She was watching the crowds massing in downtown Rennes on Thursday, December 5. Social worker Justine Monnier is no stranger to demonstrations in Brittany's capital. She was adamant. Although the turnout for this rally in defense of the civil service did not rival those for the mobilizations against the reform of the pension system in 2023, it was still "very respectable." Rennes confirmed its reputation as a historic bastion of the left, well-versed in labor conflicts. Here, candidates from the left-wing Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP) coalition dominated the legislative elections held on June 30 and July 7.
While the turnout wasn't surprising, the mood of the procession was. On this Thursday, the crowd progressed without overflowing enthusiasm or ardent anger. Brandishing a sign reading "On n'est pas content monsieur Macron" ("We're not happy, Mr Macron"), Monnier took stock of the weariness of the crowd: "Even in Rennes, people on the left are tired. They're worn out after mobilizing against the pension reform and then during the last legislative elections. The appointment of a right-wing prime minister also provoked a deep malaise."
The vote of no confidence in the government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier has done nothing to heal the situation. On the contrary, according to the demonstrators who talked, with gravity, about the current political crisis. In the procession on Thursday morning, Aurélie Brandavy, a 37-year-old self-employed worker, scanned her cell phone for news. At the same time, Barnier was meeting President Emmanuel Macron to tender his resignation. "I'm happy to see this government fall, but it scares me. I'm worried about the weeks ahead," stammered this mother, marching alongside her husband, Damien, a teacher.
The prospect of a new, more left-wing government, more in tune with their convictions, makes them pause: "We doubt our leaders more and more, even those on the left who seem to be acting in good faith. These elected representatives look like puppets with little room for maneuver. Remember [former Socialist President] François Hollande, he promised to make finance his enemy..."
In the crowd, someone mentioned the rumor of former Socialist prime minister Bernard Cazeneuve returning to the office. Aurélie and Damien Brandavy laughed in disbelief. It will take "more" to cure this "crisis of faith" they share with so many demonstrators. After the hope raised by the NFP and the satisfaction of having prevented a tidal wave by the far-right Rassemblement National, they faced the disappointment of Barnier's appointment as prime minister, then the bewilderment of the chaotic weeks that followed.
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