This reinforces the idea that many of us already had that Chirac could not stand (for re-election) again in 2007,
It may seem strange to foreigners, but young people in France are very concerned about unemployment.
But if he does not withdraw it, the demonstrations and strikes could go on for some weeks, and that would be very damaging. He has no good solution.
Society is getting more and more dangerous, more and more violent, and the French are trying to find answers, to find better solutions.
What's striking is that there's no improvement in terms of optimism in public opinion, instead there's a post-referendum depression. People are worried about jobs and their purchasing power. Unemployment needs to fall for six months in a row for people to take that on board.
His problem is that he has to convince people in his own party that he can be a better candidate than Sarkozy, who is president of the party.
Since the referendum on the EU constitution, Chirac has been in a much weakened position, and it has become obvious he is not really in the running for another term as president.
