On This Day: 1968, De Gaulle says 'back me or sack me'

[Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant']

The President of France, Charles de Gaulle, issued an ultimatum to striking students and workers who have brought the country to a standstill during three weeks of violent demonstrations.

In a televised address to the nation, he demanded that the French people back his programme of reform - or accept his resignation. He said the choice would be made in a referendum later this year. In the speech, he said the nation was "on the brink of paralysis", and warned of civil war if the situation continued.

(more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/24/newsid_2988000/2988263.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/24/newsid_2988000/2988263.stm))

[Die Neue Zeit]

All sides were overestimating things, I think. There was the prospect of regime change, though.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

Good old PCF. Always rely on them to keep those naughty revolutionaries in line. After all, we couldn't have revolution BEFORE the bureaucrats had secured their places in the future society, could we? Wouldn't be proper, would almost certainly lead to the destruction of hierarchy and class! :rolleyes: