French celebrate May Day with nationwide protests
PARIS: Far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen marked the May Day workers' holiday on Sunday by urging the French to reject the European Union constitution, while thousands of workers used traditional marches to voice job concerns and resentment over a canceled public holiday.
More than 130 demonstrations were planned nationwide, unions said.
Major May Day themes were those that have dominated in past years: jobs, pay and working hours.
But, two hot issues this year were France's upcoming referendum on the EU constitution and the government's decision to cancel the traditional Monday holiday after the Christian festival of Pentecost, which falls on May 16 this year.
French President Jacques Chirac has staked considerable prestige on getting the historic treaty accepted, but his center-right government faces an uphill battle before France's May 29 referendum. Polls suggest the French are inclined to vote "no.''
Le Pen and some 3,000 supporters of his far-right National Front party used the May Day rally to broadcast their anti-immigrant, nationalist message, which includes opposition to the constitution and Turkey's eventual entry to the EU.
"Turkey + Constitution: No, I'll keep France,'' read one banner.
"Europe is not about prosperity or jobs or social progress,'' Le Pen told the rally. Directing his words to those campaigning in favor of the constitution, he said: "I accuse you of deceiving the French by promising them the moon. I accuse you of selling out France, its sovereignty, its identity, its liberties.''
For others, the main issue was losing a day off.
"Don't mess with my holiday,'' read banners at a protest led by the Christian CFTC trade union in Paris that drew several thousand protesters.
The holiday has effectively been converted into an unpaid working day, with the government skimming off a sliver of employers' revenues and channeling the cash into a fund for the elderly. It's expected to reap euro2 billion (US$2.59 billion) per year.
The plan for a so-called "Day of Solidarity'' stemmed from the deaths of an estimated 15,000 older people during the heatwave of 2003. In the aftermath of the tragic heatwave, it seemed smart. But, as the lost holiday looms, many French are rebelling.
Several unions are calling for strikes May 16. Some schools plan to remain closed. The Paris regional government -- run by a Socialist -- has given its 1,200 workers the day off.
The backlash has worsened workers' mood toward the government at a time when Chirac is in trouble over this month's referendum, which some see as a vote for or against the conservative government's policies.--AP
News Poll
- Man posted doctored photos of Nik Aziz
- Heartbreaking wait for mum
- Sodomy II: Karpal claims judge lied (Updated)
- The world just got bigger
- Opposition leaders decry court’s ruling
- Thumbs-up for Najib
- Weather warning for Perak, Selangor and Sabah
- 5-0 for BN’s Zambry
- Saiful files report over death threat
- WWF: Orang asli being used
- 60 lose RM25mil in gold investment scam
- Canberra to set new skills list
- MAS offers CNY bargains
- Fleet card cloning ring busted with arrest of trio
- WWF: Orang asli being used
- Vietnamese plumber fined RM10,000 over RM75 bribe
- ‘Flashing candy’ a health hazard: Health Ministry
- Sodomy II: Karpal claims judge lied (Updated)
- Toyota puts the brakes on problem
- Manila joins hunt for Semporna gunmen
RSS
