Strikes crippled French transport and public services yesterday as around two million people took to the streets
By John Lichfield in Paris
Strikes crippled French transport and public services yesterday as around two million people took to the streets in the second mass protest this month against pension reform.
Despite the threat of more strikes next month, President Nicolas Sarkozy is convinced that mainstream French unions do not have the stomach for the kind of rolling protests that forced previous governments to scrap social reforms in 1995 and 2006.
Although the figures for yesterday's strikes and marches were disputed (as ever), the tide of protest against the raising of the retirement age from 60 to 62 appeared to recede marginally rather than rise. With his poll ratings in the trough and his reputation, at home and abroad, in tatters, the President has staked his chances of re-election in 2012 on a pensions "victory" and the popularity among right-wing voters of his campaign against Roma gypsy migrants from eastern Europe.
Yesterday's protests were, therefore, anxiously scrutinised, by both government and opposition. Were the strikes and marches bigger, or smaller, than those on 7 September? Were left-leaning students and schoolchildren taking to the streets to rebel, not so much against pension reform as against President Sarkozy and all his works? (This is said to be the President's principal nightmare.)
more
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/french-trains-grind-...
.
Comment
"Destroying the New World Order"
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!
Latest Activity
- Top News
- Everything
Sustenance
"Bacon health to the nation for one and all and stealth for operations elsewhere in the war. Yip a…"
The Consequence of Loneliness: Another Missing Person Case
Chapter I“Unit 7, Unit 7. Do you read? This is dispatch!”“This is Unit 7, over!” Deputy Patterson…See More
Devo - Fresh
"Fresh" is from Devo's 2010 album, Something For Everybody. Video producer – Brian Carr/David VotteroVideo director – Gerald Casale & Davy Forcehttps://www.C...
"Remember that song by Alan Parsons "Eye in the Sky"?"
© 2025 Created by truth.
Powered by
You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!
Join 12160 Social Network