The crisis has discredited Chirac and devastated Villepin and his
presidential ambitions — and thrown into question the government's ability to
push through painful reforms to help France compete in the global economy. The
new measures increase the government's role in the workplace instead of
decreasing them, as Villepin had sought.
Students and other opponents had feared the previous measure would erode
coveted job security — and some unions trumpeted the retreat by Chirac and his
prime minister.
The labor law "is dead and buried," said Jean-Claude Mailly of the Workers
Force union. "The goal has been achieved."
Alain Olive, secretary-general of the UNSA union, said, "After more than two
weeks of intense mobilization, the 12 syndicated groups of workers, university
and high school students have won a great victory."
However, the leader of France's biggest student union, UNEF, adopted more of
a wait-and-see attitude — saying the group would watch to ensure that parliament
would scrap the contract.
"We want to see how we can take advantage of this power struggle that is now
in our favor to garner new victories," Bruno Julliard told AP Television News.
The new, four-point plan sent to parliament would bolster existing job
contracts, rather than enact new ones. The government would offer more state
support for companies that bring on young workers.
Other provisions would increase internships in areas where jobs are
relatively plentiful — such as in restaurants, hotels and nursing — or guide
jobseekers in their careers.