Uncollected trash rotting on the streets of Paris. Strikes on trains that go to the national stadium, and on planes that should be carrying fans. With the eyes of Europe and the world turning to France for the European Championship, the host nation isn’t putting on its best face.
A tug of war between the Socialist government and labor leaders over changes to French workplace practices is ensnaring fans hoping for a month of fine football and a great time.
Already Thursday, strikes threw train services to the national stadium into disarray before the opening game it hosts on Friday night.
Strikes are also planned from Saturday on the national air carrier, Air France. In swanky Paris neighborhoods, overflowing garbage containers spewed stinking bags of trash onto the streets, uncollected by strikers.
With kick-off just a day away, both the government and labor leaders warned fans to brace for hardship.