The XXVth Congress of Force Ouvrière opens Monday in the urban area of Rouen, culminating in the election on Friday of the successor to the current secretary general, Yves Veyrier, who should, unless surprised, appoint the "
reformist
" Frédéric Souillot .
After the stormy congress of Lille in 2018, which had seen the secretary general Jean-Claude Mailly copiously booed, then the departure after six months of his successor Pascal Pavageau following the revelation of the existence of a file on union leaders, FO will be keen to project an image of unity.
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“
I think this Congress is going to be united and determined
,” Mr. Veyrier said on BFM Business on Wednesday.
Some 3,000 delegates are expected at the Parc des Expositions in Rouen.
The election of the secretary general by the National Confederal Committee (CCN) - the "
parliament
" of FO, bringing together representatives of the federations and departmental unions - is scheduled for Friday at the end of the day, after the formal closing of the Congress.
“Reformist” current
In 2018, Yves Veyrier, representative of the "
reformist
" current of FO, had to face two candidates, Christian Grolier (representatives of the "
Trotskyists
") and Patrice Clos (anarchists).
This time two candidates are in the running: Frédéric Souillot, current confederal secretary for the organization and legal affairs sector, 54 years old, and again Christian Grolier, boss of the powerful General Federation of Civil Servants, 56 years old.
Frédéric Souillot, from the federation of metallurgy, is also a "
reformist
", and enjoys the unofficial support of Jean-Claude Mailly.
Christian Grolier, who narrowly missed the election in 2018, would benefit this time from the support of some of the anarchists.
The transport federation, headed by Patrice Clos, “
has not made a choice yet
”, indicated this last Friday to AFP.
The Trotskyists are divided, and part of them, behind Hubert Raguin, supports Frédéric Souillot, according to some giving priority to strategic considerations over ideological coherence.
On both sides, the victory of Frédéric Souillot does not seem in any case to be debated, which could lead Christian Grolier to withdraw his candidacy next week.
Voting sometimes far from grassroots demands
This perspective does not only make people happy.
Fabrice Lerestif (anarchist) told AFP that he could "
neither support nor endorse Frédéric Souillot
", which is why he will vote for Christian Grolier.
With ten other union officials, including Patrice Clos, he signed a text which worries about the "
decline
" of FO, and calls for a statutory reform, while "
the silent majority
" is "
currently excluded from the administration of the confederation
.
The vote of the CCN, which brings together "
the great electors
" of FO, is sometimes far from the demands of the base, he points out.
“
Let the base take charge of its destiny, including leaving the well-marked paths that we would like it to take
,” he wrote to AFP.
Fabrice Lerestif would like the two candidates to be able to speak at the Congress podium - which is not provided for by statute -, stressing that there is "
an incongruity: the delegates, when they leave, will not know who is Frederic Souillot
.
The opponents of the latter criticize both his line - considered too conciliatory with power - as a lack of incarnation.
"
Given his career, I find it difficult to imagine him in the mandate of secretary general
", said in April to some journalists Christian Grolier, pointing to the lack of experience "
of files, the press, discussions at Matignon
" by Frederic Souillot.
“
Christian Grolier clearly displays a protest unionism, which will not be supportive.
Frédéric Souillot displays a claiming but reformist line
, ”explains Sébastien Busiris, from the powerful Federation of Employees and Executives.
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On condition of anonymity, a manager castigates an election “
on the sly
”, the late announcement of the departure of Yves Veyrier, at the end of February, not having allowed “
a more successful democratic debate
”.
Frédéric Souillot "
will be elected without having spoken, and I think he will organize things so that it lasts as long as possible
", he predicts.