The Hindu : Security tightened in Paris

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 01, 2002

International

International

Security tightened in Paris

By Vaiju Naravane

PARIS APRIL 30 . Fearing large-scale violence between supporters and opponents of France's extreme right-wing leader, Jean-Marie Le Pen, during rallies to mark May Day, authorities in Paris have taken exceptional security measures.

Over 3,500 police officers have been deployed in the capital. Police say helicopters will follow the demonstrations and separate itineraries have been marked out for the two demonstrations. Fear remains, however, that extremists from both sides will attempt to provoke an opposition, leading to violence. Mr. Le Pen expects 100,000 of his supporters to converge on Paris. The left will be marking May Day and hopes a million people will join the parade.

Artists, students, music and cinema stars, left-wing trade unions, and political parties from across the board have called on voters to stop the advance of the National Front (NF), which has promised French withdrawal from the E.U., "internment camps" for clandestine immigrants, the progressive abolition of income tax and the reinstitution of capital punishment. Spontaneous demonstrations against the rise of the NF continued a week after the results of the first round of French Presidential elections were declared on April 21. The NF leader, Mr. Le Pen caused a major upset by emerging second, qualifying for the second-round run-off on May 5.

Mr. Le Pen, who scored over 17 per cent of the vote in the first round, meets the incumbent conservative President, Jacques Chirac, after knocking-out the Socialist Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin. Known for his anti-Arab and anti-Semitic views, Mr. Le Pen has campaigned for the expulsion of foreigners, saying they take away jobs from the French and dilute French culture.

Pollsters who predicted a run-off between Mr. Jospin and Mr. Chirac are being prudent about the second round. They do not, however, exclude the possibility of Mr. Le Pen scoring as much as 30 per cent of the vote, if many leftist voters abstain.

The French employers' federation, the Medef, also spoke out against Mr. Le Pen. The chairman of the Medef, Ernst Antoine Selliere, said Mr. Le Pen's economic policies would lead France to massive unemployment and economic ruin. "The European Union has brought this country prosperity. Withdrawing from the Union and refusing the euro would shake investor confidence and lead to a major financial crisis in the country," he warned.

"With so many calls to put the genie of the National Front back into the bottle, there is a possibility that Mr. Le Pen will suffer a crushing defeat next Sunday.

However, it is a known fact that National Front voters do not tell the truth about their electoral inclinations during opinion polls.

Which is why the polls have been wrong so often, crediting Mr. Le Pen with less votes than he actually gets.

Many leftist voters find it galling to be obliged to vote for Mr. Chirac, who many believe is corrupt and guilty of fraud. They may just stay away from the polls," said the pollster, Bernard Rideau.

Mr. Le Pen remains confident four days ahead of the poll, saying he has "a big surprise" in reserve for the French.

A score of less than 30 per cent will represent a sorry defeat for him, he said.

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