FRANCE: Jean-Marc Ayrault reveals the social reform agenda of the quinquennium

 

AFP – Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault Tuesday unveiled the "roadmap" Social five years, with the menu including the negotiations on pensions, the financing of social protection or sites equal work and re-industrialization.

Follower of "give and take" with the social partners, Mr Ayrault was closed Tuesday afternoon conference that brought together social unions, employers and experts for two days to the Economic , social and environmental.

From the outset, Mr. Ayrault has sought to respond to those, particularly in the opposition, who criticized the conference that no concrete steps had to go out.

"Structural reforms can be undertaken in a cavalier, because then they are reforms rejected by society, what reforms are stillborn," he warned Mr. Ayrault, in a pique addressed to Nicolas Sarkozy and his stormy relationship with the unions at the end of the quinquennium.

"After two days of exchanges, my intention is not to conclude on precise measurements, because it would mean that the exercise was that it was artificial and that a facade of dialogue for decisions already taken in reality, "added the former mayor of Nantes, preventing further social dialogue that would" brand manufactures "of his government.

The Prime Minister is, however, came to the Palace of Jena with his wallet in ads for discussion and clarification of schedule.

It thus confirmed that constitutional reform would be carried out on social dialogue, "after an extensive consultation". 

Social protection and its sensitivity funding will also be subject to legislative reform in 2013, again following discussions with employers and unions, promised Mr. Ayrault, without giving track concrete such that an increase in CSG. Pensions will also be a consultation beginning next spring.

Another priority is employment. "Will we allow our country to remain the scene of social plans that are multiplying, that undermine confidence and morale of employees and all stakeholders in the economy?" questioned the Prime Minister.

He promised that the system of partial unemployment would be "improved" from autumn 2012. Negotiating "competitive employment" launched by Nicolas Sarkozy to allow companies to adapt the work under a reduction of activity is against "further order of days ".

About the decline of French industry, the former chairman of EADS, Louis Welsh, will be on a mission on the competitiveness of enterprises with the aim of "preparing implementation of concrete actions by the end of the year ", to improve their" environment ".

The minimum wage will also be reformed before the end of the year, so, promised Mr. Ayrault, to better take into account growth. The premium "dividends", announced in 2011 by Mr. Sarkozy but deemed ineffective by the social partners, will be "removed".

Unions and employers will finally consulted regularly on all subjects, across a "board or commission of social dialogue and foresight" that will emerge in the coming months.

SPAIN: The famous bullfights of Pamplona began

 

AFP – Dressed in white, red scarf around his neck, thousands of fans screamed and jumped for joy by sprinkling wine on the town hall square of Pamplona on Friday to mark the occasion of sending of San Fermin, most famous bullfighting festivals in Spain.

"It's crazy, amazing, I love it!", Enthused, hair and clothes dripping wine, Louise Haley, 28, from Australia to attend This medieval fair, that fascinated Ernest Hemingway in his time.

With cries of "Viva San Fermin!" And "Gora San Fermin" in Basque, followed by the "chupinazo", run it from the balcony of the mayor of a rocket, fireworks, new day celebrations punctuated by the very famous bull runs were officially opened at noon. 

Waving their red scarves in a charged atmosphere, thousands of revelers from around the world were sprayed with wine, transforming the immaculate white of their traditional clothing in an original pink gradient. Dancing, singing, they went to enormous balloons, others, many, watching from the balconies overlooking the square.

Early in the morning, already, some had begun the festivities, drinking beer and sangria sitting in class or while walking and singing through the narrow cobbled streets of the city, their huge plastic glasses containing as much as one liter of beverage.

Punctuated by religious processions, traditional dances, concerts, watered by streams of drinking in bars allowed to open until dawn, the holidays are primarily famou ; members for their running of the bulls. 

Every morning at eight o'clock, hundreds of intrepid riders will engage with six fighting bulls of half a ton each, trying to avoid their horns over a distance of 850 meters leading to the arena of the city.

The bravest, or perhaps the most reckless, will run as close to the horns, hoping not to be injured during the four minutes that lasts the race through the heart historic city.

The first release, one that traditionally attracts the most people, will be held Saturday.

"It's a great feeling, your heart starts to beat faster," Anderson testifies Goyoaga, unemployed plumber of 34 years came from Bilbao.

He has already participated in the bull runs and getting ready to try again experience. 

"Every time I tell myself that this is the last but I can not help but go back," he admits.

In 2011, 20,500 runners participated in the eight bull runs, mostly men 18 to 35 years with nearly half were from overseas, especially U.S., d Australia and the United Kingdom, according to the mayor of Pamplona.

