Protests against Sarkozy ebb as media criticize sailing trip (Roundup)

May 9, 2007, 15:07 GMT

Paris - A third successive night of violent protest against the election of conservative Nicolas Sarkozy as French president saw fewer demonstrators take to the streets, police said Wednesday.

Interior Minister Francois Baroin said that around 200 vehicles were set on fire overnight and 80 people were arrested, roughly half of the number from the night before.

On election night 730 cars were burned and 595 people arrested.

In Paris, police dispersed a group of 150 mainly young demonstrators attempting to blockade the Place de la Bastille, while police in Lyon confronted around 200.

According to the police, Sarkozy opponents set fire to an office of the governing Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) in Villeurbanne near Lyon.

Several people were temporarily arrested. Youths denounced the former interior minister as 'Fascist' as they had done the previous nights.

At Paris' Sorbonne university the students voted for a strike.

Sarkozy's sailing trip meanwhile made waves in the French press as the future president was spending several days on a luxury yacht in the Mediterranean owned by billionaire Vincent Bollore.

The daily La Depeche du Midi wrote that Sarkozy was indulging in great luxury 'in the manner of a newly-rich who had won the lottery.'

L'Independent du Midi said: 'He will be our first American president,' adding that Sarkozy was one of the admirers of the country 'where money and luxury are displayed as a sign of success.'

The socialist opposition also criticized the sailing trip, calling it 'arrogance and an insult' to the people.

'The French have entrusted political power to the power of money,' said former party chief Henri Emmanuelli.

However, Sarkozy said he had 'nothing to conceal and nothing to apologize for.'

'My trip hasn't cost the taxpayer a cent,' he said. He also defended Bollore, saying he wished the French economy had many more like him: 'It is no shame to have worked hard and built up a company.'

Bollore said he was honoured that Sarkozy had accepted his invitation.

The businessman is the principal shareholder in the Havas advertising firm and the British market research company Aegis.

He also owns 40 per cent of the CSA opinion research company and is involved in several areas including logistics, travel, cinema and energy provision.