- Title: FRANCE: Drivers continue to stock up on petrol amid strikes
- Date: 25th October 2010
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (OCTOBER 24, 2010) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF TOTAL PETROL STATION WITH VEHICLES QUEUING CARS AT PUMP PUMPS CARS AT PETROL STATION MAN FILLING UP TANK PUMPS ONE PUMP OUT OF WORK PUMPS (SOUNDBITE) (French) STRIKE SUPPORTER, GWENAEL JEULAND, SAYING: "We go away next weekend and I think there are less people on Sunday morning than during the week so I'm making the most of it." (SOUNDBITE) (French) STRIKE SUPPORTER, YEKHLEF ZIANI, SAYING: "It's always a problem but you have to live with it. What else can we do? Do you have a solution?" STICKER AGAINST PENSION REFORM, PETROL STATION IN BACKGROUND
- Embargoed: 8th November 2010 20:26
- Keywords:
- Location: France
- Country: France
- Topics: Domestic Politics,Energy
- Reuters ID: LVAE6JTYIKQA1YZEZ0UVE78KXAL4
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Parisians on Sunday (October 24), aware of fuel shortages due to ongoing strike action, continued heading to the petrol pumps to fill up their tanks. But despite the obvious inconvenience of an early morning tank refill, most drivers interviewed continued to support the strike.
Motorist Gwenael Jeuland said he planned to go on holiday next weekend but joined the queue on Sunday to fill his tank up in case fuel at the pumps ran out later in the week. He said he expected the strikes at refineries to continue.
"We go away next weekend and I think there are less people on Sunday morning than during the week so I'm making the most of it," Jeuland said.
Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau has urged motorists not to overdo tank refills.
But drivers said they have little choice but to adapt to the circumstances and make the most of the opportunity to fill-up their fuel tanks.
"It's always a problem but you have to live with it. What else can we do? Do you have a solution?'' taxi driver Yekhlef Ziani said.
The French government pledged on Saturday (October 23) to restore fuel supplies but unions dug their heels in at strike-hit oil refineries after the Senate approved the pension reform bill at the heart of the dispute.
Despite weeks of protests and strikes that have hit railways and oil refineries hardest, the flagship reform of President Nicolas Sarkozy's term is expected to be finally adopted by Wednesday (October 27).
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