This curious mediaeval tradition could have inspired the butchers, to run before the animals brought to the campaign for the festival of San Fermin.

Each year, dozens of runners are injured, often because of the rush that sometimes falls under the legs of bulls.

The race sometimes turns into tragedy. The most recent death date three years ago, when a bull gored a Spaniard was 27 years.

To avoid injury, the organizers are trying to ban drunken revelers to participate in the release and have sprayed the road of a chemical to prevent slipping.

Pamplona, ​​which has 200,000 inhabitants, is expecting a half million visitors this year and hope the holidays bring him in about 70 million euros.

"I saw the images on television and I had no choice but I had to come," enthuses David Higgins, a British man 25 years came with three friends.

"This is probably the craziest party in the world!"

MALI: The governorate Gao, HQ Tuareg rebels, was taken by Islamists

 

AFP – The governor of the town of Gao (Mali's northeast) which served as headquarters to the Tuareg rebellion, was taken Wednesday by the Islamists after several hours of fighting that led to casualties among Tuareg fighters, witnesses said AFP.

The Islamist Movement for the uniqueness and jihad in West Africa (Mujao) "came inside the governorate. The fighters of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA, Tuareg rebellion) have fled, others were killed, others arrested, "according to the owner silence of the service station adjacent to the governorate.

"I'm in front of the governorate, the mujahedeen came in, they control the governorship and the surrounding area," said another witness, Issa Fane, a member of the Asssociation of nationals of Gao.

He said there are "wounded, dead, prisoners" in the ranks of MNLA.

These witnesses testified that after taking control of the governorate, the fighters were heading Mujao Wednesday afternoon to a military camp run by the MNLA near the aero ; airport of Gao. 

A former police officer stationed at Gao Mali, which has not worked since the capture of the city by various armed groups three months ago, said that "many prisoners are currently in the police MNLA" central.

"The Mujao currently controls the land. MNLA are prisoners of the police, others fled the city, others are dead or wounded. but the stampede "in the ranks of the Tuareg rebel movement, he said.

LEBANON: At least four dead in Tripoli after clashes between pro and anti-Assad

 

Clashes between supporters and opponents of President Bashar al-Assad killed four people and injuring 25, Saturday in Tripoli, northern port city of Lebanon, and residents said a doctor.

Both sides exchanged fire with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, and the Lebanese army intervened with armored vehicles to try to silence the guns, said a Reuters reporter. The army did not open fire.

Civilians, caught in the crossfire, were among the killed, and a Lebanese soldier was wounded, residents said. Sporadic gunfire is heard from early morning.

Gunmen of Jabal Mohsen neighborhood, where a majority of Alawite, a branch of Shiism that owns Bashar al Assad, clash in recent weeks residents of Bab al Tabbaneh, which re ; President mainly Sunni.

The violence demonstrate how the insurgency continues in Syria managed to reach gradually this port city in Lebanon where Syrian soldiers were stationed until 2005.

TUNISIA: Nessma TV director sentenced for the dissemination of "Persepolis"

 

Tunisian justice delivered Thursday fined 2,400 dinars (1,200 euros) against Nabil Karoui, director of private television Nessma accused of blasphemy after broadcasting October of "Persepolis".

In this animated film by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud shows a representation of Allah, which is prohibited under Islam.

Nabil Karoui, who faced up to three years in prison, was convicted for disturbing the public order and moral values.

The release, 7 October 2011, shortly before the elections, the film Franco-American award-winning provoked tensions between secularists and Islamists in Tunisia. 

Some radical Islamists, free to express themselves since the overthrow of President Ben Ali in January 2011, had called up the execution of the chain director Nessma.

The laity have seen in action against Nabil Karoui an attack against freedom of expression, an opinion backed up by Amnesty International, which had called for the lifting of the charges against the director of the chain.

The United States Ambassador in Tunis, Gordon Gray, said he was "concerned and disappointed by this conviction for distribution of an animated film whose distribution was previously approved by the Tunisian government. "

"This conviction raises serious questions about tolerance and freedom of expression in the new Tunisia," he said. "From what we understand, Mr. Karoui has the right to appeal and we hope this case will be resolved to ensure the free expression." …. ….

The announcement coincides with the verdict of the International Day for Press Freedom.

"The fact that Nabil was fined, even a dinar, is an attack against freedom of expression and creativity in this World Day of press freedom, "he told Reuters lawyer Nabil Karoui, Abada Kefi.

"The same law (under which Karoui was charged) was applied during the reign of Ben Ali," he said.

