absoluto

En même temps que le monde du spectacle étend son règne, il s’approche du point culminant de son offensive, en soulevant partout de nouvelles résistances. Celles-ci sont infiniment moins connues, puisque précisément le but du spectacle régnant est le reflet universel et hypnotique de la soumission. Mais elles existent et grandissent.

[Internationale situationniste. Numéro 7 — Avril 1962]

Anyone with a minimum interest in the streets will notice an increasing trend among European youth to confront the police at the slightest excuse. Stockholm, Athens (three days ago!), Paris, Madrid, Brussels, Budapest, to mention just those I remember from the last couple of months are showing that the days of peace and quiet in Europe are nearing the end despite the barrage of propaganda trying to link any demonstrations of unrest to some kind of Muslim conspiracy to take over the world  — and despite the vast and undiscriminate powers given to the police these last years.

It’s this Nikolas "Big Mouth" Sarkozy is referring to when he says he wants to put an end to the "May 68" spirit. He should be careful about what he wishes (and also about what he says in public, but this may be wishing too much). Whether he will be elected remains to be seen (and the streets don’t care), but whoever is elected will certainly have to face a much more diffuse, violent and impregnable May 68, perhaps with just the anger, without the spirit.