France revives national service for 16-year-olds

FRANCE is to bring back month-long national service for all 16-year-olds but critics say the move is a costly fudge that falls well short of Emmanuel Macron’s initial plan to reintroduce a form of military service.

It will come in two stages. First an obligatory one-month placement, with two weeks in collective housing to promote a “social mix”, and then another two weeks in smaller, more “personalised” groups, according to Jean-michel Blanquer, the education minister.

An optional second phase over three to 12 months will be on offer for under25s who “wish to get more committed”.

The programme is estimated to cost €1.6billion (£1.4billion) a year to run, with €1.75 billion up front. The announcement drew anger from political opponents, with Marine Le Pen, head of the newly renamed National Rally, calling it “pointless” and adding that three months was the minimum needed to instill a sense of patriotism.