FRANCE:France's president-elect Nicolas Sarkozy rejected opposition criticism of his post-election holiday on a luxury yacht yesterday.
The opposition Socialists and newspaper cartoonists took aim at Mr Sarkozy's holiday aboard a 70m yacht owned by media billionaire Vincent Bolloré. Le Monde showed Mr Sarkozy's wife reclining on a deck chair, commanding: "Silence, poor people!"
Mr Sarkozy, who assumes office next week, was unapologetic and said the break following his victory in Sunday's election came after a long campaign and cost taxpayers nothing.
"I have no intention of hiding. I have no intention of lying. I have no intention of apologising," he told reporters on the Mediterranean island of Malta.
Mr Sarkozy's allies were quick to dismiss the headlines and outgoing French president Jacques Chirac said he had "every confidence" in the next head of state, with whom he has had difficult relations in the past.
After three nights of violent confrontations between police and young demonstrators in several French cities, students in Paris prepared to occupy a lecture theatre overnight to protest against Mr Sarkozy's plans for France's universities.
France's interior minister accused far-left activists of fanning political violence. Police said 200 cars were torched overnight, although the incidents seemed to be diminishing in severity.