Chirac

At 9am CET, after a private conversation between the President and his Prime Minister, a meeting will be held at Chirac's official residence, the Elysée.

The survey, by pollsters CSA for Le Parisien/Aujourd'hui en France and i-TELE, says that over 80% of the French now judge that the Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin (86%) and President Jacques Chirac (85%) have been "weakened" by the CPE crisis. Only 9% of the questioned people said that Villepin had been "reinforced", and 4% could not decide.

-Photos just in of a road blockade of the 'periph' (periphery in Caen, from Thursday 30th March. The blockade was eventually cleared by CRS riot police using water cannons and tear gas, and is represented here in 70 photos of the events.

New eyewitness accounts

On friday afternoon there were small groups of students roaming around town with loud hailers, handing out flyers asking people to attend the demonstration on Tuesday the 4th. Holding up placards at intersections asking people to hoot if they are against the CPE and CNE.

My dear compatriots,

For several weeks serious questions, fears and criticisms have been raised about the CPE. Many young people have expressed their disquiet, their need for stability and security, but also their desire to take a full part in our society. Feelings that many among you share.

The CPE (First Employment Contract) was announced earlier today by President Jacques Chirac, the principal target of the demonstrators.

22h32
Force Ouvrier have said that the five main trade unions shall meet again on April 5th, after the day of strikes and protests on April 4th.

-Socialist MP François Holland warns Jacques Chirac that in his broadcast tonight, sticking with the CPE would open "a major crisis"

-"the fever mounts" writes Le Parisian after yesterdays day of blockings by high-school pupils, and the constitutional Council Decision to validate the CPE

To be broadcast at 8pm French time tomorrow night, it will go out on all channels.

Domenica de Villepin, Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy are from now on like mountaineering comrades. If one is to fall, the two others risk the same fall or, at least, of serious wounds.