“It’s a minority of students who are electrified by LFI,” denounces Sylvie Retailleau

Guest of franceinfo, the Minister of Higher Education believes that “LFI must measure the seriousness of the consequences of their cynicism”.

“It is a minority of students who are electrified by LFI“, denounced this Thursday on franceinfo the Minister of Higher Education and Research Sylvie Retailleau, about the multiplication of actions in support of Gaza on French campuses and after an internal debate at Sciences Po on the Near Orient, Thursday May 2.

The Parisian management of theInstitute of Political Studies decided to close its main premises on Friday due to a new occupation by a few dozen students mobilized for Gaza, at a time when the government is increasing its vigilance in the face of actions on French campuses.
“Following the student occupation vote, the buildings at 25, 27, 30, rue Saint-Guillaume and 56, rue des Saints-Pères, will remain closed tomorrow, Friday May 3. We invite you to remain teleworking“, indicates a message to employees, sent Thursday evening by the Human Resources department of Sciences Po.

“The sign of a living, healthy democracy”, but also of “exaltation”

“I think this time for discussion is necessary, this debate was tough but with a plurality of expressions“, said the minister on franceinfo on Thursday, specifying that “the idea was to show that the door to dialogue is open but this dialogue must be respectful, with a framework“.

According to her, “Student expressions, when done correctly, are the sign of a living, healthy democracy“. But the minister denounces a “exaltation” of the movement on the part of La France insoumise “who uses this for electoral purposes“.

“LFI must measure the seriousness of the consequences of their cynicism”

Sylvie Retailleau

at franceinfo

“When we are in charge, it is more complicated than when we are in opposition and we incite our young people to violent blockades“, continued Sylvie Retailleau, who explains that “university presidents have to provide a framework, and when this is not possible, they must take their responsibilities within the framework of their police power“.

The minister finally recognized “a tension“: “There is a tension in the sense that we are vigilant to ensure that there is not this escalation. When we have a blockage where LFI continues to add fuel to the fire, we are quickly at escalation. This is where, as managers, we want to set limits.”. Actions have multiplied in recent days in France, mainly on the Sciences Po sites in Paris and in the regions, and in a few universities, in an electric political context one month before the European elections.