2023-06-21 10:33:25
Marylise Léon and Laurent Berger, then Deputy Secretary General and Secretary General of the CFDT, in Matignon, May 16, 2023. CYRIL BITTON / DIVERGENCE FOR “THE WORLD”
A page turns. After eleven years at the head of CFDT, Laurent Berger was to cede his responsibilities, Wednesday June 21, to Marylise Léon, during a rally specially organized for the occasion at the Zenith in Paris, in the presence of some 2,700 activists. A peaceful succession, prepared by the two interested parties and the authorities of the first union in France from the end of 2021. Responsible for ratifying the appointment of the new secretary general and its number two, Yvan Ricordeau, the vote of the national office, scheduled for Wednesday, was only a formality.
Read also the interview: Article reserved for our subscribers Laurent Berger leaves office: “I am not essential to the CFDT”
At 46, this graduate in chemistry is the second woman to take the reins of the central cedist, after Nicole Notat (1992-2002). Deputy Secretary General of the Confederation since 2018, Ms. Léon has worked hand in hand with Mr. Berger for the past five years, accompanying him in most of his meetings with the executive and representatives of the majority. For the power in place as for the Macronist parliamentarians, he is an already familiar and, it seems, respected figure, who has proven himself through several negotiations – in particular on the subject of unemployment insurance. Her “knowledge of the world of work is remarkable”said Olivier Dussopt, the Minister of Labor, on Radio J, Sunday June 18. “On form, he is someone who can be quite firm but who knows his files very well”entrust to Monde the Renaissance deputy for French people living abroad Marc Ferracci.
Mrs. Léon takes the helm gently and we should not expect a change of course. “She will undoubtedly be keen to follow the same political line as her predecessor and which corresponds to the values of her organization, that is to say the search for compromise and the use of conflict as the ultimate solution”decrypts Michel Yahiel, social adviser to François Hollande when he was at the Elysée. “Her action will be part of the continuity, but with different words and style, in order to be able to find a place for herself, to stand out in terms of image, incarnation, because she is not known to the general public, even if he is an intelligent personality, endowed with real talents”adds Raymond Soubie, president of the Alixio consulting group and collaborator of Nicolas Sarkozy when the latter was Head of State.
“No surprises”
The entry into office of Ms. Léon comes after five months of battle against the pension reform, orchestrated by an inter-union whose leadership was endorsed by Mr. Berger – even if the latter denies having wanted to play this role. The showdown sometimes took a personal turn, in particular between Emmanuel Macron and the outgoing secretary general of the CFDT, the first not supporting the criticisms expressed against him by the second. One of the questions that now arises is whether the arrival of a new captain in the cededist ship will be synonymous with calm. “There is no real history between the President of the Republic and Marylise Léon, they will start from an almost blank sheet”, believes Mr. Ferracci, who is close to the head of state. Anyway, completes Mr. Soubie, “Relations between Emmanuel Macron and Laurent Berger had become so degraded that they can only improve when the latter has given way to Marylise Léon”.
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