PRESIDENT NICOLAS Sarkozy ordered police to unblock access to fuel depots and restore supply yesterday, but trade unions pledged to continue their campaign against the government’s pension reform plans.
France’s fuel shortages stabilised yesterday, with one-third of petrol stations having either run dry or been partially affected, but demand was set to rise with school holidays just two days away.
In the wake of the unions’ sixth national day of protest in as many weeks, scuffles continued to break out in Paris, Lyon and other cities between youths and riot police. At an unauthorised protest near the senate – due to vote on the reform package before the weekend – police sprayed tear gas at a group of hundreds of demonstrators.
Mr Sarkozy said the government would not let the country be paralysed by the protests and pledged to re-open petrol supply routes. “If this disorder is not ended quickly, the attempt to paralyse the country could have consequences for jobs by disrupting the normal functioning of the economy,” he told a cabinet meeting, his office said.
With some union leaders anxious that next week’s school holiday, violent incidents and the imminent senate vote could deprive the movement of momentum, they tried to tighten their grip on key sectors with a ninth day of refinery blockades, go-slows by truck drivers and work stoppages at regional airports.
Police have cleared access to 21 oil depots since Friday. The strikes have also halted operations at two of France’s three liquefied natural gas terminals, but there was no immediate risk of shortages.
Union leaders are due to meet today to decide how to continue their efforts, but Bernard Thibault, leader of the powerful CGT, said they were prepared to “do a seventh and an eight [day of protest] if we have to”.
Although most protests have been peaceful, police yesterday reported sporadic violence, notably in Lyon and the Paris suburb of Nanterre. Interior minister Brice Hortefeux revealed nearly 1,500 alleged rioters had been arrested so far over the past week, 428 after flare-ups on Tuesday.
Transport services improved yesterday, with the Paris metro back to normal and two out of three intercity trains operating to schedule. The latest survey – published in yesterday's Libération– showed that 61 per cent of people want the pensions Bill modified and just 30 per cent want the current proposals to be retained.