There is a crisis in France — at least that is what the French media and the government’s political opponents would have everyone believe. Students have been protesting against Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin’s big idea to modernize French employment law and stem growing unemployment — the CPE or First Employment Contract — under which young people could be more easily sacked.
Student protests strike a chilling chord in France; ever since the 1830 revolution, students manning the barricades have been perceived as a potent factor in bringing down governments. That notion was finally exposed as a myth in 1968, when students did indeed man the barricades and plunged Paris into crisis, but in the end it fizzled out; the system was not overthrown, heads did not roll, although his handling of events probably convinced many French people to vote against President De Gaulle in the later referendum on the separate issue of regionalism. Even so, the myth that 1968 was a real revolution is still widely believed in French political circles, which is why the current dispute is cause for considerable concern and debate.
Of course, this is nothing like the riots in the suburbs last autumn. Beyond the immediate vicinity of some universities and colleges life continues as normal. However, an estimated 500,000 students demonstrated in cities throughout France yesterday in a new round of protests against a controversial new youth labor law. Police put the number of demonstrators at 246,000, and said some 200 different protest marches took place throughout the country. Up to 500,000 people, the great majority of them secondary school and university students, demonstrated in cities throughout France on Thursday in a new round of protests against a controversial new youth labor law. Police put the number of demonstrators at 246,000, and said some 200 different protest marches took place throughout the country.
Whether this stays a storm in a teacup, however, is the big issue. It could blow out or blow up in de Villepin’s face. He has effectively nailed his career to this ostensibly minor piece of legislation, which ironically will not affect university students at all since it would apply only to younger classes. If he is forced to withdraw he is finished as prime minister and so are his hopes of the presidency. The French unions and the opposition are understandably determined to make the most out of this although there is an obvious dishonesty in pretending that governments can reverse the growth of unemployment without taking any painful measures.
But the real danger is that the issue will be picked up by the still sullen youth in the suburbs and create fresh, real violence there. De Villepin’s other worry must be that President Chirac, not noted for being firm in the face of opposition, will desert him. So far he has been given the president’s public backing but there are hints coming from the Elysee that will only encourage the opposition that if large enough numbers protest against the measure, Chirac will change his mind. This could all turn nasty.
