A decision made Sunday afternoon with the Elysee

Will not import France the anger of the youth Greek Concern to avoid skidding feared of all secondary schools Or desire more global kill any social movement in this period of crisis in the bud Facing a movement student times which has been spreading and hardens day by day, the Executive has, for the first, printed yesterday a judgment in his reforming zeal coup in education. The Minister Xavier Darcos announced the postponement of the reform of secondary schools, of which the first Act, the "second new", was to be presented today and enter into force at the 2009 re-entry. "We found that it was appropriate to do so because, objectively, the climate does not lend itself to advance calmly," is justified on Europe 1.

A stunning decision on the part of a Minister who built his reputation right on its ability to bring its many reform costs. "Legitimacy is more in the street", repeating constantly playing opinion against teachers unions, the mass of students against their representatives. A decision made Sunday afternoon with the Elysee... a few hours after the publication in "The Journal of Sunday" interview where Xavier Darcos once again defended its reform. "It is a decision that I made myself,", however, held to ensure that, yesterday, the Minister, swearing that he had only "consulted several times the President of the Republic" and of course whereas his "agreement".

Small gestures

The message is the same in the Elysee Palace. The objective is twofold: do not suggest that Nicolas Sarkozy hinders the socially sensitive reforms (see below) or he could disown Xavier Darcos, particularly provided yesterday. Nothing to see between the praise made against him "one of the more reformist Ministers" was repeated looping in the Elysee Palace and the UMP and the treatment these past few weeks in Rachida Dati, Minister of Justice, also challenged in its sector. "Darcos has a stronger than Dati political base," said a ministerial adviser, who does not forget that the host of the Rue de Grenelle is a member of the "G7", the Group of the most popular Ministers of the President.

This decision "does not change" at the discretion of the head of State, stressed yesterday in the Elysee Palace. No doubt, but the Minister was, recently, to avoid to arrive at this symbolically heavy decision. Conscious in connoisseur of the danger of the movement of youth system, he had already presented last October trails than expected "more reasonable" reforms. To avoid open several fronts at the same time, it had multiplied, over the weeks, the soothing speeches and small gestures on the nursery school, the teaching of economics... These days, it had continually stressed the agreement in principle given a few months ago by organizations high school girls and teachers to school reform. Lost sentence. The own admission of his entourage, the Minister remained inaudible diffuse students concerns and the resentment of teachers.

To make shows of "pedagogy".

The reform is best postponed for a year. The Rue de Grenelle, the Elysee and Matignon and the UMP will relay to swear that she is not buried, and that it will be a second round of "talks" with the unions and families. Time, officially to shows of "pedagogy". Bet also that the student movement not survive to the Christmas holiday. "It is not nearly three months", said yesterday the Prime Minister, François Fillon.

Yesterday, teachers ' unions, them widely welcomed "a success" they attribute to the "result of the mobilization". Without however releasing pressure: the Secretary General of the FSU, Gerard Aschieri, claimed a gesture in the direction of the primary; the students have maintained their day of action for Thursday. Left-wing parties, they have with their words and their priorities requested of new concessions.