PARIS, March 24: Talks between French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and trade unions ended in deadlock on Friday after Mr Villepin refused to withdraw his contested youth jobs contract, opening the way for more protests next week.

Union leaders who attended an hour of talks at Mr Villepin’s official residence said he rejected their demand that he scrap the First Employment Contract (CPE), instead offering technical adjustments and more negotiations.

“The only thing we’ve got is that (Villepin) will see the organisations of high-school and university students, and that meeting will take place — at our insistence — tomorrow morning,” said Bernard Thibault of the CGT union.

“The government has not grasped the extent of the tension in the country. Mr de Villepin proposed nothing to us beyond certain arrangements to improve the CPE and that is not acceptable,” said Francois Chereque of the CFDT union.

In a brief statement Mr Villepin said the meeting with unions was an important ‘first step’.—AFP