France
France: Sarkozy moves to control public television
By Olivier Laurent, January 7, 2009
President Nicolas Sarkozy’s plans to strengthen his control over French public television are being put into action.
France: Jean-Luc Mélenchon launches the Left Party
By Antoine Lerougetel and Peter Schwarz, December 27, 2008
Senator Jean-Luc Mélenchon and approximately 1,000 supporters have split from the French Socialist Party and set up a new party, the Parti de Gauche (Left Party) based on the program of capitalist re...
French president proposes repressive “reform” of mental health care
By Jacques Valentin, December 22, 2008
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is seizing on an isolated case of violence to implement repressive “law and order” controls on all mental health care patients.
Amid fears Greek demonstrations could spread
Government postpones French high school reform
By Kumaran Ira, December 19, 2008
The French government has temporarily shelved an unpopular high school reform, fearing spread of the “Greek syndrome.”
France: high school students protest education reform
By Alex Lantier and Senthooran Ravee, December 19, 2008
The WSWS interviewed high school students participating in a demonstration in Paris on Thursday.
France: The LCR and the unions betray planned rail strike
By Antoine Lerougetel, December 19, 2008
The calling off of last month’s planned rail strike was a significant betrayal by the French trade unions, led by the General Confederation of Labour (CGT). The response to this event by Olivier Bes...
French government’s emergency budget deepens social divide
By Pierre Mabut, December 9, 2008
French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced a raft of economic measures December 4 amounting to €26 billion (US$33 billion) as part of an effort to refloat the economy in 2009 in the face of the worl...
France: Thousands demonstrate against postal service privatisation
By Olivier Laurent and Antoine Lerougetel, November 26, 2008
Demonstrations took place in towns across France on Saturday against the planned privatization of the postal service.
France: Train drivers strike against attacks on working conditions
By Antoine Lerougetel, November 7, 2008
Train services throughout France were heavily disrupted as train drivers strongly supported the call for a one-day strike on Thursday, November 6.
Hopes and illusions dominate European reaction to Obama victory
By Ulrich Rippert, November 6, 2008
European leaders and media have reacted to the election victory of Barack Obama with a mixture of illusions and expectations.
Sarkozy intends to partly nationalise “strategically important” companies
By Peter Schwarz, October 29, 2008
Right-wing President Nicolas Sarkozy’s plan to protect “strategically important” French enterprises against their take-over by foreign investors receives support from German “lefts.”
French Airbus worker: “Boeing and Airbus workers have the same enemy—we should fight them together”
By Antoine Lerougetel, October 24, 2008
The WSWS interviewed a worker at the Nantes Airbus plant in western France.
