Despite the intervention of the police to dislodge them at the Sorbonne or Sciences Po, certain student union organizations continue to call for mobilization, notably on Friday at the Panthéon.
“It seems like the calm before the storm”, blurted Claire. A 2nd year student at Sciences Po Paris, the young woman comments on the atmosphere which reigned Thursday May 2 in the large school, shaken six days earlier by the evacuation of students mobilized for Gaza and Palestine. For the majority of students interviewed, the police operation left its mark. “I am not particularly militant, but the images of the intervention shocked me”confides a 4th year in public affairs, planted near the school, entry to which is only possible on presentation of a card.
To respond to the requests of the Palestine committee of the establishment, the presidency of the Parisian Institute of Political Studies (IEP) organized a debate on Thursday morning “Town Hall”, named after these open discussions, based on the model of a municipal council, which American political parties are fond of. The objective was to discuss the situation in Gaza, the way in which the institution can take a position on certain subjects, and its partnerships with universities and schools in Israel.
But at the conclusion of the debate, signs were brandished, to the cry of “Israel, assassin! Sciences Po, accomplice!” Enough to provoke the ire of the right-wing student union Uni, which denounced on “return of chaos” within the establishment.
At Sciences Po Paris, “a tough debate”
After the discussions and the invectives, Jean Bassères, provisional administrator of Sciences Po Paris, called on all parties to calm down. “It was a tough debate, with fairly clear positions, a lot of emotionhe explained to the press after two hours of debate. I now hope that everyone will regain their calm (…) and that we will look out for each other.”
But its refusal to set up a working group on the links between Sciences Po Paris and certain financial partners is far from being accepted by everyone. “We asked for concrete measures, we come out with windplague Ulysses*, contacted by telephone after the discussions. I don’t think that’s going to calm many people down.”
VIDEO. Jean Bassères, provisional administrator of Sciences-Po Paris
While student protest ignites the United States, where more than 250 campuses have been the scene of actions in recent weeks, French schools and universities are increasingly loudly denouncing the war in Gaza. Even if it means risking expulsion military man.
The government’s firm line
At Sciences Po Toulouse in particular, the police intervened on Tuesday to evacuate the establishment and forcefully dislodge around fifty demonstrators. The same day, protesting students from Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University were locked up on the Tolbiac campus, in the 13th arrondissement of Paris, before being asked to leave the premises. Thursday morning, the IEP of Lille was closed on the sidelines of the blockage of the Higher School of Journalism (ESJ), neighboring about forty meters away. The action notably received the support of activists and deputies from La France insoumise.
For its part, the government calls for calm – but also to impose it, if necessary. The Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, supports evacuations in the event of a blockade. For Sylvie Retailleau, Minister of Higher Education, a “zero tolerance” must be applied to the actions of students engaged against the war in Gaza. “Debate, freedom of expression: yes (…) Blockages and intimidation are no”warned the minister.
She reiterated this instruction on Thursday morning by summoning the presidents of French universities and grandes écoles. “I ask you to use the fullest extent of the powers conferred on you by the Education Code”, she declared during this meeting, according to information provided to the press by her office. With one priority: the “preserve the order”via disciplinary sanctions or by calling on the police.
A large gathering Friday at the Pantheon
Even if they shocked some, these statements by Sylvie Retailleau were generally expected by the leaders of the pro-Palestinian mobilization. “This is a continuation of recent days, no one is surprised”, explains Hortense, a student at the Tolbiac campus and member of NPA Jeunes. Can the risk of police intervention undermine action plans? “We discuss it a lot, but no one seems to be demoralized for the moment”she assures.
Thursday afternoon, several tents were pitched on the Place de la Sorbonne, in the 5th arrondissement of the capital. Among the signs and flags of Palestine, around a hundred people were also gathered. “It’s more of a symbol than anything else, we didn’t necessarily plan to spend the night there,” one of the students behind this action said by telephone. A “symbol” before the big action planned for Friday: a unitary rally, scheduled for 2 p.m. on the Place du Panthéon.
But before hitting the pavement, the students of Ile-de-France mobilized for the Palestinian cause still have to settle a few details. From Nanterre (Hauts-de-Seinne) to Tolbiac, several student unions, including Unef, NPA Jeunes or Poing Raised, called for an interfacs general assembly to be held late Thursday afternoon. “There is a lot of disappointment around us, confides Jack, a master 1 student at Sciences Po Paris. The gathering at the Pantheon can be an opportunity to bring together all the students, and all the anger.”
* The first name has been changed at the request of the person concerned.