Hollande ‘stands firm’ in face of growing protests over labour reforms
Opposition to labour reform has led to fuel shortages and violent clashes
Defiant French President Francois Hollande vowed to “stand firm” over a controversial labour law, hitting back yesterday at unions which urged workers to step up a wave of industrial action.
The latest war of words between the government and unions came as France reels from fuel shortages, transport disruption and violent demonstrations, two weeks to the day that it begins hosting the Euro 2016 football championships.
“I will stand firm because I think it is a good reform,” Hollande told reporters at the G7 summit in Japan.
He said the government’s top priority was to ensure the “normal functioning of the economy” in the face of blockades of oil refineries and fuel depots that have left petrol pumps running dry.
While there were still long queues at petrol stations in some parts of the country, the fuel situation appeared to have eased early yesterday, as the government dipped into its strategic reserves for a fifth consecutive day.