France warns landing flights over lack of fuel
Source: Agencies |
October 18, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
OFFICIALS have taken the extraordinary step of warning some flights landing at France's main airport to come with enough fuel to get back home, bracing for a possible fuel shortage after a new round of protests on Saturday against plans to raise the retirement age to 62.
Police estimated some 825,000 people marched in cities across France to protest President Nicolas Sarkozy's plan to extend the retirement age to keep pension coffers full. That is fewer than during a march last Tuesday, and far lower than the union estimate of 3 million. But unions are not relenting in fighting for what the French see as a near-sacred right to retire at 60.
A sixth round of nationwide protests is scheduled tomorrow, a day before the Senate votes on the retirement reform, which must still return to both houses due to amendments tacked on during debates.
"I think the French understand that those who are blocking the country are at the head of the government," Francois Chereque, head of the moderate CFDT union, said on BFM-TV. He later called on the government to "suspend the parliamentary debate."
Schools, trains, public transport and even garbage collection in Marseille have been blocked by intermittent strikes to pressure Sarkozy to back down. The possibility of a long-term fuel shortage appears to be the most worrisome outcome of the protest movement.
All 12 of France's fuel-producing refineries have been hit by strikes that started last Tuesday and numerous fuel depots are blocked, triggering a run on gas pumps by fearful motorists. In an extraordinary move, police were called in on Friday to force three crucial fuel depots to reopen.
Police estimated some 825,000 people marched in cities across France to protest President Nicolas Sarkozy's plan to extend the retirement age to keep pension coffers full. That is fewer than during a march last Tuesday, and far lower than the union estimate of 3 million. But unions are not relenting in fighting for what the French see as a near-sacred right to retire at 60.
A sixth round of nationwide protests is scheduled tomorrow, a day before the Senate votes on the retirement reform, which must still return to both houses due to amendments tacked on during debates.
"I think the French understand that those who are blocking the country are at the head of the government," Francois Chereque, head of the moderate CFDT union, said on BFM-TV. He later called on the government to "suspend the parliamentary debate."
Schools, trains, public transport and even garbage collection in Marseille have been blocked by intermittent strikes to pressure Sarkozy to back down. The possibility of a long-term fuel shortage appears to be the most worrisome outcome of the protest movement.
All 12 of France's fuel-producing refineries have been hit by strikes that started last Tuesday and numerous fuel depots are blocked, triggering a run on gas pumps by fearful motorists. In an extraordinary move, police were called in on Friday to force three crucial fuel depots to reopen.
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