WORLD WORLDWIDE FRANCE News Journal Update - (en) France, UCL AL #341 - Anti-fascism, 1943: The CNR, what lessons can we learn from it? (ca, de, fr, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

 The year 2023 marks the 80th anniversary of the National Council of

Resistance, this gathering of political forces after the war which
allowed progressive progress can be a source of inspiration 80 years
later. ---- On May 24, Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to the 80th
anniversary of the National Council of the Resistance (CNR) and saluted
"the memory of those who brought to life and grown this spirit of
resistance which is the soul of the France ". To go beyond the official
tributes and the grandiloquent appeals to "the soul of France", it is
necessary to return to the history of the CNR. Formed in May 1943 with
the objective of unifying all political and military resistance forces,
the CNR brings together resistance organizations, six political parties
from the Communists to the Gaullists and the two workers' unions (CGT
and CFTC).

This reflects awareness of the necessary unity of the democratic
struggle but also of the balance of power favorable to the communists
who represent the main resistance force. Thus, for the Gaullists fearing
that the communist revolution would succeed the Nazi occupation, it was
essential to integrate the PCF into the post-war reconstruction plans;
especially in a context where almost all of the big bosses were falling
into collaboration with the Nazis or the Vichy regime.

A unitary progressive program
Beyond the military coordination of the resistance, the CNR constructed
a political program for the post-war period. The "Charter of the
National Council of the Resistance" adopted in March 1944, set out the
fundamental principles which should guide liberated France. It notably
included the establishment of Social Security, the nationalization of
large businesses and the restitution of property looted from Jews.

After the war, the legacy of the CNR was perpetuated in particular
through the "happy days" program which largely inspired the social
policies implemented. Indeed, this program provided, among other things,
for "the participation of workers in the management of the economy", "a
significant readjustment of wages". It was also proposed to guarantee
"job security" and to establish a "comprehensive social security plan".
Through this political elaboration, the CNR links the armed anti-fascist
struggle with a progressive political program even if this program was
not free of limits.

Supported by their important role during the Resistance, the communists
were able to impose a social program in the CNR.
In the current context that we are experiencing (88 RN deputies in the
National Assembly, numerous attacks by small fascist groups, etc.), it
is necessary to draw lessons from the CNR: our anti-fascist struggle
must be unitary and bring together as many forces as possible. policies
of our social camp to build an effective anti-fascist response.

By linking the objectives of collective emancipation to the anti-fascist
armed struggle, the CNR reminds us that one of the best ways to counter
fascist movements is to oppose their reactionary ideas with our values
of class solidarity. As such, it is necessary to strengthen social
struggles and develop the anti-fascist character of social movements to
repress reactionary and fascist discourses.

Thibaut (UCL Lyon)

https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?1943-Le-CNR-quelles-lecons-en-tirer
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