Opposition leaders piled pressure on French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday to boost low wages and cap executive bonuses.
The Paris leg of the Beijing Olympic flame relay was cut short on Monday after citywide protests against China’s crackdown in Tibet forced the torchbearers to take refuge on a bus. The torch’s journey by foot ended outside the French Parliament, where protesting deputies hung a Tibetan flag on a railing.
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/ 28 November 2007
French President Nicolas Sarkozy vowed on Wednesday that rioters who shot at police during two days of Paris suburban unrest would be severely punished, as police struggled to contain the violence. Back from a state visit to China, Sarkozy visited a police chief seriously injured in the country’s worst troubles since nationwide riots in 2005.
Nicolas Sarkozy’s hectic 100 first days in power have earned him the nickname of "hyperpresident", but can France’s new leader keep up the dizzying pace to deliver his promised reforms? For three months, France’s new-look president has grabbed the spotlight: jetting to meet world leaders, micro-managing his government team or coaching the French rugby side.
Rivals for the French presidency made their final appeals to millions of undecided voters on Friday as the official campaign drew to an end ahead of an election seen as too close to call. Right-wing contender Nicolas Sarkozy was leading in opinion polls ahead of Socialist Ségolène Royal, aiming to become France’s first woman president.