France,  Politics

France CPE Riot Watch: French Unions Set April 15 Deadline for CPE Repeal

Students and union members block the access to the MIN (wholesale market) in Nantes, western France. French union and student leaders set an Easter deadline for the government to repeal its youth jobs law or face a repeat of the million-strong protests that have engulfed the nation.

Reuters: French unions set deadline for jobs law repeal

French trade unions on Wednesday set President Jacques Chirac an April 15 deadline to repeal a disputed youth jobs law, scenting victory amid mass protests and the sliding poll ratings of Chirac’s government.

As fears grew about the impact of the dispute on the euro zone’s second-largest economy, students blockaded roads in several cities in a second day of scattered protests after Tuesday’s marches drew at least 1 million onto the streets.

Union chiefs met conservative deputies for discussions after Chirac last week effectively took Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin off the case and promised parliamentary amendments to soften the “easy hire, easy fire” First Job Contract (CPE).

“We asked for the CPE to be repealed as soon as possible,” CFDT union leader Francois Chereque said afterwards.

“They had nothing to say. We didn’t get any response.”

Well, Chirac has to tread very lightly. Since he sold out Prime Minister Villepin last week and agreed to modify the law, any sign of a repeal would precipitate the Prime Minister’s resignation. Then, Chirac would be left with the mess without a stooge.

Villepin must realize that his chances to succeed Chirac are minimus at this point and so his resignation may be imminent – certainly it is inevitable.

Force Ouvriere union chief Rene Valladon said France’s 12 main unions wanted the three-day-old law repealed by April 15.

Students are due to hold protests next Tuesday but unions have so far not called any more strikes. Asked what unions would do if the deadline was not met, Valladon said “nothing was ruled out” and that unions would meet on Monday to plot strategy.

Scrapping the law could be the last nail in the coffin for Villepin’s premiership. His poll ratings have plumbed new depths and his authority in government is already being challenged by rivals, notably ambitious Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy.

But the setting of the deadline of April 15 — the start of France’s Easter vacations — could reflect trade union concerns that the protests could fizzle out over the holiday period.

Villepin told parliament enigmatically that he would “draw the conclusions” of any decisions made on the law, but did not explain what he planned to do. Some local media concluded it was a veiled resignation threat, while others said it was unclear.

Villepin and the CPE emplyment law will be history by the 15th.

Stay tuned……..

Previous:

France CPE Riot Watch: Second Straight Day of CPE Protests

France CPE Riot Watch: Latest CPE Protest Turns Violent

France CPE Riot Watch: Another Nationwide Strike Over CPE Hits France

France CPE Riot Watch: Jacques Chirac Signs First Job Contract CPE into Law

France CPE Riot Watch: Lefties Reject Talks and Vow More CPE Protests

France CPE Riot Watch: Jacques Chirac Capitulates on SOME of Job Law

France CPE Riot Watch: Constitutional Council Upholds CPE Jobs Law

France CPE Riot Watch:Fate of CPE Up to Constitutional Council

France CPE Riot Watch: A Million People March to Protest CPE First Job Contract

France CPE Riot Watch: French Police Subdue Riots

France CPE Riot Watch: First Job Contract Protests Grip French Cities

France Riot Watch: Students Riot in Paris over New Youth Employment Contract



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