The popularity of the French Prime Minister, Mr Lionel Jospin, fell to an unprecedented low during blockades by truck owners protesting against high fuel prices, an opinion poll showed yesterday.
The poll said the percentage of people satisfied with the Socialist leader dropped 18 points to 42 per cent, while 48 per cent of those polled were dissatisfied. It was the first time since his election in 1997 that those dissatisfied with Mr Jospin outnumbered those backing him.
The approval rating of conservative President Jacques Chirac also suffered, falling nine points to 57 per cent.
In Germany, more than 200 truck, bus and taxi-drivers drove in convoy yesterday to protest against government plans to raise fuel taxes, and farmers said they too were planning demonstrations. While the government said it would penalise fuel use with "ecology taxes" despite rising oil prices, misgivings began to emerge among Chancellor Gerhard Schroder's ruling Social Democrats.
Dutch truckers staged wildcat blockades to stop traffic on motorways around Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Later, about 60 taxi-drivers forced a traffic slowdown on motorways around Amsterdam.
Angry Spanish farmers were planning a series of protests after talks with the Madrid government yesterday failed to reach agreement on how to compensate for spiralling transport costs.