Several hundred thousand people took part in the mobilization on September 10. From dawn to dusk, the movement unfolded in various forms: blockades, rallies, demonstrations, pickets, and general assemblies. The atmosphere was radical and combative. Young people dominated the marches, especially in the big cities.

[Originally published in French at marxiste.org]

This is all the more significant given that the mobilization had to overcome many obstacles. This summer, the “liberal” press loudly denounced the hand of the “far right” as being behind the movement. Then, when organizations of the labor movement called for mobilization on September 10, the same journalists rallied to Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau’s ever-subtle analysis: the “ultra-left” was going to set the country ablaze, under the cynical and cold leadership of the modern-day Nero, Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Or maybe all this was the work of … Vladimir Putin! In these turbulent times, “journalists” in the pay of those in power will stop at nothing, no matter how absurd.

Faced with the predicted “violence” and “chaos,” the (resigned) Minister of the Interior promised brutal repression. In fact, attempts at blockades were systematically suppressed, as were several demonstrations and rallies.

But the obstacles did not come only from the government, the reactionary media, and the state apparatus. Instead of throwing all their forces into September 10, the leaders of the trade union confederations agreed at the end of August to call for a day of action on September 18. This competing date could only harm the mobilization on September 10. The union leaders knew this very well.

Despite all this, September 10 was a success. It is undeniable that Mélenchon—like others—contributed to this. But the fundamental cause of the “Bloquons tout” (Block everything) movement is the enormous amount of social anger that has been building up in the depths of society for many years. It is the counterreforms, austerity, inflation, job insecurity, the destruction of public services, company closures, restricted admissions to university, state-sponsored racism, the genocide of the Gazans and the complicity of French imperialism, the repression of pro-Palestinian activists—and many other sources of indignation and suffering.

The latest was the appointment of Sébastien Lecornu, Macron’s political double, to prime minister. This is both a provocation and a flagrant expression of the crisis of the French capitalist regime. With a 12% approval rating, Macron persists and declares: “it’s me or chaos.” Millions of young people and workers have taken this as a call to intensify the mobilization to oust the madman from the Elysée. And rightly so.

And now?

As we have said, September 18 was designed by the highest echelons of the trade union movement as an obstacle to the mobilization of September 10. However, September 18 was also imposed on the leaders of the trade union confederations by the movement of September 10. Now, September 18 is likely to mark a qualitative leap in the mobilization. In other words, the momentum of the struggle could very well escape the conservative maneuvers of these union leaders.

Many workers chose to “skip” the 10th and take action on the 18th, which is now shaping up to be massive. The youth who mobilized yesterday will also be mobilized on the 18th, and undoubtedly in greater numbers. However, the 18th must not be a “day of action” without a follow-up or a battle plan. From now on, youth organizations and the labor movement must convene general assemblies to make September 18 the starting point of a movement aimed at “blocking everything,” i.e. paralyzing the economy through renewable strikes in as many sectors as possible. Only the development of such a movement can create the conditions for a decisive victory for our side.

It is clear that the leaders of the trade union confederations are not prepared to steer the movement in this direction. Therefore, while continuing to increase pressure on the union leaders, the most militant organizations of the left and the trade union movement—starting with La France Insoumise and the left wing of the CGT—must take the initiative to convene and lead general assemblies in order to put forward an offensive battle plan based on a radical program.

The time for a futile succession of “days of action” is over; the time has come for decisive mobilization against Macron, Lecornu, the entire right wing and the big bourgeoisie. September 10 was the first thunderclap. Let us make the 18th the beginning of a social storm that will pose the question: who should run society? Is it the working class, which creates all the wealth? Or is it the handful of giant parasites who, to defend their profits, want to impose drastic austerity on us?