Of course, the REALLY interesting thing is

the effect all this will have on the Presidential elections in 2007.

The three front runners seem to be:

Dominic de Villepin : old guard, Chirac's most natural successor, diplomatic and guarded BUT has never ever been elected in France to any public office AND tainted by the CPE conflict?

Nicolas Sarkozy : breath of fresh air, volatile, interesting, speaks strongly and forcefully BUT tainted by his handling of the banlieu riots last year?

Ségolène Royale : left wing, lady, could she be in with a chance of being France's first Madame le Président?

(apologies if I have spelt anyone's name wrong)

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