Chirac Bows to Mob, Changing Job Law

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Chirac Bows to Mob, Changing Job Law

James Joyner | Monday, April 10, 2006

Jacques Chirac is reversing course, dropping his changes to French labor law, in response to violent protestors.

French President Jacques Chirac has announced that the new youth employment law that sparked weeks of sometimes violent protests will be scrapped. He said it would be replaced by other measures to tackle youth unemployment. Millions of students and union members have taken to the streets over the last month in protest against the law, which made it easier to fire young workers. Unions and student leaders said it was “a great victory” and were due to meet to decide if the protests should go on. . . . Union leaders had given the government until Easter weekend to withdraw the law or face a repeat of the recent general strikes.

Clearly, this will lead to labor peace in our time.

Update: Gateway Pundit has the perfect headline: “France Surrenders!”

________

French Labor Riots Turn Violent

France Afraid of Free Trade

French Labor March Draws Millions

Labor Strike Causes Disruptions Throughout France

French Students’ Protests Turn Fiery

French Students Hit Streets To Protest New Labor Law

The French are Revolting

About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and infant daughter.

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