The Paris region authority made a bold move on Tuesday, deciding to suspend funding for Sciences Po, a prestigious university in France. The decision came after the university was caught up in heated pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protests.
Valerie Pecresse, the head of the greater Paris Ile-de-France region, announced the suspension on social media, citing the need for calm and security at the school. She criticized a minority of radicalized individuals for spreading antisemitic hatred and accused some left-wing politicians of fueling tensions.
The regional support for Sciences Po, totaling 1 million euros for 2024, has been put on hold, according to a member of Pecresse’s team.
In response, Jean Basseres, the university’s acting administrator, expressed regret over the decision, emphasizing the importance of the region’s partnership with Sciences Po. He expressed his willingness to engage in dialogue with Pecresse.
Similar to protests seen at top universities in the United States, students at Sciences Po have been demonstrating, particularly regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict and the resulting crisis in Gaza.
France, which is home to a significant Jewish population and the largest Muslim community in Europe, is navigating sensitive territory amidst these tensions.
Last week, university officials called in police to disperse a protest, and on Monday, police intervened in a student protest at Sorbonne, another esteemed French university, demanding an end to Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Despite the regional decision, French Higher Education Minister Sylvie Retailleau stated that the government had no intention to suspend funding for Sciences Po. She clarified that the state’s funding for the university amounts to 75 million euros and emphasized that there had been no antisemitic remarks or violence during the demonstrations.
Both Basseres and Retailleau confirmed that there are no plans to halt Sciences Po’s collaborations with universities in Israel.
