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Fate of French labour law hangs in balance

Swelling protests plunge Villepin's Government into crisis

DERAILING GOVERNMENT'S PLAN: Riot police burst tear gas shells to evacuate students blocking railway lines at Saint-Charles railway station in Marseille, southern France, on Thursday. — PHOTO: AP

PARIS: The fate of a contested French labour law that has inspired massive protests, gravely wounding its champion Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, hung on Thursday on a council of experts.

The Constitutional Council, whose 10 members include former statesmen and women, was weighing a demand from the Opposition Socialists that the law, which would make it easier for companies to fire young workers, be thrown out as unconstitutional.

Striking down the law could be a face-saver for all sides, allowing protesters to claim victory and defusing the crisis for Mr. Villepin, who would likely emerge bloodied but ready to fight another day.

``Everyone will go `phew,''' said political expert Jean-Luc Parodi.

Decision binding

The council, created in 1958, has nine appointed members plus former President Valery Giscard d' Estaing. Their decisions are binding, with no appeal. If the council approves the law, President Jacques Chirac would have nine days to sign it into effect.

The law's most contested part is a new job contract that provides for a two-year trial period for people under 26, during which time they can be fired for no reason.

The Socialists argue the law is unconstitutional because it treats young people differently. They also say the two-year trial period is unjust and that it violates international labour codes.

Swelling protests — more than 1 million demonstrators took to French streets on Tuesday on a nationwide day of strikes — have plunged Mr. Villepin's Government into crisis, split his conservative majority and possibly killed his chances of running for the presidency next year.

Mr. Villepin met his Ministers on Thursday to discuss the crisis, and protesting students stepped up efforts to disrupt transport links.

Police used tear gas to dislodge some 300-400 students who blocked tracks and traffic at a railway station in Marseille, France's second-biggest city.

Some 2,000 students, holding banners and chanting, also invaded Paris' Gare de Lyon, the departure point for sleek high-speed trains heading south. Protesters evaded police lines to get onto the tracks. Students also blocked or slowed road traffic during the morning rush hour, causing tailbacks in or around Nantes, Rennes, Lille, Aix-en-Provence and other cities and towns, and briefly blocked a Paris beltway, authorities said.

Damage to image

Government Ministers fear the crisis is hurting France's image abroad. Trade Minister Christine Lagarde, who embarks on an eight-day visit to the United States next week, complained of ``excessive'' foreign media coverage of the demonstrations, which have repeatedly ended in violent clashes between youths and riot police.

Unions and student groups have appealed to Mr. Chirac to use his powers to withdraw the contract. Mr. Chirac's office said he would address the issue in coming days, without saying exactly when or what he would say. It was possible that he might speak on Thursday, if the Council's decision does not come too late in the day. So far, the French leader has supported Mr. Villepin, his supposed preferred successor, but has also called for negotiations.

Mr. Villepin has repeatedly said he was willing to discuss possible improvements to the job contract but has refused to withdraw it.

Students and labour unions say the contract would erode France's time-honoured workplace protections. — AP

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