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PARIS (AFP) – More than a million angry French workers took to the streets in a nationwide strike to force President Nicolas Sarkozy to boost wages and protect jobs as the economic crisis deepens.
“Sarkozy has to take from the billionaires and give a bit back to the poor,” said teacher Jean-Baptiste Voltuain, echoing mounting calls for the right-wing government to boost social spending by hiking taxes on the rich.
Voltuain was one of the marchers at the biggest rally in Paris, which was led by the leaders of France’s eight main unions as it snaked its way loudly through the east of the capital in warm spring sunshine.
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Sarkozy agreed last month to a package of social benefits worth 2.6 billion euros after a first day of mass protests brought a million people onto the streets on January 29.
That came after he announced a 26-billion-euro stimulus plan aimed at business investment.
But his right-wing government has ruled out any new social spending.
It says its priority is to protect jobs and industry, and it has rejected mounting calls to suspend an unpopular cap on income tax attacked as a handout to the rich.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."