" It's the sprig of thrush from the French Communist Party, it's free!" It is not yet 7 am this Friday, May 1, when Fabien Roussel hands out his little bouquets to employees who have just left work at the La Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital in the 13th arrondissement of Paris. CGT flags were installed by the handful of activists who distribute the strands with the PCF national secretary, carefully respecting the distances. Whatever the political opinions of those who receive thrush, the smiles are there. Nobody refuses this traditional "lucky charm" associated with Labor Day.
A May 1st "masked but not muzzled"
For health reasons, there will be no parades this year, except virtual on social networks or at the windows of a few. " It is the first time in 75 years that we have not walked, with the exception of the war years ", notes with a pinch Fabien Roussel, the boss of the Communist Party. The first time also since 1945 that thrush is not sold on the streets by party activists. A heavy financial loss for the locals, likely to amount to several hundred thousand euros ...
The PCF, which was to launch the celebrations for its 100th anniversary in April, does not yet know if the annual Humanity Festival will be held next September. Discussions are underway with the high official Jean Castex, charged by Matignon of the exit of the confinement.
Fabien Roussel is clear. " Our goal is not to spread the virus ." No question therefore, already this May 1, to challenge the prohibitions on the sale of thrush. With regrets comparable to those of florists, who first believed that they could sell them ... Before being denied by the government. " We wanted to mark a symbolic action in front of this Parisian hospital, " explains the deputy from the North. “ We wanted to manifest ourselves to the world of work in the field, the one who is most exposed to the virus, whether private or public. These are the same people who were on the roundabouts a few months ago, on the streets or in front of the departments, asking for more resources and higher wages. It is not up to them to pay for the crisis! "
These words, Fabien Roussel plans to develop Friday evening, at 6 pm, during a speech broadcast on the Internet from his office in Place du Colonel-Fabien. The PCF national secretary will then ask " wage increases rather than bonuses " for the exposed workers ".
Support for the mayor of Montreuil who refuses to reopen the schools
Fabien Roussel is also very upset against the government's deconfinement plan, which " only refers to everyone's responsibility and civility, without any clear directives and without any democratic centralism ". He points in particular to the question of transport in Île-de-France, where the number of travelers will have to be divided by 5 to avoid a new wave of contagion. " The management of public transport must be steered at the national level, not by placing the responsibility on the mayors, school directors or the only citizens ".
In this heavy matter, Fabien Roussel " fully " supports the Communist mayor of Montreuil (Seine-Saint-Denis), Patrice Bessac, who has just announced his intention, out of prudence, not to reopen the 54 schools in his Ile-de-France commune. Among other things, the town councilor deplores “ the absence of formal and detailed health recommendations ”.