If the new law ends up rendering the CPE meaningless, with no concessions extracted from the labour movement in return, it will hardly amount to a convincing demonstration of his reformist credentials.
Non-protesters and protesters alike face the prospect of having to repeat their academic year if their sit-ins continue.As for Mr de Villepin, his mix of imperiousness, self-belief and political ambition suggests that he will fight it out, keeping the CPE with minimal concessions.
The running protests now have the makings of the intractable street rebellion that every French prime minister fears.On the face of it, this is a single-issue protest against the first job contract for under 26-year-olds, known as the CPE.
To some extent, Mr de Villepin, an unelected ex-diplomat, legitimised this choice when he pushed through the CPE by decree, without consulting the unions or allowing a parliamentary debate.
He is prepared to talk about small changes, such as trimming the two-year probation period or requiring some cause for dismissal, although such concessions risk destroying the appeal of the CPE to potential employers.
Programme dates 13 months from November Admission requirements Degree; work experience (min 3 years); GMAT (min 640) or GRE; TOEFL, IELTS, Person AC, CAE or CPE; 2 references; essay; interview.
In an interview with Paris-Match Mr Sarkozy has now distanced himself from the prime minister by suggesting that the CPE should be tried out for six months and junked if it proves of no use.Much will depend on the turn-out next week.
They are continuing to demand the complete withdrawal of the contrat première embauche (CPE), designed by Mr de Villepin in a bid to encourage job creation.
