France hit by new wave of nationwide protests

PARIS – A new wave of nationwide strikes by angry workers demanding that French President's Nicolas Sarkozy do more to fight the economic crisis hit France on Thursday.

Rail traffic was disrupted throughout France, although the high speed TGV trains that connect France with other European countries ran on time. About one-third of medium-haul flights were affected at Orly, Paris' second airport, and all long-haul flights were normal.

In Paris, subways were less crowded as people stayed home. Schools, hospitals and the postal service and public transport also were affected as many teachers, medical workers and letter carriers did not report for work.

Although Sarkozy's ratings are down, he is under far less political pressure than some of his European counterparts and enjoys a comfortable majority in parliament.

Strikes on Thursday and in January have not seriously disrupted the economy or ignited serious social protests, as massive strikes did in the mid-1990s.

French commuters said Thursday they did not expect much to change with the protests.

"The strike won't accomplish much, but is useful nonetheless. It's necessary to express yourself, in any case," said Beatrice Lobrot, a spokesman for a cosmetics company.

Jean Batis, a music producer, said: "It's always the same game. They give a little bit, we strike, they give a little bit, we strike."

Paris police laid out two routes through the capital, rather than one, for the expected crowds for a protest march that was due to start in early afternoon. Unions called on employees in the public and private sectors to join in the strikes.

In a rare move, police decided to open a second route to accommodate an overflow crowd during the march from the Place de la Republique to Place de la Nation in eastern Paris.

"This march is legitimate and useful for the country. Perhaps as a result of this march, the authorities will finally move to respond to the preoccupations of the French," former Socialist presidential candidate Segolene Royal said on RTL radio Thursday morning.

A strike in late-January put between 1 million and 2.5 million people into French streets. Weeks later, President Nicolas Sarkozy announced measures to help people affected by the financial crisis, including special bonuses for the needy. Union leaders want further talks on more measures to help those in distress as a result of the crisis.

Sarkozy told ministers at a Cabinet meeting Wednesday that he "understood the worries of the French," but said he had no plans for additional measures.

Budget Minister Eric Woerth said the measures already announced will increase social expenditures in 2009 by nearly euro10 billion (about $13 billion).

Some 200 protest marches are planned Thursday around France, according to the powerful CGT union, which has members in various sectors of the economy.

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Scott Sayare of the Paris bureau contributed to this report.