For French people, positive outcomes of protests are nothing spectacularly new. As a country with one of the longest histories of democratic participation which started successfully with the French Revolution in 1789, it takes its protestors quite seriously. There is no need to remind the French government that IT CAN BE DONE because for French citizens it is more like IT WILL BE DONE or politicians will be introduced to the guillotine. One such successful outcome of protest has happened back in 2006 known as Youth Protest.
BACKGROUND
It all started with a clumsy labor reform attempt through the controversial bill named “Loi pour l’égalité des chances” (Equal Opportunity Law or LEC). One of its results was a new job contract known as Contrat première embauche (First Employment Contract/Beginning Workers Contract or CPE). The main critiques were concerned with the fact that this contract would make it easier for young workers under 26 years of age to get fired. It was supposed to allow employees to terminate the contract without any reason within the first two years of employment of young workers.
PROTESTS, STRIKES AND CIVIL UNREST
The first protests occurred on February 7, 2006, before the bill was even approved by French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin. Almost 500.000 people participated in 187 demonstrations across the country and some universities including Rennes were immediately occupied. The protests continued in March when over one million people joined the cause while around 38 universities were on strike, barricades were built, city halls were descended and the violence began to emerge.
Later through the month things have only gotten worse. There were over 3 million protesters, 21 out of 84 universities completely blocked by students, and altogether 67 universities were either on strike or blocked. In Paris alone, there were over 700.000 protesters, storefronts, and cars were vandalized while police had to use tear gas in order to control the crowd. Rail and air transport were affected throughout the country and it all continued until mid-April. The situation was serious and the government had no other choice but to fulfill the demands of its people.
VICTORY TO THE PEOPLE
On April 11 the CPE was discarded by President Chirac. This has dramatically eased the situation although protests continued against the LEC in general. However, the public opinion was split regarding LEC so eventually French citizens granted their country and their government peace while remaining victorious and proud. That’s how it’s done because IT CAN BE DONE.
