The French youths are rioting again

By Ethel C. Fenig

Desperate for votes, any votes, Segolene Royal, the now French presidential loser candidate, appealed to women voters. That didn't work.

She warned voters that a vote for her opponent, the now victorious Nicholas Sarkozy, was a vote for renewed rioting by France's disaffected youth, the euphemistically named immigrants and children of immigrants from France's colonialist days. Apparently angered by this extortion attempt, 84% of French voters trooped to the polls where 53% of them voted for Sarkozy, decisively defeating Mademoiselle Royal.

But, with her apparent permission, the prophetic Royal was correct--the rioting has begun.

Mohamed Mechmache, President of AC Le Feu -- an association created following the November 2005 riots, has ominously warned that "France did not understand the message sent during the riots in October and November of 2005."

In Lille, just before 22h00, around 200 anarchists French youths with black flags grouped around the Grand Place and chanted "Fascist Sarko, the people will have your hide". After pelting riot police, the demonstrators were dispersed. One demonstrator was injured.

Firemen in the south of Lille have answered 20 alarms for torched vehicles.

Around 100 demonstrators grouped around the Place Kléber in Strasbourg slightly after 21h00 and chanted "Sarkozy fasciste".

Stay tuned as more is sure to come. Sarkozy, who previously called the rioters scum, has his work cut out for him.