With nine days left until the start of Euro 2016, and “after three months of revolt against proposed labor laws, the French Government is facing renewed strikes” from the country’s transportation unions including the SNCF, CGT and SUD, according to LE PARISIEN. This is the “eighth day of major transportation strikes since March for the SNCF but for the first time, the period is unlimited” (LE PARISIEN, 6/1). L’ÉQUIPE reported CGT Head Philippe Martinez “defended the desire to disrupt” Euro 2016. He said, “Did the CGT say that it will block the Euro? It is not a question of blocking the Euro. It is not the transportation strikes that block the Euro, absolutely not. If the government, tomorrow, says, ‘We’ll talk,’ there will be no more strike. Let everyone take responsibility” (L’ÉQUIPE, 6/1). In a separate piece, L’ÉQUIPE reported after Martinez assured that it was not a question of “blocking the Euro,” an activists group against the labor law announced plans of a “media takeover” during the competition. The group, known as “Nuit Debout” said that it will “distribute leaflets on the metro during match days, attempt to disrupt fan zones and make contact with football personalities who are against the labor law project” (L’ÉQUIPE, 6/1).
