Sarkozy to organise social summit on the crisis

French President Nicolas Sarkozy will receive Wednesday at the Elysée employers and unions for a ...social summit... on the back of growing discontent and economic recession.

•     The summit was preceded by a series of bilateral meetings among the five ministers and unions which are calling for measures for low wages and consumption, against significant aid to banks and enterprises.
  
       The social situation is "dangerous", recognised Tuesday the special advisor of the head of state, Henri Guaino, evoking the "anguish" and "suffering" generated by the crisis.
  
      Unemployment, which has passed in October the symbolic two million, has recorded in December an increase of 45,800 unemployed, and the body of the Unemployment Insurance (Unedic) provides over 282,000 unemployed in 2009.
  
      Mr Sarkozy will make a television statement at the end of this meeting, held three weeks after demonstrations that have gathered between 1 and 2.5 million people protesting against the economic policy of the Head of State.
  
      The government, which favours the revival of the investment, does not seem determined to change direction. For him, the effort must focus on unemployment, compensation for precarious and young people entering the labour market and support the purchasing power of the "lower middle class" with tax relief.
  
      According to press reports, Mr. Sarkozy, whose popularity rating is in free fall, is expected to announce a tax measure that will cover 2.1 million households.
  
      The Minister of Budget and Public Service Eric Woerth called Sunday unions to "understand the French constraints" and reiterated the goal of non-replacement of a staff of two going on retirement.  
  
      Without waiting for the results of the summit, a day of action has been scheduled for March 19, unions have wanted to "maintain pressure" on the government in the absence of immediate measures on employment and wages.
  
      Mr Sarkozy is also facing a hard conflict in the French Antilles paralyzed for four weeks by a general strike.
  
      
  Ennaharonline/ M. O.