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French job law 'constitutional'

Students and trade unions have called for another one-day strike next Tuesday in a drive to get the law scrapped.

If the Constitutional Council rules the law valid, it could be put into effect at once by President Jacques Chirac.

The president is expected to address the nation soon – possibly as early as Thursday evening, correspondents say.

Universities across the country have been disrupted for weeks by protests over the First Employment Contract (CPE), which would make it easier for employers to fire workers aged under 26.

More Than a Million French Protest Law

Scattered violence erupted in Paris, and riot police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse several thousand youths who pelted them with stones and bottles after an otherwise peaceful march. More than 240 people were arrested.

Unions and the leftist opposition joined in solidarity with the angry students for the one-day strike, increasing the pressure on Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin to withdraw the measure that makes it easier to fire young workers.

Although Villepin held firm, cracks opened in his conservative government. Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, in a clear break with Villepin, suggested suspending the law to allow for negotiations.

Marching backward toward the future?

THERE IS in France an honorable, romantic tradition of going into the street to protest against the government. Much of the honor and romance, however, was earned in principled stands against a colonialist war or in solidarity with the wretched of the earth. But recent demonstrations against a new law meant to open up jobs for the 22 percent of young people in France who are unemployed has little in common with the French tradition of street protest for progressive causes.

France set for strikes over jobs scheme

It will be the latest round in a battle of wills over economic reforms before next year’s presidential elections.

Businessesand commuters were warned of disruption and traffic chaos as student and union leaders said Tuesday’s show of force would at least match thev1.5m people they claim backed the last national “day of action” againstthe New Job Contract.

The crisis over the CPE, as it is known in France, has already sapped the prime minister’s popularity and started to raise concerns over the economy.