Hunger strike ends with victory for man in street

Published on 16/11/2012 00:00

a FRENCH mayor who went on hunger strike a week ago outside parliament ended his protest yesterday after the government agreed to provide aid to his town.

Stephane Gatignon had been sleeping in a tent outside the National Assembly, but packed up yesterday after his demands were met.

“I regret that things came to that but it was necessary,” said Mr Gatignon, the mayor of Sevran, a poor town on the outskirts of Paris.

He spent six nights on the pavement to press his demand for €5 million (£4m) of rescue aid, saying the economic crisis was pushing Sevran and dozens of other poor towns to the brink of ruin. France’s socialist government is seeking to slash its deficit in a bid to end a debt crisis that has gripped Europe for three years. He said the government had indicated it was willing to act in line with his hopes.