EUROPA LEAGUE: Only non-Spanish representative, Sporting Lisbon is needed in the semifinals

 

Sporting Lisbon came to play spoilsport in the hegemony of Spanish clubs in the semis of the Europa League by winning 2-1 at home Thursday at the Athletic Bilbao.

The club Lisboan prevailed in the semi-finals of the competition go after leading 1-0 until the 76th minute, while in the other match day, Atletico Madrid has become 4-2 against Valencia.

Bilbao has certainly felt the win after a goal in the 54th minute by Jon AURTENETXE but the Basques have been disappointed in the last fifteen minutes, Sporting scoring twice in four minutes apart by Emiliano Insua (76th) and Diego Capel (80th). 

Valencia has, meanwhile, proved valiant against Atletico Madrid but could not prevent a crushing defeat on the ground of Madrid thanks to a brace of Colombian Radamel Falcao.

Falcao opened the scoring in the 18th minute before Valencia equalized in stoppage time of the first period by Jonas.

But Madrid took the reins of the match with a goal by Miranda at the 49th, before Adrian Lopez extends his lead five minutes later. Falcao scored his second goal in the 78th minute, finally putting his team to safety.

Valencia closed the gap by Ricardo Costa in injury time (90 +4), but too late to hope to compete before the return leg.

The semifinals will be back Thursday, April 26, the final will be played Wednesday, May 9 at the National Stadium in Bucharest, Romania.

FRENCH PRESIDENTIAL: Abstention up, the left worries

 

In J-19 before the first round of presidential elections, the French seem tempted by forbearance. According to a survey published by the Ifop "Journal du Dimanche" April 1, it could reach 32% in the first round of voting, three points higher than the 29% expressed in mid-March. An estimate which, if confirmed, would be a record under the Fifth Republic (see diagram). Especially since it is superior to voting intention loaned to major candidates. An Ifop poll published Tuesday, April 3 credits Nicolas Sarkozy 29%, 27% of Francois Hollande and Marine Le Pen 15.5%.

If the French actually shun the polls on April 22, several possible reasons for this choice according to observers. For Jerome Fourquet, deputy director of the Department of Ifop opinion, voters feel primarily disillusioned with politics, moreover with the Economic and Financial Crisis re. "They do not think that voting for one candidate or another will solve their problems, he says. They also feel that the decisions of politicians are motivated by the interests of big business rather than those of the French ".

The course of the campaign is also pointed. The French accuse the candidates to speak of insecurity and immigration instead of addressing the major issues of concern to the French, as the purchasing power or the fight against unemployment ; mage. "The voters did that make personal attacks between candidates, says Stephane Rozes, political scientist and president of Consulting, Analysis and Prospects (CAP). They expect that each of the major candidates present their project to respond to the crisis in order to judge them. "

The match Holland-Sarkozy already played

For other voters, the campaign has no interest because the match between Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande is, they already played. "Many believe that the Socialist candidate will win anyway, so they are reluctant to move to vote," says Jerome Fourquet.

This high rate of abstainers is no shortage of policy concern, particularly the Socialist Party that fears of reliving the trauma of April 21, 2002. That day, less than 200,000 votes separate the Socialist candidate Lionel Jospin, ousted in the first round of the presidential candidate of the National Front Jean-Marie Le Pen, who rises to the second I round over RPR candidate Jacques Chirac. For this first round, abstention was over 28%.

Jerome Fourquet confirms that "the leftist parties, including the Socialist Party, have the most to lose with a high abstention". "Their electorate, young or from the working classes, is quite volatile," he says. And Francois Hollande has understood. From Reunion Island, the Socialist candidate launched an appeal on April 1 against abstention. "Nothing is settled, launched the Socialist candidate, because if abstention is high, all polls are denials, and I mean all."

Inspired by the Obama campaign in 2007, the PS is also focusing on door to door. "We were all marked by abstention in poor neighborhoods" in the last elections, reports the AFP Feltesse Vincent, in charge of Web socialist countryside. The team hopes to convince Francois Hollande 5 million homes and neighborhoods to vote. But according to the survey of Ifop, only 46% of workers currently intend to vote in the first round.

Top 14: Toulouse reinforces its leadership position after his victory against the French stage

 

The Toulouse strengthened its leading position in the Top 14 and lost valuable points in the French stage in the race for the finals by winning (22-18) including seventeen points Lionel Beauxis its opener Saturday at the Stade de France, at the 22nd day.

One week before their quarter-final of European Cup in Edinburgh, Toulouse have managed to get out of a hotly contested match against the Parisians catchy. They are four points ahead of Clermont, beaten to Biarritz (15-14). The Parisians are found, them out of the first six qualifying places for dams and must battle against their main rivals Montpellier and Racing Metro, both winners on this day.

