French Scientists Contemplate Another Assent of the Barricades. (January 7, 2005)

    Between February and April last year^{1, 2, 3} we reported on a contretemps between the French government and the French scientific community which culminated with Alain Trautmann, Leader of Save [French] Research saying "it's a great day for French Science." The activism of the scientists  led to a cabinet reshuffle which saw François Fillon, installed as minister for education, higher education and research, while  François d'Aubert, became junior minister for research. And TFW reported in April:

....following "negotiations last week with representatives of the scientific community, Fillon and d'Aubert announced a series of emergency measures for research, including the scientists' key demand of 550 new full-time research posts for young scientists. The government also agreed to a further 1,050 university posts -- 300 immediately and 750 in January 2005." The government had already agreed to "unfreeze" €294 million from the 2002 and 2003 budgets and reinstate 120 full-time civil service jobs.

     Fillon intends to place before the French parliament by the end of the year planned reforms and a revised funding plan for French research and pledged that the scientific community will be consulted in drafting the reforms.

But with year's end Science reports that early signals about the plan "are not good," according to Trautmann. "The biggest worry is about jobs. Leaders of the protest movement criticized the government just before Christmas for, among other things, announcing a 'derisory' 150 new university lecturer-researcher posts in the 2005 budget. Hundreds more are needed, says Edouard Brézin, incoming president of the French Academy of Sciences, if the government is serious about reducing their teaching hours. If the bill falls short, researchers say, they will take to the barricades again. The legislation is expected to reach Parliament for a vote by summer."

The coming half-year could be both interesting and traumatic. From past evidence it may prove a serious miscalculation by the Chirac Government should they dismiss the scientists' disquiet and criticisms lightly. Last year's protests had significant support from the "proletariat".