with the unions pose a dilemma. The new anti-capitalist party is clear on its position that a general strike is a necessary tool to force the hand of the government.

But we cannot call it – that is not our role, Alain Krivine says.

This is also the reason why we criticise the unions, but why we don’t attack them very hard: People don’t feel betrayed by them. After the movement, we must be more precise with our criticism, but only afterwards.

Now, it is too early to tell how people’s consciousness has developed – if they will feel betrayed or not.

What has the NPA:s role in the protests been?

It has been on different levels: Through propaganda, where we have developed our position on the tactics of struggle. The general strike has been one of the themes as well as the politicisation of the movement, and we have printed leaflets and posters for almost every strike.

Secondly, our militants are very active in the trade unions and mobilise there.

NPA is also active in the national coalition against the pension reform together with Socialist Party, the Communist Party and the Green Party. The coalition organises local meetings and demonstrations.

It’s a good thing. We have many disagreements with the socialist party, but it’s good that we work there.

The NPA also organise their own public meetings around the protests. Actually, Alain Krivine explains, a big majority of the party was so deeply involved in the mobilisations that it put the national party congress – which was supposed to be held in December – on hold. By now, the congress has been postponed until mid-January 2011.

I don’t think anyone has had the time to prepare for the congress! Comrades really have no time to read all the papers, he says.

The movement against the pension reform has contributed a big deal to the NPA, he thinks:

It has given us more unity, even in our internal debates. When in action, the differences are usually very small. Now, there are nuances, but no big differences – we are mainly in agreement.

The NPA:s next congress is important, as it will be the first one after its founding congress, which was held in February 2009.

Many things were not resolved there, which created a certain confusion among the rank and file.

But the main question is resolved: We cannot reform capitalism.

After this time – do you think it was the right decision to dissolve the LCR and form the NPA? Are you still excited about this project?

Personally, yes. Even if we have had problems.

We have probably lost about 3 000 members in one year, but not really because of political reasons. Hundreds of people wanted to join, but they were not politicised and they disappeared when there were no really big mobilisations taking place. But there is a new development now.

With the LCR, we had maximum 3 000 members. The majority of the present members don’t come from the LCR – and we wouldn’t have been able to win them to the LCR either. In the LCR we also didn’t have members in the private sectors, but now we do.

Generally speaking, NPA:s members are different from the extremely well-read members of the LCR and there have been some problems around the education of new members. Still – they are not reformists, but are clearly against capitalism and class collaboration á la the Socialist Party, Alain Krivine concludes:

They are very good members: Young, militant.

I think we were absolutely right. We are not sectarian – the party is a tool, not the aim. We now have a tool very different from the LCR.

Linn Hjort

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