Toulouse
France: Seven anti-fascists arrested
Seven anti-fascists are currently under arrest in Toulouse, charged with the use of weapons to commit violent acts after clashes with the police.
They were arrested on Sunday at a demonstration against the Front National meeting being held in the city. Protesters set dustbins alight and tried to build barricades while police fired tear gas and rubber bullets into the crowd. A total on 12 people were arrested on Sunday, with five being released on Monday, the others were held until their court date on Wednesday.
University strikes wind down
12 universities remain disturbed this afternoon (Friday), of which one is blocked (Toulouse II) and one is closed by the university on grounds of safety (Rennes II).
At the height of the anti-CPE rebellion, over 60 of France's 84 universities were occupied, on strike, or severely disrupted.
Montpellier students to vote on further blockades
Updates from university occupations in Toulouse and Montpellier following the withdrawal of the CPE.
The 20,000 students of Paul Valéry University have been called by the management department to vote for or against the release of the campus, as Jean-Marie Miossec, the president of the faculty, announced on Tuesday, 11th April. All access to the building accesses has been blocked by anti-CPE students since the 21st February.
Deputies examine CPE replacement text as smaller demos continue
The deputies have this evening started to examine the private bill which replaces the CPE tonight.
Meanwhile, having obtained the withdrawal of the CPE, university and high-school students demonstrated calling for the abolition of the rest of the 'law of equal opportunities' which the CPE was a part of, and of the CNE contract which was introduced last September.
The anti-CPE struggle continues in France
The withdrawal of the CPE was announced today. This is a victory for the protesters, however the government still has the ability to strongarm similar legislation through and has not withdrawn the other parts of the new law package.
The "loi sur l'egalite des chances" of which the CPE was only a part, remains.
The alliance of unions that opposed the CPE has called for a continuation of the struggle as have many of the protesting groups. The CPE was the straw that broke the camel's back, but the reaction may well see all similar legislation withdrawn.
6 April: Villepin makes major speech amidst mass transport blockades
A round-up of news from the anti-CPE struggle in France, including Villepin's speech and responses, and the transport blockades across the country.
- Four student demonstrators and one policeman were injured on Thurday, the 6th April. At the end of the aftermoon, the police force removed some 450 students who were blocking the railways on the North Matabiau station and stopped traffic for an hour and half. According to the local authority, the five injured people were transferred to the hospital.
3 April: Summary of events in France
Yesterday's protests in France included the occupation of the Eiffel Tower, a symbolic trial of Jacques Chirac and reports of fires at job centres and benefit offices in Paris and Toulouse.
Around 200 students occupied two legs of the Eiffel Tower, symbol par excellance of Paris, France, stopping access to the tourist site for nearly one hour before being dislodged. They then moved onto the Headquarters of the UMP but police presence repelled their plans for a symbolic occupation.
Up to 50,000 protesting in Toulouse
Contradicting earlier reports of 22,000-33,000 demonstrators in Toulouse, Le Monde is now reports the figure to be up to 50,000.
Other numbers counted:
Between 4,500 and 10,000 in Strabrourg, 10,000 - 20,000 in Montpellier, plus 20,000 in Lorraine.
Lyon, Rennes and Toulouse protest against casualisation
First reports from Liberation on this mornings demonstrations.
Liberation gave marches in Lyon, Rennes and Toulouse the following figures:
Rennes
15,000 police estimate
35,000 organisers estimate
Lyon
11,000 police estimate
25,000 organisers estimate
Toulouse
22,000 police estimate
33,000 organisers estimate
Toulouse: extreme right confront anti-CPE blockade
We reported a story this afternoon of far right fascists attacking an anti-CPE campus blockade. This has since been disputed by those who were on the ground. This is an account of what we now believe to have happened.
TOULOUSE - At the University of Social Sciences of Toulouse 1 this morning the extreme right, with the support of the Administration and Profs, attacked strikers anti CPE - confrontation took place.
