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Constitutional Council clears job law

Vaiju Naravane

Jacques Chirac likely to promulgate the controversial legislation

Paris: France's Constitutional Council on Thursday approved "without reserve" new legislation changing France's existing labour laws, thus strengthening the position of embattled Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and plunging the nation into political uncertainty.

For over four weeks, French streets have been in a state of ferment with mass demonstrations attended by as many as three million people protesting against a new labour contract, the CPE, that would allow employers to fire under-26 recruits at any time without explanation during a two-year-long trial period.

The Socialist Party had challenged the legality of the contract saying it discriminated against young workers and was contrary to international labour norms.

More protests threatened

With the Council approving the legislation as being fully in accordance with the Constitution, the Left wing Opposition, trade unions and student bodies have warned of more protests to follow if the President fails to allow a fresh reading of the bill in Parliament. Mr. Chirac is to address the nation late on Friday. He is widely expected to promulgate the legislation.

Government officials and media commentators were unanimous in predicting that Mr. Chirac will use his evening address to stand by his embattled Prime Minister and announce he will sign the CPE onto the statute books.

"Jacques Chirac has decided to promulgate the CPE," headlined the conservative Le Figaro newspaper, while the Left-wing Liberation said that by refusing to refer the law back to Parliament — as the Opposition is demanding — "Chirac takes on the street." A contract that loosens job protection for under 26 year-olds, the CPE has turned into one of the worst crises in Mr. Chirac's 11-year presidency — sparking a protest movement that on Tuesday brought more than a million people onto the streets.

More than half of the country's 84 universities remained shut or disrupted, as well as hundreds of high schools, as students carried out more wild-cat actions — blocking roads and invading railway tracks. Another day of nationwide strikes and demonstrations is planned for next Tuesday.

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