Uncertainty in France's Leadership

In the heart of Europe, France is grappling with political unrest as President François Bayrou faces a confidence vote from the French socialists on September 8th. This move comes as a response to Bayrou's proposed policies, which include freezing pensions, cutting public health care, and removing two public holidays.

The question of how the left should position itself against the political shift to the right or the potential fascization of society is a relevant one, not only in France, but also in other countries. The left must highlight the neoliberal character of right-wing politics and make it clear that the extreme right is against legal minimum wages, rent control, taxation of wealth, and area-based wage agreements, and for the abolition of the retirement age.

As a countermeasure, a grassroots initiative for a general strike on September 10th has emerged in France. Unions have announced strikes and protests for the following week, and industrial struggles, social and ecological movements, and extra-parliamentary movements are indispensable in the fight against fascism.

Social antifascism involves exposing the social causes of the right-wing trend, organizing resistance against attacks on wages, working conditions, and social systems. A good narrative about social and cultural participation, the importance of social infrastructure, and its role in quality of life is important in this fight.

The left must also accept the cultural war opened by the right and oppose traditional images of family, sexuality, nationalism, chauvinism, and racism with emancipatory ideas. Alliances against the right remain important to keep up the pressure on the Union and prevent a coalition with the far-right Rassemblement National (RN).

Meanwhile, the far right in France also wants to vote against Bayrou. The collapse of Bayrou's government could potentially benefit the far-right RN. To counter this, the left must formulate a recognizable system alternative to capitalism, beyond the demand for redistribution.

Democratic social economy, societal appropriation of the economy by a majority of the population, overcoming all forms of exploitation and oppression, and a new relationship between society and nature are fundamental components of a politics transcending capitalism.

In neighbouring Germany, the group demanding the expropriation of large real estate companies like Deutsche Wohnen to establish a democratic social economy is the Bündnis gegen Verdrängung und #Mietenwahnsinn (Alliance against Displacement and Rent Madness). This movement calls for the socialization of the largest real estate companies according to Article 15 of the German Basic Law.

As the political landscape in France continues to evolve, it is clear that the fight against fascism requires a united front, with industrial struggles, social movements, and extra-parliamentary movements working together to protect the rights and welfare of the people.