FRANCE: Residents of Paris' impoverished suburbs express reserved optimism ahead of France's presidential elections

For many, France invokes thoughts of fine wine, fashion, and one of the finest cuisine in the world. However, not far from the breathtaking sights of Paris, lie the "banlieue," the impoverished suburbs which house thousands of unemployed young immigrants, many of whom have no job prospects and little hope of ever pulling out of poverty. In Vitry sur Seine, a neighbourhood 15 kilometres south of Paris, citizens say they feel forgotten by politicians. Residents Remili Abdelaziz says that it about time that the various associations came together to cooperate on solving the problems of the suburbs. "What we hope is that little by little the various movements and associations all take their proper places around a table and try to define a good policy and cooperate with competent and intelligent people," he said. The Banlieue account for between seven and nine percent of the vote and candidates in the presidential election have added the suburbs to their campaign trail. Even centre-right hardliner Nicolas Sarkozy has taken his campaign to the impoverished suburbs but residents say they have not been swayed by the politician's attempts to secure their vote. Sarkozy's supporters came to Vitry on Saturday (April 21) to try and drum up a bit of last minute support for the right-wing candidate, but were met with insults from some residents. The former interior minister's pledge to clean crime-ridden estates with a power hose and rid them of the rioters poisoning life there stoked animosity towards him. The UMP party leader has called for a national plan which would set up a year of professional training to help every young person from the suburbs to get a job. The Socialist Party presidential candidate Segolene Royal is also campaigning with pledges to to help those in socially-deprived areas. Royal's presidential bid includes a proposal to provide 10,000 euros in financial support for business start ups. Her supporters were also in Vitry on Saturday, handing out leaflets, and received a warmer welcome. "Me, I think the candidate with the best position for the workers are the Socialists," said Nagid Sadelli. "With the 'capitalists' we are harassed, there are no rights for the workers, no rights for the retired, there's misery, increases in rent, in the cost of living. There is there is too much poverty," he added. Sarkozy goes into this years's presidential election with an edge over Royal, but surprises are not ruled out because many voters are still unsure of their choice - or whether they are even going to vote at all. "I am not going to vote, there is no point," said one market-stall holder, Blandie. "It has been the same for years, I have an idea in my head but I won't do it, because I know it is useless, whether it is the one candidate or the other, they always think of themselves." "The thing is that I am still quite undecided about which candidate to vote for," Marie Rosso said, "because I don't think we have been informed enough, they aren't interested in young people enough, I am torn between two candidates." The last opinion polls issued before a media and campaign blackout at midnight on Friday showed Sarkozy ahead of Royal in second place, but far short of the absolute majority needed to win outright. They are likely to contest a run-off on May 6. But with opinion polls suggesting up to a third of France's 44.5 million voters have not made a final decision yet, third-placed Bayrou and veteran far-right leader Le Pen have not given up hope.

ITN Source | April 21, 2007

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