Thousands of people started marching Tuesday across France to say no to them according to the austerity imposed by the European Union and call for a genuine policy of growth to five days before the second round of presidential elections.

Nearly 290 processions are announced by the CGT, one in the afternoon in Paris, where walkers will have been preceded by a National Front demonstration and where they will parade during a political rally organized by the outgoing president.

The inter-union (CFDT, CGT, FSU, UNSA and Solidaires), promises that there will be no political message on the banners of the first parades in May-but the CGT, unlike other organizations, called for "beat Nicolas Sarkozy."

In Marseille, about 20,000 people, according to unions, protested for a parade more social than political. "This gives it a special flavor, but we do not mean our demands immediate demands in the pocket," said the delegate county of the CGT, Mireille Chessa. The banner head behind which all the unions, with the exception of FO, marched, summed up this attitude. "Against the austerity policies, workers united for social progress" could be read. Fralib employees, who for nearly two years to oppose the closure of the last site in France to make the teas Elephant, opened the procession.

Holland in Nevers to honor Beregovoy

About 1500 people marched in 4500 in Strasbourg and Mulhouse, according to a statement made on site by Reuters, a significant interest in Alsace, while the region is in middle of spring break and the CFDT was not involved, as organization, in the event.  

In Strasbourg, where employees of the truck manufacturer Caddie, in receivership, opened the parade, only a few slogans directly recalled the presidential election, as "If you're against Sarkozy, clap your hands", sung by the Orchestra of the CGT.

In Paris, delegations from the Socialist Party and the Left Front should remain in the rear of the parade as not to hinder the trade unionists and Francois Hollande has chosen to honor Nevers (Nièvre) to Pierre Beregovoy, the Prime Minister Francois Mitterrand, who s 'committed suicide there exactly 19 years.

Union leaders see as a "provocation" of Nicolas Sarkozy's decision to hold its own gathering on the job after reporting since the beginning of the campaign "these intermediate bodies" that are the unions.

"The first is May-workers and anyone else," said Francois Chereque Tuesday on BFM TV. The secretary general of the CFDT, which does not give instructions to vote, said the speech of Nicolas Sarkozy on the job has become "unbearable." "Every time there was a takeover in the history of politics on this holiday (1-May-Ed) was derived in a context of undemocratic," he said Monday in an interview published by Liberation .

Thibault argues for a social Europe

The secretary general of the CGT, Bernard Thibault, has instead confirmed he called to vote for Francois Hollande. "The CGT called to fight the current president," he said on Europe 1. "I am surprised that some are surprised that a union of employees can have an opinion about the issues of a presidential election."

"It's from the social balance sheet, economic and president of his intentions – among his first, he wants to, as the employers claimed, a reform of the definition of termination for economic reasons," that this position has was taken, he said.

The SGC requires a minimum wage to 1,700 euros per month and expects Francois Hollande, who has promised a big meeting with the social partners if elected on May 6 before deciding, he goes in that direction very quickly. Bernard Thibault believes that the austerity measures introduced in the European Union led the latter to the disaster and calls for a social Europe.  

To better themselves as "unifier" Nicolas Sarkozy faced with a "who wants to divide", the Socialist candidate Francois Hollande has sent a letter to leaders of the five confederations. He reiterated his promise to do major players in the next five years if they win.

(With Reuters)

SELNI, last French manufacturer of motors for washing machines, has just robbed a mega contract to one of its Chinese competitors. This firm, which currently employs 150 people, provide from the end of the year in Vestel, a Turkish specialist appliances, two million engines per year, and for ten years. "This is a contract of several hundred million euros, whereby we are doubling our production. In France today, we can compete with the Chinese, "says Philippe Vidal, CEO of SELNI.

SELNI, whose turnover is currently around 25 million euros, has managed to match Chinese prices, while offering products of superior quality. "Our responsiveness has also weighed in the balance. Our technical tool allows us to fill an order within 48 hours, against more than 6 weeks for the Chinese, who suffer from very long delivery times, "says the director.

