Does French 'people power' rule OK?

[festival of snickers]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7094525.stm

The government calls for urgent change and draws up a proposal; those affected paralyse much of the country; the plan is shelved.

This may not be the way the constitution says laws should be made, but France has a time-honoured tradition of legislating from the street.

French-style people power has even acquired a force that trumps representative rule.

Last year students and unions - who are at the forefront of the current revolt - objected to a move that made it easier to hire and fire young people.

The law was abandoned, although it had been overwhelmingly approved by the national assembly.

The climbdown was widely seen as a wise move: protesters in France often have more legitimacy than mere MPs.