Chirac Pulls Back School Reform Bill

Premier Jacques Chirac today withdrew the university reform bill that brought hundreds of thousands of protesting students into the streets for three nights of sometimes violent confrontations.

The announcement came as millions of people stopped working briefly--some for just a minute but others for an hour between 11 a.m. and noon--to mourn the death of a 22-year-old student killed early Saturday.

Chirac, who spoke with reporters after meeting with Cabinet ministers, said he asked Education Minister Rene Monory to “engage immediately in a wide consultation” to examine changes Chirac said remain necessary in the French university system.

Student Support Needed

“No adaptation (of universities), as necessary as it may be, can be carried through without a large adhesion of all of the interested parties, notably students and teachers,” the conservative leader said.

“It can only be done in calm. It clearly appears that that is not the case today. Demonstrations in process, with all of the risks of violence and the dangers that they entail for all, are the proof,” Chirac said.

A spokesman at the presidential palace said Socialist President Francois Mitterrand was satisfied with Chirac’s announcement. “This decision conforms with the position expressed to the prime minister by the president.”

Elitism Charged

Although the government had said its proposal would make schools more competitive, the students claimed it would create an elitist university system.

French high school graduates now are allowed to enter any state university they wish. There is a modest registration fee and students have to pay for their own housing and books, but there is no tuition, and everyone receives a similar state diploma upon graduation.

The proposed legislation would have let universities set their own admission and curriculum standards.

Monory announced Friday three controversial parts of the measure would be withdrawn for further study and consultations, but students demanded complete withdrawal of the bill.

The death of Malik Oussekine early Saturday, after what witnesses said was a severe beating by three policemen, dramatically changed the mood of the protest.

Students had planned mass demonstrations Wednesday.