Interview with NPA activist
by Kevin McVey
As part of the SSP’s European election campaign Joaquin Raymond visited
to speak at party rallies in Glasgow, Dundee and Edinburgh.
Joaquin is a member of France’s New Anti-Capitalist Party (NPA) which
after being formed only in February of this year is at 13% in national
opinion polls and already has a membership of 9–10,000.
What is your background in politics?
I first got involved during the first gulf war in 1991 because I was
completely opposed to this war for oil. My family background included
active trade unionists who had supported the British miners in their
fight against Thatcher so I suppose I was always interested. I sympathised
with, but was not a member of Lutte Ouvriere, but became more involved
in 2005 with a small group of socialists in my home town of Mulhouse
where I felt there was a wider support for socialist ideas but perhaps
needed a new type of organisation to build on this. After working with
other left wing organisations like the LCR we fused into the NPA and
that latent support for socialism has become stronger as I’d hoped.
What is the significance of the NPA in France?
The NPA is clear in being an anti-capitalist party and its ideas are based on the need for class struggle. However it is quite open minded in that it welcomes all who are looking to resist the injustices of the system. Since 1995 when Lutte Ouveriere achieved a 5% vote in the French presidential election and even more so in Besancenot’s and the LCR's 10% in 2002 it was apparent that left wing ideas could win support.
Alongside
big strikes and protests that have taken place over the last 15 years
on a whole range of issues it became obvious that a new type of party
of the left was needed. One that was united, and therefore stronger,
and also was respectful in its attitude towards people moving into struggle
and was able to adapt and be open to new situations.
What position is the NPA in at the moment?
We are currently at 13% in national opinion polls and our most high profile member Besancenot has 60% approval ratings. Membership is about 9 – 10,000 and about 17,000 have expressed an interest in us, which considering that we only formed in February this year means that we are already in a much better position than we thought and shows that we were correct in identifying the potential a party like the NPA had.
An indication
of what we have already achieved is in the attacks we are coming under
from parties like the Socialist Party and the Communist Party who have
largely capitulated to capitalism and are worried by the impact we are
having particularly over the recent months of struggle and street protest
in France. There are also many others, young people, ecologists and others
who are looking to see what we do and may be attracted to us through
time.
For many socialists in Europe we have been inspired by those recent struggles
in France – what is happening at the moment?
Sarkosy came to power partly because opposition to him was so poor. With all the parties pretty much offering the same policies Sarkosy may have appeared decisive and in control and someone who could sort problems out. Particularly with the economic crisis people now just see his government as arrogant and only interested in representing the rich. Worse than that this government is aggressive particularly against young people and is reacting to the increased conflict and tension brought about by increased class conflict by unleashing the police and stepping up surveillance, something I know is happening in Britain too.
From January to March this
year there was massive protests across the country and a general strike
was a possibility. Partly because of the role of trade union leaders
this did not happen and this has meant that perhaps things are bit quieter
just now. However I do not believe this will last and more struggle will
take place only this time even stronger than before.
Your visit is part of the SSP European election campaign – how is the
NPA campaign going?
There is fairly widespread apathy about these elections as people have
no real trust in the European parliament. What is important for us in
the campaign is developing our organisation and helping the process of
rebuilding the struggles on the street.
How important are links with the SSP and other socialist parties in Europe?
Besancencot has already spoken of the need for an all European anti-capitalist party. Capitalism is globalised and resistance to it must cross borders too. Although the SSP will clearly work differently in the different conditions you find yourself in, the economic crisis means there will be greater opportunities for us to work together and I hope we do.
What are your impressions of Scotland and the SSP?
It is only a short stay but already my impressions are favourable. I feel I am among friends and feel the NPA as a new party has to develop a sense amongst its members of the need to work together. I think that feeling is already there in the SSP and that is encouraging for how the NPA can develop.