PARIS
Nicolas Sarkozy, racing to reshape France since he was elected president last month has postponed a university reform bill, apparently fearing the kind of student protests that plagued his predecessors.
The surprise move by the energetic president came the night before Tuesday’s opening of a special parliamentary session he convened to pass a series of laws during the normally quiet days of summer.
The legislature is dominated by his conservative UMP party and its agenda for the next six weeks is packed: Sarkozy wants parliament to consider bills on reducing income taxes, strengthening punishments for repeat criminal offenders and requiring a minimum level of service during public transport strikes.
He also wants to allow French universities now all state-run and nearly cost-free more autonomy to select students and eventually charge substantial tuition fees. Sarkozy and some university presidents maintain that this is the only way to mend a crumbling higher education system and boost job prospects for French youth.
Many students fear the move is a step toward the commercialization of the open European university concept, and that it will squeeze out the underprivileged.
Sarkozy met with university officials Monday and with student groups and teachers’ union leaders Tuesday. He had planned to present the university bill to his new government for approval Wednesday, so that it could go to parliament in the coming weeks.
