“Shame on those who exploit the conflict and who use students,” criticizes Sylvie Retailleau

“Debate, freedom of expression: yes. (…) Blockages and intimidation are no.” While new actions took place on Tuesday, April 30, on several university campuses, in support of the Palestinian people, the Minister of Higher Education and Research recalled during the question session to the government that the slogan was “zero tolerance”.

“The decision to use public force within establishments rests with the heads of establishments and we are never unfavorable when the situation requires it”affirmed Sylvie Retailleau in the face of a very noisy Assembly, welcoming those “who take responsibility”. Monday was evene Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, who had “requested that the Sorbonne be evacuated quickly”as “he asked for it for Sciences Po on Friday”had learned franceinfo from those around him.

Sylvie Retailleau then returned to the controversy that occurred at the end of February, after Jean-Luc Mélenchon drew a parallel between the president of the University of Lille and the Nazi Adolf Eichmann, following the cancellation of the conference on “Palestinian news”. “Our school leaders (…) cancel conferences when they present a risk of disturbing public order. Some are even compared to Nazi criminals for this. It’s odious and I filed a complaint.”said the minister. “Shame on those who exploit the conflict and who use the students”, she concluded.