spoke for the LCR at a meeting for a "No" to the referendum organised by the French Communist Party on April 14 2005, which was attended by more than 6000 people. This is an extract from his contribution. Dear comrades, I would like to say to you, not just in the name of my party, but also in my own name, how touched and enthusiastic I am to be here. That is why I want to thank the Communist Party and its militants for this invitation, and I must say that for me it's a first.
I am touched, because for quite a while we've been saying that it really had to happen, that one day we would find ourselves together.
For years, we've been meeting each other in the course of different militant struggles. So we had to at some point come together for a united political battle. And this anticapitalist combat against the Constitution, that was the moment not to be missed. Because what is at stake in cial and decisive: it really is about knowing what kind of society we are building.
We know that from a democratic and social, but also from a militarist point of view, this Constitution doesn't. represent a rampart against present-day globalisation. On the contrary, it is one of the best Olivier Besancenot (left) on the CP rally platform SUDDULLCLS of the Company.
So the Europe that they are building is not in any way a counterweight or an alternative model to the United States. This Europe is a rival, a competitor of the United States, but on its own terrain, the terrain of capitalism.
A Europe that is more royalist than the king, that seeks to contest the leadership of the United States, but within the framework of globalisation.
So what is at stake is crucial, but we have two good reasons to be enthusiastic. Two good reasons, because not only can the "No" win today, but on top of that, if it does win it will be because of the Left, and it is in the camp of the Left that that things can shift.
And all that is thanks to this militant united front campaign that we have been conducting from the beginning with the Communist Party, the LCR, the opponents (of the majority line) in the Greens and in the SE, but also and especially all the activists of the social movement.
We know that from the beginning the "No" from the right rallied all its votes: it's the electorate of the far Right, in the Le Pen or de Villiers version. We can leave those people where they are, which is in the Middle Ages.
On the other hand, if things can shift on the left, it is because the social climate has changed. Since January, there have been many social mobilisations, one after the other,
public services, wages, against sackings and of course the high school student movement.
All these struggles have had an immediate reflection: the progress in the country of a "No" that is not racist, nor chauvinist, nor anti-Turkish, but a "No" that is social, European and anti-liberal.
And that is why this evening we can say, loud and clear, that there is really no reason to be afraid of the victory of the "No". The victory of the "No" would be the hope of a new beginning, which would have repercussions from a social and political point of view.
From a social point of view, first of all, in France and in Europe.
There would be the possi bility for the social movements to take off again on the right foot, to establish a new relationship of forces against the national governments, but also against the present European institutions.
There would be the possibility of blazing a trail for the building of another Europe,. by establishing new criteria of convergences not financial and economic this time, but social and democratic.
We want to také what is best in the legislation of one country so that everyone can take advantage of it, because there is no reason why all we should share is poverty. ...
It's time for the social-liberal Left to understand that it won't get us to do tomoirow in the state institutions, the opposite of what we defending today in the public arena, in the context of this common anti-capitalist comDal.
In short, it's time for it to understand that this united front anti-capitalist combat isn't going disappear tomorrow in a liberal government that will in practice apply the Constitution, , ог even a "light", slightly amended version of it if the "No" is victorious.
Well, to put a stop to discussion, some people reproach us with having a parasitical attitude to this referendum. When we affirm that another choice of society is possible, they call us romantics.
I didn't know that was an insult. And to tell you the truth, I am proud of being 'among those who, including in this campaign, don't forget to say that another society than capitalism is still possi ble.