Paris riot raises spectre of May '68
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.UNEXPECTED violence at a student demonstration in Paris has heightened official fears that what politicians call 'a social explosion' is at hand.
Several hundred demonstrators who marched through Paris on Thursday to protest against plans to allow employers to pay young workers wages below the legal minimum smashed windows and cars in Montparnasse.
The incidents, which prompted student leaders to disband the rally early, were far from the scale of the May 1968 riots which brought France to a standstill. However, observers had been predicting for several weeks that the plight of the more than 3 million unemployed would provoke social unrest.
The casseurs, or 'smashers', on Thursday were said by police and student leaders to be youths from the poor suburbs with no link to the 20,000-odd peaceful student demonstrators.
Using clubs, they damaged some of Paris's most famous terrasses, including Le Dome restaurant - where President Francois Mitterrand sometimes eats - and La Coupole.
Although riot police were at hand, local residents were critical of their slow reaction. The late arrival of plainclothes police to single out trouble-makers suggested police had not anticipated violence.
The trouble followed two nights of rioting in the northern Paris suburb of Garges-les-Gonesse after a 16- year-old boy was found murdered.
Now, with trade unions demonstrating in Paris today and next Thursday, the fear is of a new trend and that the casseurs will be back.
The protests on Thursday were against government plans to allow employers to pay young people a monthly salary of 3,790 French francs ( pounds 439), which is 80 per cent of the legal minimum wage, known as the Smic.
The Smic has become an institution in modern France and a social benefit that the unions fiercely defend. Opponents argue that it sets wages too high and therefore contributes to rising unemployment. Unemployment currently stands at 23 per cent among those under 26.
Responding to the protests, Edouard Balladur, the Gaullist Prime Minister, said the measure would not apply to those with higher education. Like other recent government retreats, in recent months, this was seen as a sign that Mr Balladur was anxious not to provoke trouble in the months before the May 1995 presidential elections. He is currently the best-placed potential candidate.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments