In an interview with Collettiva.it, the magazine of the Italian trade union confederation CGIL, Sophie Binet, General Secretary of the French CGT, explains how austerity is the fuel of the far right, particularly when it translates into clear cuts in public services.

"We can see that the far right thrives on the downgrading and impoverishment of populations, on the fact that you can no longer live on your salary, that industry in France has never been so weak and not self-sufficient in terms of production, and that our public services are increasingly impoverished. As soon as households can afford it, they turn to the private sector (for healthcare, education, etc.), and we now have public service deserts that are growing in every region. (...) It's obvious that austerity policies are fuel for the far right, it's a vicious circle".

Sophie explains in the same interview that, in France, the government's budget can be forced through without a vote in Parliament, and the only way for MPs to prevent budget cuts is to bring down the government.

And that, faced with the minority Barnier government wanted by E. Macron, the CGT has three major demands: higher wages; the definitive repeal of pension reform (also passed without a parliamentary vote on April 14, 2023); and adequate resources for public services.

The CGT General Secretary went on to explain that France's deficit is very high, but not because a lot of money has been given to public services. The public deficit is large because the Macron government has multiplied gifts for the richest. It has cut taxes by 73 billion Euros a year for the wealthiest and for the biggest companies.

"To solve this budget crisis, it would be enough to cancel these tax cuts to re-establish the accounts, but the government prefers to cut public spending."

Sophie was taking part in a conference on austerity organized by the CGIL in Rome, entitled " No to austerity. For a Europe of rights, work and solidarity".