Production in Turkey

However, the company based in Nevers comeback. Hard hit by the crisis of 2008-2009, she almost put the key under the door, before being taken up by several of its executives. Today she is back on track. "We have optimized our products as our organization. Engines, for example, have been lightened up. It has replaced some components in copper with aluminum, but harder to work cheaper. Internally, we developed the versatility of each, "says Philippe Duval.

This additional production does not necessarily translate provided by new hires. 800,000 engines for entry level to provide Vestel annually SELNI had to agree to perform in Turkey, 3 kilometers from his client. "We would not have been able to make these motors very cheap in France, and we reserve margin. This proximity allows us to provide just-in Vestel, explains Philippe Duval. We approach our customers as we did before the automakers. "

From 30 to 40 people will be employed in Turkey. "That leaves 1.2 million engines a year to produce more in Nevers."

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European capitals have asked the Commission to bone up on the fight against unemployment, but many probably not appreciate his advice: the lowering of wage costs to the free movement of labor across the EU through a minimum wage "modular", Brussels risk of setting fire to the powder to the left and right.

The document, which will be released Wednesday, could also ignite the French debate around employment and Europe, with five days of the first round of presidential elections. As Nicolas Sarkozy, Brussels appears for a lower wage cost burden on businesses. It is a "privileged instrument to strengthen the labor supply," says the latest version of the text obtained by Le Figaro. The Commission suggests alternative resources as VAT, taxes "green" and property taxes.

Another proposal leading risks in contrast to spark outcry among conservatives, echoing an old controversy about the "Polish plumber". This is to overcome the final obstacles to a single labor market in Europe, the U.S. model. "Labour mobility is not sufficient in the EU (…) In order to exploit all the possibilities, it is crucial to ensure a balance between demand and supply of jobs" at European level , the authors note.

Red cloth

On this front, the Commission advances two tracks dangerously undermined. The first is the end of restrictions on employment of Romanians and Bulgarians, programmed by treaty by the end of 2013 but refused by nine countries, including France. The second is the opening of national public employment to all EU nationals, except as validated by the sovereignty of Justice.

Finally, Brussels waving a red rag in front of the entire European left: that of a national minimum wage that could be differentiated by industry professional, provides a way she, "to support the provision of employment ". The authors do not specify the model. But they ensure that wage floors should be discussed "in consultation with unions and depending on economic developments."

The contribution of the Commission is only prospective. It is unlikely that the communication "Towards an employment-intensive growth 'lead in the state. But it looks quite controversial for the twenty-seven Commissioners wish to review it one last time with the college in full force Wednesday in Strasbourg. Against the backdrop of elections in France and Greece, José Manuel Barroso will leave the public presentation in Hungarian Laszlo Andor, Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs.

For Brussels, it is clear that the challenge of unemployment requires bold solutions. Lagging behind the emerging powers but also the U.S., the EU has lost 4.5 million net new jobs since 2008. Since January, a second recession in three years has increased the average unemployment rate above 10%. And restarted at the same time a growth debate that nobody has yet really convincing answer

.

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Louis Welsh, CEO of aerospace group EADS, Airbus' parent company, for another few months, had assured him a few weeks ago the BBC: "We will continue and we will resist external interference." The confirmation of the German Ministry of Economics of a possible rise of Berlin the capital of the group could make the mission more difficult. The German government has indeed made a provision that could be used to repurchase additional shares of EADS.

Last November, Berlin had confirmed the recovery of half of the shares of the automaker Daimler, or 7.5%. The aim of the German government was not to lose ground against the French government retaining these shares in the lap of Germany.

But Berlin could therefore go beyond. The government has made a provision so that the public bank KF – who had already intervened in the case Daimler – can optionally be able to take additional units, the ministry said. In Focus, 4.5% stake now held by a group of private investors, shareholders also 60% of a consortium named Dedalus. This last group of public and private investors, includes, alongside great names of German finance Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank and Allianz, regional states in which EADS operates in Germany (Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hamburg and Bremen ). Dedalus has a total of 7.5% of the aerospace group payday loan lenders.