Solid and realistic, the champions of France made a difference through the boot of Lionel Beauxis (17 points, 6 of 7) and their conquest generally reliable. A powerful melee output Gillian Galan relayed by Thierry Dusautoir notably led the only test given to Florian Fritz despite a slump of David Martin Rodriguez (26).

Patients and assisted by their scorers Felipe Contepomi and Julien Dupuy (100% both), the Parisians have returned to a point ten minutes from the end of a penalty from scrumhalf after watching a trial refused to Sergio Parisse quarter of an hour earlier for a slump of a Parisian center of Beauxis near the line (55).

But after missing two "match points", a penalty from 55 meters (74) and one drop (78), Beauxis has confirmed the victory of a new penalty the last minute. 

The Parisians will erase their regrets at the last four days, including three trips to Clermont (23rd day) against the rival Racing Metro (25th day) and Biarritz (26th day).

FRANCE – REPORT: In the district of Toulouse Izards the footsteps of Mohamed Merah

 

Izards to the suburb where he grew up Toulouse Mohamed Merah, surprise gave way to annoyance. Our journalists Karim Hakiki Pellegry and Anne-Sophie, went in search of those who knew the young man, collided with "no comment": "The story is over." The media are no longer welcome in this neighborhood where deemed dangerous public housing alongside single family homes.

As pictures and videos, testimonies bribes to now. Refusing to pay – they will be asked up to 7000 euros – to agree to tell the youth that has become known as the killer of Montauban and Toulouse, our journalists have therefore turned to the camera hidden.

Thus they met with two childhood friends of Mohamed Merah. Like many people who knew they describe a young man happy, "in need of affection."

"He was someone who had several facets. On Monday, he could be dressed as chavs' soccer on Tuesday, it could be djellabah on Wednesday, he could have her hair dyed blond, says one of them. Much by the time you could hate it, as much by the time we could love and that's what made her unique. "

Back on the course of an enigmatic young man.

Latvians reject Russian as second official language

 

AFP – The Latvians Saturday overwhelmingly rejected the possibility of introducing Russian as a second official language of their country in a national referendum reflecting the unease of the Russian-speaking minority in this ex- Soviet republic.

According to results released by the electoral commission and on 95% of polling stations, 74.62% of voters were against the introduction of Russian as second official language, only 25.06% of voters who voted in favor.

Supporters of the "yes" wanted to end what they see as discrimination against Russian speakers. 

Composed mostly of former Russian immigrants from the Soviet era, Russian-speaking minority is about one third of the 2 million inhabitants of the Baltic country.

Telltale sign of the importance that Latvians have attached to this referendum, the turnout was very high (69.23%).

"It's a question of national identity, which is why most people did not consider the referendum as a mere political game, and also participated massively," he Ivars told AFP Ijabs, political analyst at the University of Latvia. 

The turnout was particularly high in the capital Riga (77%) and in the regions of Vidzeme (northern, 72%) and Kurzeme (western, 70%) considered es as bastions of national sentiment.

During the campaign, supporters of the "no" recalled that thousands of ethnic Latvians were sent by the Soviets in camps in Siberia and the Russian language was ; imposed in public life while the country was dominated by Moscow for five decades.

The national consultation was organized in response to a petition of the pro-Russian "native language", signed by 10% of voters. 

"Our main objective was to initiate dialogue and that dialogue has just begun," said public television LTV1 the leader of this movement, Vladimirs Lindermans, after publication partial results.

"This has sometimes been rather emotional and hysterical, but the hysteria is even better than the silence of the past 20 years," he said.

Latvia regained its independence from Moscow in 1991, after 50 years of Soviet domination, and in 2004 joined the European Union and NATO.

After independence, the Russian immigrants who settled in the country had to seek Latvian citizenship by submitting to a language test to avoid becoming stateless. 

For Aleksei Vessoli, former star of skating Latvian of Russian origin who represented Latvia at international level, "yes" vote was a signal to the power.

"I voted for, hoping that the government realizes that many people feel abandoned, and to say that Russian is not a foreign language in Latvia" ;, he told AFP.

In the parliamentary elections of September, an opposition pro-Russian Centre of Harmony won a historic success with nearly a third of parliamentary seats. 

Supported by the Russian-speaking minority, the party has yet been able to fit into the government coalition, because it suffers from a low opinion with other political parties, particularly because of its cooperation agreement with the United Russia party of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

"This referendum is not the end, this is only the beginning … Of course, we will enforce the law, but we will take further action, "warned Mr. Lindermans.