I have no selfesteem in this area I am not he assured

Dominique de Villepin is not for nothing the political son of Jacques Chirac: his positions have the art of subject to different interpretations. The Prime Minister is ready to accept a questioning of the CPE, as continue to claim the unions and the left Yesterday, at his monthly press conference, the Prime Minister said that he is extremely open. "PBS is a tool." It is of concern. The important thing is to provide a concrete response to the problem of young people. Let's talk about. Let all its place in the dialogue. I am ready to hear all proposals. "Prejudging the results, one must be wary of any early conclusion," he said, giving the feeling of being favourable to the solution that seems today to consensus, namely a suspension without saying of PBS, and its replacement by another device therefore the social partners will agree on the terms and conditions. Repeatedly, he made the difference between "the tool" (CEP) and the objective (the fight against youth unemployment), believing that only on the merits had the objective. "I have no self-esteem in this area, I am not," he assured. But real opening, neither trade unions nor the left not have seen. It is true that, in the climate of extreme tension between him and Nicolas Sarkozy, Dominique de Villepin is told none of the words on which works the rest of the majority especially sarkozystes: or "repealed", or "suspension" and "substitution" have been expressed.

More flexibility

It is also true that only "regret" he has shown on this issue is to have "wanted to go too fast." Above all, anxious to show that it remains at the controls, he said his intention to remain at Matignon "this is the spirit of responsibility and the sense of the State" which are mine , to continue the reforms, and to advance the flexibility in France, as tried to do CEP. "What is the social partners are willing to recognize that flexibility is necessary to give an employment to all." -What they are willing to work with us in the implementation of the protections and necessary for this flexibility counterparties "I wish", he said. Translation of some of its relatives: future contract that will replace the SCE must score points towards greater flexibility.

Unanimous reaction of the unions, it is a "provocation": "Dominique de Villepin is willing to review the PBS, but replace it with a contract that looks like." What is safe in any case, is that this press conference threw further confusion to a situation which did not lack. "Instead to placate, the Prime Minister concerned and complicated," noted François Hollande, first Secretary of the PS, "it continues to be messy, complicated and incantatory".

At its willingness to continue to exist despite the crisis, Dominique de Villepin is in any case the risk of not being in phase with the majority makers that have reopened the case in hand and that seem to find common ground with a part of trade unions (see page 3). As Nicolas Sarkozy, moreover, that takes the risk of compromising his "break" speech in accepting, with parliamentary UMP, to bury the CPE without actual counterparts.

Financially generous

Beyond this battle, Dominique de Villepin announced three new priorities, yesterday, to clear social tone. He suggested a consultation with the social partners, "when we are out of the current crisis", on the securing of career paths. He opened the site of the fight against poverty and exclusion (read below). He finally set up a working group on the strengthening of the links between University and employment, which is expected to issue its findings in June, on the integration of young people and the professionalization of the studies (learning, internship...).

In all three cases, the Government will be financially generous, he clearly implied, as to correct the given liberal image in recent weeks.