Power relations

By the end of the year, the consortium Dedalus might decide to sell 4.5% stake. If he offers to the German State, it will be obliged to redeem them, the ministry said. Deutsche Bank and Allianz, who took 10% of each Dedalus at the time of formation of the structure in 2007, did not comment. According to the Financial Times Deutschland, the provision of government reach 1.6 billion euros. The new acquisition would amount to 12% of Berlin's participation in the capital of EADS. According to Les Echos, it could reach 13% if we add the 1% held by the public bank KfW in Dedalus. In front, France has 15% stake, and Lagardère 7.5%.

The balance of power at EADS are a sensitive subject. Recently, the German government has expressed its fears of excessive weight of France in his eyes in the division of roles and assignment of key posts, including the changeover from the center of gravity of EADS in Toulouse. Thomas Enders, Airbus President and current successor of Louis Galois, had proposed to his headquarters in Toulouse.

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As announced by the boss of Total, Christophe de Margerie, gasoline now costs more than two euros. According to the website carbeo.com, the unleaded 95 cost 2.02 euros in the service station Saint-Antoine in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. This is the first time this symbolic threshold is crossed.  

At the national level, prices of unleaded gasoline reached new heights last week, to 1.6211 euro on average for a liter of unleaded 95 and 1.6610 for that of 98 unleaded, according to data published Monday by the Ministry of Sustainable Development.

Since late 2011, gasoline prices beat record after record in France, powered by a dual effect of geopolitical tensions (Iran, Nigeria …) that keep crude oil prices at very high levels, and weakening of the euro against the dollar, which boosts the cost of black gold once its converted value in the single currency.

A political issue

Political leaders have seized the questiion. President Nicolas Sarkozy, candidate to succeed himself, had described the end of February "joke" blocking oil prices, a proposal by the Socialist candidate Francois Hollande, pointing out that prices are determined by a "global marketplace to outside. "

Sales of unleaded 95 represent just under 15% of French consumption of motor fuels and unleaded 98 around 5%.

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The French like their views. In 2011, the 45 million Internet account that France have published on the Web about 1.1 million recommendations on local businesses, according Nomao, a search engine "places" which screens more than 100 daily million web pages in five languages. Hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, hairdressers or museums, more than 15 million locations that are subject to the judgments of users throughout Europe. And the French are the champions in this field. They "posting" a comment for 40 users, one for 45 against Italy, one in Spain to 51, and 55 for the UK. Germany is lagging behind, with a comment for 106 users.

Changes in gross terms, notices on the Internet between 2007 and 2011. Photo credit: Nomao.

The revolution that began last September by Facebook is now bearing fruit. The founder of social network, Mark Zuckerberg, was then unveiled the "Timeline apps", applications that show the profile of a user's activities on other sites as well-display the songs that played on Spotify read articles the Wall Street Journal. They were accompanied by new action buttons such as "read", "listen," "look" … Several services, including Deezer and Dailymotion in France, had created their applications in the process, followed in January, many other publishers content.

Results published recently by Facebook are spectacular. Since September, 25 million users have installed the application from Yahoo! News. That of the Guardian newspaper has attracted more than 6 million users, half of whom are under 25. More than 10 million people read the Washington Post on Facebook every month five times more than the daily hoped for. In France, the site of movie reviews Cinemur recorded a jump of 40% of its traffic. At Dailymotion, engaging users, who watch more videos on Facebook and connect more often with their IDs on Dailymotion, has tripled.

These successes are helping to win over new Facebook content publishers. Last week, 12 U.S. media, including CBS, the Huffington Post website and portal MSNBC.com, announced the launch of their applications. In France, those of Canal +, Wat (TF1), M6 and Warner Bros. are imminent. "We promise two things to the media: a distribution of their content to potentially 850 million people, and the commitment and recommitment of users," said Julien Codorniou, director of partnerships Facebook France payday loan lenders.

