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Most of tne congress s time politics very clear. "We do not was taken by polemícs between stand for nationalisation"

the Mitterand section-claiming looked eagerly to see what the that his line of socialism went CP Congress would have to and the Rocard section, claim- But predictably, it offered ing that his faction's line of no alternative policies to the socialism went back to Jaures. working class.

The rest of the time was There were no arguments on spent in attacking the role of the political line of the party! the CP in the "Alliance of the This was ensured by bureauLeft" cratic manoeuvres in the selecOn tion of delegates and the total working exclusion of militant workers policies from the Congress.

The French Communist Party's 23rd Congress took place between 9-13 May against a background of intense struggles by the working class to defend jobs, working conditions and democratic rights and one month after the Congress of the Socialist After the massive "March on Paris' two months ago, the government is trying to ban all demonstrations where there is a "threat of violence"

The struggle in the steel industry is still very intense against closures and redundancies.

Steel plants are occupied by workers, managers are being taken hostage, demonstrations are taking place and fights continue with the CRS riot On a demonstration in Longwy, steel workers attacked a police station where some of their colleagues had been detained, and tried to destroy it with the help of a lorry driven against the walls:

Faced with this level of militancy, the trade unions are offering no perspective whatsoever except token strikes or marches.

One such was the march organised by the CFDT on Dunkerque, and not supported by the Stalinist-led CGT.

Only 2,500 workers took part and the workers' lack of confidence in their leadership was made very clear.

"It was not necessary. to have come 400 kilometres to listen to this twadale. In Longwy we have been fighting for four months and our actions are better united and structured" declared one worker at a meeting after the march.

Workers also called for a general strike, the stopping of San Francisco contains one of the world's largest and most politically active gay communities.

The militancy of those gays was sharply expressed in a major riot last Tuesday, after the trial of former city councillor Dan White.

In November, White, a campaigning reactionary bigot, assassinated the city mayor and a prominent gay councillor who had lobbied against White's holding office.

Despite clear evidence that the crime was premeditated, the jury returned a verdict 'voluntary manslaughter' 5,000 demonstrators marched in protest the next day from the centre of the gay ghetto in Castro St.

From the reports available at present, it is far from clear how this mobilisation was organised. or what its political basis was.

At the City Hall they confronted riot police and tear gas.

When an unexploded canister was lobbed back at the police they broke ranks and rioting began in earnest.

A police car was set ablazethe first of 30 to be wrecked or burnt out-and the indiscriminate police baton charges started.

As the demonstrators smashed their way into City Hall, over 80 were injured by the police attacks. production in all sections of industry and occupation of "all official places where decisions are taken"

If the workers were looking for some leadership in the Socialist Party their hopes must have been shattered..

Do no differ the two main sections, namely back to León Blum and Jaures- offer.

the struggles of the class and on socialist Mitterand and Rocard NULLENCEMENLDOE not differ.

Mitterand's position is "l am one of those who does not recognise myself in Marxism".

Rocard's position is similar:

"without a free market freedom is not rooted anymore in the economic order and is therefore threatened."

Another leading Mitterand supporter also made their Obviously the working class French steelworkers march The Congress reaffirmed its main political line on government politics-against the enlargement of the EEC, defence, France's right to a "national defence' and a cautious move back towards the USSR with the attendance at the Congress of the head of the Russian trade union movement.

Marchais also defended the economic balance of the Communist countries. This was the only contentious remark of the No alternative Marchais also emphasised the need for grass roots unity without jeopardising unity at the top -a reference to the CP-SP alliance.

Emphasis was also conspicuously placed on the need for unity within the CP, and also on the need for more democracy.

Workers in struggle would have a very difficult task if they were looking for a lead in the CP.

Its politics stay exactly the same. No call for mobilisation of the working class to fight for their jobs and basic rights was on the agenda.

After the bankrupt congresses of both CP and SP the working class confronted by economic threats to their living standards, has no alternative but to build a Trotskyist party which is prepared to fight for the independence of the working class against both the bour. geoisie and the CP and SP CP leader Marchais • The present band of populist, reformist and Stalinist misleaders have nowhere been more united than in their shameful 'patriotism' and determination to prosecute the war of occupation in the Sahara.

Indeed for all its militancy and recent displays of strength,

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