CGT leader calls for PM to engage with youth

Sophie Binet, general secretary of the CGT union, has urged Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to "come out of his bunker" and listen to the demands of the youth, according to a report from RTL. She emphasized that Lecornu, who recently transitioned from Minister of Defense to Prime Minister, must address the "enormous social mobilization" and begin by receiving the young people.

Three key demands outlined

Binet outlined three main demands: increased visibility for youth issues, particularly the end of the Parcoursup college admissions system, more resources for high schools and universities, and measures to combat the high cost of living. These include a 10% increase in the Smic (minimum wage), indexing wages to prices, and a price freeze.

Criticism of government budget

Additionally, Binet called for more resources for public services and criticized the government's budget project as "dangerous." She argued that the proposed budget fails to address the pressing needs of the population and undermines public services.

CGT to meet with PM and decide on demonstration

The CGT is set to meet with Lecornu later in the morning, along with other unions. However, the CGT has not yet confirmed its position on participating in the demonstration planned for Saturday, November 5th. Some CGT organizations have already announced their participation, though a final decision will be made today.

Call for peaceful demonstration

A large part of the unions have called for a peaceful demonstration on November 5th. They emphasize the need for a unified and non-violent approach to express their demands, contrasting with the damage caused by previous protests.

CGT condemns damage from protests

Binet condemned the damages from last Saturday's protests, stating that they "harm the mobilization" and "obscure the demands while the anger is enormous." She criticized the actions as an "attack on our public services and our jobs," highlighting the negative impact on public perception of the movement.

Criticism of Smic increase proposal

Alexandre Bompard, speaking on France Inter, criticized the proposed 10% increase in the Smic, stating that it would be difficult to implement given the current economic situation. He emphasized that companies are already bearing a significant portion of the budget savings and that salary increases should be considered on a case-by-case basis.