[Onthebarricades] FRANCE: Unrest, blockades and unpopularity hit Sarkozy

[Andy]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7412852.stm

Fishermen clash with Paris police

French police guarded the ministry from angry fishermen
French fishermen have clashed with police in Paris as they stepped up 
protests over rising fuel costs.
Protesters threw flares and police fired tear gas outside the agriculture 
ministry, where Minister Michel Barnier was meeting fishing unions.
Ferry traffic with the UK has also ground to a halt, with fishing fleets 
blockading several French ports. The disruption spread to British roads.
It comes as France braces for a major strike over pension reforms.
Workers are due to walk out for 36 hours, starting on Wednesday evening, to 
protest against President Nicolas Sarkozy's plans to make people work for 41 
years, rather then the current 40, before being able to draw a full pension.
Price cap
The fishermen's blockade began more than a week ago, and was originally 
confined to a few ports like La Rochelle on the west coast.
But it spread until, on Wednesday, Calais, Boulogne and Dunkirk on the north 
coast, all serving cross-Channel ferry services to Britain, were isolated by 
a ring of fishing boats.
The stoppage forced UK authorities to shut the port of Dover, causing such a 
long build-up of lorry traffic that the M20 motorway has had to be closed.
The fishermen say rapidly rising prices for diesel threaten them with 
bankruptcy. They are demanding a greater subsidy from the French government, 
in effect putting a cap on prices.
In January the government approved an aid package for fishermen worth 310m 
euros (£248m) over three years.
Mr Barnier is seeking approval from the EU commission to give state aid to 
the sector.
But fishermen say that agreement is redundant, since fuel has become 30% 
more expensive since the start of the year.
As the minister met union representatives in Paris on Wednesday, as many as 
200 fishermen gathered outside.
Dozens of flares were thrown, injuring up to four policemen, according to 
reports.
Riot police surrounded the building and responded with tear gas.
Sarkozy confident
The fishermen's protest came as the government is facing industrial action 
from various sectors.

French teachers say cuts in numbers affect quality
Port workers plan a strike for Thursday against privatisation - which is 
likely to exacerbate the problems caused by the fishing blockade.
Thursday will also see major action by rail, postal, utility and other 
public sector workers across France.
They are protesting against plans to extend the retirement age.
It follows a teachers' strike against job cuts last week.
Unions are hoping that a head of steam is building up against Mr Sarkozy's 
economic reform plans, says BBC correspondent Hugh Schofield in Paris.
But the president has so far made the calculation that most people accept 
the changes that he has promised, and there is no sign of him backing down, 
says our correspondent.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/7412239.stm

French strike brings M20 closure

Queuing lorries park on the M20 under Operation Stack
Strike action by French fishermen has led to the implementation of Operation 
Stack on the M20 in Kent to ease jams caused by lorries going to Dover port.
It follows the closure to all ferry traffic after the ports of Calais, 
Dunkirk and Boulogne were blockaded.
Dover Harbour Board said there had been no sailings since 0600 BST and it 
was unclear when the action would end.
Under Operation Stack, lorries bound for France park on the M20 when 
cross-Channel transport is blocked.
The coastbound part of the M20 has been closed between junction eight for 
Leeds Castle and junction nine for Ashford West.
The carriageway is being used to park lorries before directing them through 
to either the Channel Tunnel or Dover.
Brian Rees from P&O Ferries explains the consequences
Other traffic is being diverted from junction eight onto the A20.
Kent Police said phase one of Operation Stack, between junctions 11 and 12 
coastbound, was not in place as part of the current measure.
It said phase two had been implemented as it had proved to be "highly 
effective in keeping traffic moving" when it was used in February.
Motorists are being urged to plan their journeys in the run-up to the bank 
holiday weekend, to carry water and food in case of queues.
They are also advised to check with cross-channel ferry operators before 
setting off for scheduled sailings.
The Folkestone to Calais Eurotunnel shuttle service that carries freight and 
cars is running normally.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7299151.stm

Sarkozy's UMP suffers poll rebuke

Curtains for Mr Sarkozy's ambitious reform plans?
Voters in France's local elections have handed key cities to the left in a 
punishing blow to President Sarkozy.
The Socialists seized Toulouse, Caen, Strasbourg, Amiens and Reims, with 
most results in. They also held on to the power bases of Paris and Lyon.
But in a closely-fought contest, the president's centre-right UMP retained 
the second city, Marseille.
The outcome is likely to make it harder for Mr Sarkozy's government to 
pursue its reform programme, analysts say.
The poll was seen as the first ballot box test since Mr Sarkozy's election 
last May of his popularity, which has plummeted in recent opinion polls.
 You can't change a great country like ours in a few months - tenacity is 
needed to reform

Prime Minister Francois Fillon
The BBC's Emma-Jane Kirby in Paris says that in terms of the share of the 
vote, these election results do not look too bad for the government - the 
opposition Socialists won only a very small percentage more of the vote than 
the UMP.
Nationally, partial official results showed parties on the left leading 
slightly, with 48.7% of the overall vote to 47.6% for the centre-right, 
according to AP news agency.
But our correspondent adds that in losing major cities, the UMP has lost 
some key power bases and it may be more difficult now for the French leader 
to push through reforms.
'Divorce' with electorate
At Perigueux, in the Dordogne, Mr Sarkozy's minister for education, Xavier 
Darcos, lost his bid to be re-elected as mayor by just over 100 votes.

Segolene Royal called the results a "vote of hope"
On Sunday night, the president did not make an appearance - leaving his 
prime minister, Francois Fillon, to defend his policies in a televised 
declaration.
"You can't change a great country like ours in a few months," said Mr 
Fillon. "Tenacity is needed to reform."
Segolene Royal, the Socialist presidential candidate Mr Sarkozy defeated 
last May, called Sunday's results "a vote of hope".
Former Socialist Prime Minister Laurent Fabius said the government was 
heading for "divorce" with the French electorate if it refused to change its 
policies.
The elections saw Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe boost his position as a 
possible contender against Segolene Royal for the presidential elections in 
2012.
However, analysts say the Socialists remain in some disarray, having lost 
three presidential elections in a row.
Voter anger
Our correspondent in Paris says many have used their votes to show their 
disapproval of the government.

The left won a tiny percentage more of the vote than the UMP
Many French voters say they are angry Mr Sarkozy has not yet fulfilled his 
promise to increase their spending power.
Since coming to power, he has succeeded where some of his predecessors in 
the Elysee Palace have failed by reducing pension benefits for some state 
workers.
Although unemployment has dropped to its lowest level in more than two 
decades, it remains high at 7.5% and analysts warn the French economy shows 
signs of minimal growth.
Correspondents say Mr Sarkozy's recent divorce three months into his 
presidency and remarriage to supermodel Carla Bruni have turned off many 
voters.
The 53-year-old's well-publicised holidays with the rich and famous and what 
some see as his extravagant style have seen him dubbed the "Bling-Bling 
president".
Fewer than four in 10 voters now approve of his performance. Last July his 
ratings stood at 67%.