Monday 7 May 2007

The ugly side of French democracy

I guess Royal was right in predicting and warning of the ensuing (leftist youth) violence following a Sarkozy win in the French presidential election...


Image credits: Reuters and Robert Pratta (top), Reuters and Gonzalo Fuentes (bottom).

Reuters:

Hundreds of people were arrested in France overnight in clashes between police and protesters angry over conservative Nicolas Sarkozy's victory in Sunday's presidential election, police said.

Official figures released on Monday said demonstrators set fire to 730 cars and injured 78 policemen across France, with 592 people arrested in the violent protests against the tough-talking former interior minister.

The tally was revised sharply upwards after an initial report appeared to downplay the clashes and was at odds with local police figures and eyewitness reports, which suggested widespread troubles in numerous French cities.



The probably all too powerful French unions are also disgruntled by the center-right interior minister's victory in the Sunday polls. He aims for a more global France — which is good — and US President George Bush seems pleased with the success of his French counterpart.

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