French Minister: We May Resort to Force to Move Trains

Just hours before the start of the UEFA European Championship in France, many workers in the country's urban and intercity train systems are still on strike. Alain Vidalies, the French Minister of Transport, said on Friday, June 11, to Europe 1 radio that the government would use "any means" to transport football fans. Mr. Vidalies warned that the French government might issue an "order to move trains" for this purpose. François Hollande, the President, also warned on Thursday that the government would take "all necessary measures" to ensure the smooth running of the European Championship. The Minister of Transport called the continuation of strikes "meaningless" and stated that "any action that threatens this great celebration [the European Championship] will not be tolerated." The football tournament will kick off at 9 PM on June 11, Central European Time, with a match between France and Romania at the Stade de France in Paris. Meanwhile, not only are urban train workers on strike, but many Parisian garbage collectors have also stopped working in protest for days. The strike by Paris municipal staff has occurred while the Seine River has overflowed in various parts of the French capital in recent days, filling the streets and alleys of the city with garbage. Anne Hidalgo, the Mayor of Paris, stated in an interview with BFM TV that the garbage will be collected. France has been the scene of public strikes by workers in various service sectors for weeks in protest against new labor law reforms. Neither major labor unions like the CGT, which lead the strikes, nor the government have backed down from their positions. French laws recognize the right to strike for workers and labor unions in the country. In this context, flooding in Paris has forced the Louvre Museum to close, and the Seine River has calmed down after a week. Concerns in France about attacks on "soft targets" during the European Championship are rising.