Platform distribution

The virality of social networks operating at full capacity. In France, the fledgling social network travel Wipolo has multiplied by seven the number of users from Facebook. "It was a big accelerator. If we extrapolate these figures, we will save much time on our roadmap, "said Matthew Heslouin, its founder. "The Timeline App provides a distribution platform as powerful as the radio for music," Analysis of turn Spencer Hyman, founder and CEO of Artfinder, a service dedicated to the discovery of works of art. He himself has observed a 60% increase in time spent on its site by users from Facebook.

A priori, the operation is winning for both sides. "The space within the application 100% owned by the publisher who can sell advertising. We do not touch anything over there, "said Julien Codorniou. Facebook sells him, advertising in the sidebar of the browser. To do this, have applications that enrich its database of qualitative information is very valuable. "I listen to Lady Gaga has more value than I like Lady Gaga," says Julien Codorniou. Advantage acquired cheaply: "While Facebook does not touch anything on our advertising revenue, but he pays nothing in buying rights for music and video that contribute to the attractiveness of the platform. The beauty of the tool is that all this work is done by the ecosystem, "says Martin Rogard, CEO of Dailymotion France.

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Strategies in all were very pessimistic about the euro a month ago have adopted more moderate judgments fast cash now. "European politicians have given themselves time to solve problems. While Greece is in trouble but it still has until mid-December to collect the necessary financial support, "said John Kicklighter, Currency Strategist at DailyFX.

At Saxo Bank, comments are more incisive. "The sharp depreciation of the euro against the dollar mainly due to the renewed concern about the Italian debt.

In his study, presented Friday, experts from the Muette emphasize the competitive advantages of Ireland on Portugal and Greece, the other two countries under international supervision, "export sector a more developed and more high-tech"-the Exports account for 100% of GDP against 31% in Portugal and 21% in Greece, "a workforce more skilled, more favorable conditions for businesses, a more efficient tax system based in particular on corporate taxes low and stable and well-regulated markets and more flexible, both for products that work."

The conservation plan will represent 2.2% in 2012

Despite the recession, Ireland continued to attract significant foreign direct investment and the country, supported by the engine of exports and improving cost competitiveness, has returned this year with growth, while Portugal and Greece will experience another year of recession pay day loan lenders.

On the fiscal side, Dublin's goal is to bring the deficit below 3% of GDP in 2015. Before the intervention of the Troika, the authorities had imposed a cure equivalent to 9% of GDP. The economic plan of 2012 is still 2.2%.

If these efforts "are starting to bear fruit" requires further consolidation, the report of the organization of the Muette, in the perspective of a "global growth lower than expected."The OECD recommends including "broaden the tax base" and "focus more on consolidating spending cuts" -60% recovery, "by improving the efficiency of the public sector, reform of social protection and lower infrastructure projects. " Another priority should be the fight against unemployment from 4.6% in 2007 to 14.2% in the second quarter of 2011.

Among other tracks, it is necessary to improve employment services, training programs adapted to market needs, encourage job search, extend some cuts in employers' contributions … Finally, Dublin to pursue the restructuring of the banking sector and further improve competitiveness to promote exports.

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These blackouts are more embarrassing for BlackBerry, which had the reliability of its services is signed. Aimed primarily at business users, the brand can not afford such failures.Especially since it is increasingly challenged, including the professional market, including smartphones from Apple and Samsung faxless cash advance.

Rumors of sale to Vodafone and Microsoft

In addition, these incidents are still undermining the leadership of the group which faces a shareholder revolt led by investment funds. They call for a change of management or the sale of the company. Since the beginning of the week, rumors have multiplied. The Wall Street Journal referred to a sale of the Vodafone brand. Others imagine a takeover by Microsoft, but it already has a partnership with Nokia.

These rumors have helped support the stock price. On Wall Street, on Tuesday, shortly after 20 hours (French time), the action Research in Motion (the maker of BlackBerry) was the same upward trend, gaining 3.63% to 24.07 dollars.

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