From our special correspondent in Bourges,
There was an irritating tranquility in Bourges this Saturday morning. Certainly, Catherine, 64, was happy to be able to sip her cappuccino quietly in her favorite bistro. But, seeing the establishment open and no busy roundabout to disrupt his arrival in the city center, the fear that October 17 would end in a resounding flop spoiled the pleasure a little. “I hope there will be a little more action this afternoon,” she called between spoons of cream.
It was already more than five years ago. On January 12, 2019, during Act IX of the “yellow vests”, the city was chosen by several leaders of the movement, such as Maxime Nicolle, as a gathering point. Because, even if it means demonstrating in the four corners of the country, you might as well do it in the center too. Beyond its strategic geographical position, the city had the advantage of being little known to law enforcement and of being a symbol of peripheral France and deindustrialization.
More than 6,000 people gathered, making the Cher prefecture the second epicenter of the movement, behind the insurmountable Paris. 8% of French demonstrators were in Bourges that day. It is rare to experience such agitation in the town.
“We were waiting for that”
Catherine was one of them, but today she put away the apron. “Too afraid of the police, and too many struggles in vain. » At your age, you sometimes no longer have the strength to fight a fight that you know is lost in advance. But she hopes that others will take over and keep the revolutionary flame alive.
At midday, it is rather the lack of organization than the calm that makes people fear the worst. Few calls for mobilization, divergent schedules, meetings in other neighboring towns... Especially when, half an hour before the meeting, Place Seraucourt, chosen as the gathering place, sounds desperately hollow.
Saved almost at the last second, the place finally filled with several hundred people. “It’s normal to come back here. We were waiting for that,” rejoices Bruno, 43, already present during the first round in 2018. He recalls an equation well known to all the demonstrators: the “yellow vests”, first edition, had mobilized for a liter at 1.50 euros. “Today, it is definitely one euro more expensive. »
“It’s also up to us to protest”
Cécile was not there in 2018-2019, but, for the first time, she decided to wear a yellow vest. “Everything is even worse than five years ago. We're really fed up, I couldn't not go. »
Another reason for the mobilization, the high school movement, frequently cited in the procession: “We are not going to let young people move alone in our place. It is also up to us to protest. Our children are getting beaten up and we are afraid to go out on a Saturday? “, Bruno is indignant.
If the anger remains the same, the manifestation has changed. Benoît, a 52-year-old worker, ends up getting irritated at hearing more “Siamo tutti antifascisti” and “Free Palestine” than slogans about the price of gasoline. However, “from the left”, he believes that the moment is not well chosen. “At the time, we had only one demand: purchasing power. That should be more than enough to bring us together. I'm afraid we'll be inaudible by talking about everything. »
“Yellow vests” present, but in the minority
Proof of this is the number of “yellow vests”, an ultra-minority on this Saturday. “It’s good that we’re remobilizing, but it’s not really us anymore,” he said, looking at a stand on Gaza set up next to the roundabout. Another fear: the lack of car horns, with only a few motorists encouraging the movement once the procession is underway. “Before, we had the whole of France with us, even those who did not dare to demonstrate. Today, with so many defeats, people are apathetic. »
Louis, 42 years old and a “yellow vest” from the start, regrets “the over-representation of the LFI and union flags”, the movement of the day being co-organized by the CGT. “Before, the 'yellow vests' were a purely popular movement. From the people directly by the people. It’s sad to go through so many relays today. »
A success nonetheless
The convergence of struggles also has its followers, like Salomé and Nicolas, who came to demonstrate with their four-legged companion. “The 'yellow vests' are there for fuel, for me it's more to defend public services and in particular health. We need more resources,” she encourages.
The fact remains that after a quick tour of the city, the procession returns to symbolically block the roundabout at Place Seraucourt, in memory of the good old days. The CGT speaker announces 2,400 people present during the day. More than a third of the January 2019 peak. Something to soften, finally, Louis: “Everything is not perfect, of course, and we are far from having found the “yellow vests” of the past,” he still complains. “But I prefer imperfect mobilization to no mobilization at all. It's at least a good start. »
