General strike planned for November 5

Alain Barreau, the general secretary of the Force Ouvrière (FO) union in Vienne, has confirmed his participation in a general strike and mobilization day set for November 5. This event is being organized by an intersyndical group that includes several major unions: CFDT, CGT, FO, Unsa, and FSU.

Critique of economic and political policies

Barreau called on the people of Vienne to take action against the decline in purchasing power and the deterioration of public services. He attributed these issues to political and budgetary decisions made since the 1980s and 1990s, emphasizing the need for systemic change.

Concerns over public hospital system

He highlighted the poor financial management of the public hospital system, which has led to inequalities in access to care depending on the time of year. This situation has raised concerns about the reliability and fairness of healthcare services in the region.

Criticism of privatization

Barreau also criticized the progressive liberalization and privatization of public services, citing La Poste as an example. He argues that such changes have undermined the quality and accessibility of essential services for the general public.

Absence from previous protests

Barreau did not participate in the "Act II" protests against the high cost of living, which were organized by the Yellow Vest movement for October 24. He expressed concern about the level of violence seen during earlier demonstrations.

Violence and damage during October 17 protest

During the demonstration on October 17, scenes of violence and isolated looting occurred in Poitiers. Stores such as Sephora and Foot Locker were completely emptied of their stock, resulting in significant financial losses for the businesses.

Estimated financial damage

Pierre-Marie Moreau, a tourism official and president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) of Vienne, estimated the damage to Foot Locker at "several hundred thousand euros, or even a million" and to the cosmetics store at "between 1 and 2 million euros." The incidents also resulted in eight people being injured, including one demonstrator and a police officer who required surgery for a wrist fracture.