 French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, who is a man, under fire after a stalled effort to cut youth unemployment, took more flak on Thursday from angry auto workers who lambasted his plans to keep older people in work.
| You'd think the auto workers would be happy, building replacements for the carbeques, but no ... |
"You don't learn anything!" one of a group of demonstrators from the CGT union called out as Villepin visited automaker Peugeot's plant in Poissy near Paris to promote his initiative to cut joblessness among older workers. | We don't want to work, we want to retire on nearly full pay, now! It's your job to make that possible. |
| He's a politican, he's supposed to learn something? |
"There are 500 young people who've just been laid off while the older ones have been broken down by their working conditions and ask only to be allowed to leave in dignity!" one protester said.
| 'cause dignity is very important to socialists. |
Villepin, who earlier this week launched his plan to get at least 50 percent of 55- to 64-year-olds in employment by 2010, initially tried to reason with the demonstrators before telling them that the CGT represented no more than 20 percent of union members at the plant. "If you follow that logic, (President Jacques) Chirac only represents 19 percent of France," a demonstrator snapped back. Chirac won only 19 percent the first round of the 2002 election.
Villepin's own approval ratings are close to all-time lows for a French prime minister at just 20 percent.
| And those 20 percent don't like him much ... |
He has been hit by accusations that he tried to smear his rival, Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, in a corruption scandal. The affair came on top of a failed bid to introduce new labour contracts for young workers, and riots last year in poor suburbs. "In the polls, you're at 20 percent as well, your policies are finished," a demonstrator shouted.
| Maybe he could join George Galloway's 'Respect' party? |
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