News Roundup

Micahel Moore is marching in the streets of Cannnes in solidarity with the Intermittents du spectacle, freelance and part-time entertainment industry workers who have been striking since last year in protest against cuts in welfare benefits. All of 14 French nationals understood their grievances. *** According to Le Journal de Saône-et-Loire, a survey of 500 people finds that 74% of French people prefer to avoid discussing politics at the dinner table. (This makes me regret many occasions.) Forty-five percent prefer to avoid conversation about work, and 39% don't like talking about the weather. (They do like talking about children and family). The same newspaper also reports that French consumers are beginning to prefer those products that are produced under virtuous circumstances or of which the proceeds benefit noble causes. ***The Socialist party appear in an excellent position to win next month's European elections, according to the AFP, who cite a recent poll of 957 people, out-scoring the UMP by nine percentage points at 29% of likely voters. The report also refers in cravenly oblique terms to "speculation" that PM Raffarin "has been given" (note the use of the passive voice), until the euro elections in June 13 to t urn things around or be made to walk the plank. The poll results are: 29% socialist, 20% UMP, 13% National Front, 10% Green Party. The AFP neglects to include a number for the UDF but says that the poll indicates that the remaining votes will likely be split between the Communists (4%) and the gaggle of far-right (e.g. MNR) and far right parties.

Meanwhile, socialist MP Jacques Floch has submitted a report (link not yet available) to the Assemblée Nationale stating that, France is Europe's class dunce. Floch has found that France routinely refuses to abide by European directives, that the absentee rate of its Euro MPs and ministerial functionaries in Brussels far beyond the acceptable. "For several years, France has distinguished itself by its refusal to submit to common rule: disobedience of directives, a record number of violations proceedings brought against it, violation of the stability pact, awkward management of the 'Alstom matter' : so many items that tarnish France's image, credibility and authority in Europe. (For more on this matter, see eursoc's excellent post, First Among Equals.)

The Times reports that French police have arrest two Algerian men in connection with an investigation into a terrorist cell that had been in the process of developing chemical and biological weapons until it was disrupted more than two years ago. The unidentified men were taken into custody as long ago as last Monday and were interrogated yesterday. The Times also reports that this is part of a larger operation to ferret out a "complex web of Islamic militants — many with links to al Qaeda — who have spread through Europe since the American invasion of Afghanistan. The authorities fear that some maybe planning a major attack in Europe." Regular readers will remember that Times also reported on Tuesday last week that 1,100 pounds of amonium nitrate had gone missing. The chemical can be highly explosive and was used in the Oklahoma City and Bali bombings. In this most recent report, the Times' Craig S. Smith writes that "in December 2002, the French authorities arrested nine men [...] on suspicion of planning to bomb the Russian Embassy. [...] The men were found to have a list of chemicals that could be used to make weapons and a suit to protect against a chemical weapons attack. Investigators also discovered a laboratory equipped to make the deadly poison ricin and botulism toxin. "One of the prime suspects in the 2002 arrests was Menad Benchellali, who the authorities say received chemical and biological weapons training in Afghanistan. A younger brother, Mourad, was taken into custody by American troops in Afghanistan in February 2002 and is being held at the American detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. "Four other Algerian terrorism suspects arrested in Spain in March are reported to have links to the French network. Some are also reported to have ties to an Algerian terrorist organization, the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, which is fighting to establish an Islamic state in northern Africa and in the past has planned several foiled attacks in Europe."