Word: raffarin
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Punch and Judy have nothing on Jean-Pierre and Dominique, France's pugilistic conservative politicians. Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin and his Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin have long discounted press reports that de Villepin is after his boss's job. But last week the gloves came off when de Villepin took to the radio and declared that France needed new policies and direction - and indicated he'd be available to provide that leadership, confessing he was one of those "who all their lives prepare to fulfill missions." Change, he said, should "take ... into account the feelings, hopes, and frustrations...
...Asks for a Raise Forget the 35-hour week. French workers have reverted to a more traditional demand: higher pay. The wage issue shot to the top of the political agenda this month, driven by public-sector workers who staged mass demonstrations. Last week, the government of Jean-Pierre Raffarin promised a 1% raise for the public sector, on top of the 1% already awarded for this year. Private-sector employers are furious, saying the hike will set a national precedent when they can ill afford it. "If we increase pay without increasing productivity, we'll be destroying competitiveness...
...over subsidized housing. Breton's annual salary drops to €140,000 from €1.4 million. He also waived a €2.3 million severance package and had to resign all his French directorships. Why bother? Friends say he has political aspirations and is close to Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin. Some worry about a potential conflict of interest, as the Ministry oversees the telecommunications industry. There is, though, a silver lining: the 11,000 France Télécom shares Breton got in 2002 on joining the company had more than doubled in value by the time he sold...
...where disenchantment with the E.U. is on the rise - quickly set June 1 for its referendum. The French are also considering advancing their planned ballot from June to May. "The Spanish people have sent a message of confidence in the future of Europe," crowed French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, leader of the country's yes camp. "European democracy is on the march." Perhaps, but with every small step forward, the risk grows of a giant step back. To come into force, the constitution must be ratified by all 25 member states, nine of which will follow Spain by letting...
...Continent to tackle some persistent problems, including a lack of labor mobility and unsustainable health-care and pension systems. In Germany, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has introduced a slew of new measures designed to create jobs, including unpopular cutbacks in unemployment benefits. In France, the government of Jean-Pierre Raffarin has triggered protests by changing the law to allow employees to work more than 35 hours a week and has begun revamping the system of state-funded medical benefits. "One of the big issues is that we are no longer in the analysis, or paralysis-through-analysis, phase where politicians...