France brought to a standstill by “social terrorism”

Days before it is to host the European Championship, France is once again convulsed by strikes and violence, said Michaela Wiegel in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. In 2010 the country was paralysed by protests against Nicolas Sarkozy’s pension reforms. Now his left-wing successor François Hollande faces equally crippling protests over the “El Khomri law”, a modest reform framed by labour minister Myriam El Khomri that allows employers to extend the 35-hour week. Since even many socialist MPs oppose it, the government bypassed parliament and passed it by decree. Yet despite months of street protests; despite the blockade of oil refineries by the powerful CGT union, which has led to long queues at service stations; and despite the “booming” demands by CGT chief Philippe Martinez for a general strike, the government is…

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The Week United Kingdom (Digital) - 1 Issue, V. 1076

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