Bruno Retailleau, a former student of Sciences Po Paris from the class of 1985 and the current leader of the Republican Senators, has criticized the school, calling it a “factory of ideological stupidity.” This sentiment is shared by others within the conservative political party, who have voiced strong disapproval of recent events at the institution. Following weeks of tension, the school’s administration reached an agreement with students advocating for the Palestinian cause, agreeing to hold an internal debate and suspend disciplinary actions against protesters.
Prior to the scheduled debate, referred to as a “town hall” meeting, the Republican Party denounced the government and the school administration’s decision to suspend disciplinary proceedings against students involved in the protests. Eric Ciotti, the party’s president who graduated from Sciences Po in 1988, accused the administration of condoning anti-Semitic demands by canceling disciplinary actions. While the far-right has also criticized the actions of the pro-Palestinian students, it is the Republicans who have made the occupation of the school a highly political issue.
According to Pierre-Henri Dumont, a Republican Member of Parliament and former student of Sciences Po from the class of 2011, right-leaning voters may be more attuned to the situation at Sciences Po than those who support the National Rally party. Dumont has been vocal in denouncing what he sees as a political and ideological drift at the school in recent years. He attributes the support for Gaza to an alliance among various groups, including foreign students from the US and the Middle East, wealthy students seeking revolutionary thrills, and some scholarship students from suburban areas, as well as the influence of the France Unbowed party.
The internationalization of Sciences Po, initiated under the leadership of Richard Descoings in the 2000s, has resulted in a significant shift in the student population, according to Dumont. He believes that actions in support of Gaza are a consequence of this diversification, with a mix of foreign students, privileged individuals, and scholarship recipients contributing to the perceived ideological shift at the school. Dumont also points to the influence of the France Unbowed party as a factor in shaping the political climate at Sciences Po.
Overall, the Republican Party’s criticism of Sciences Po reflects broader concerns about the perceived ideological leanings of the school and the impact of internationalization on its student body and discourse. The tension between students advocating for the Palestinian cause and conservative politicians highlights deeper divisions within French society and politics. As the debate continues, the future of Sciences Po and its role in shaping the next generation of French leaders remains a topic of contentious discussion among various political factions.
