French PM vows not to bow to mass protests

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls says he will not bow to protesters who have rallied across the nation in protest at government's labor reform plan.

The CGT union has organized street protests, train strikes and refinery blockades to pressure the government to scrap plans that would make it easier for companies to hire and fire workers.

"If we gave in to the street and to CGT because we were obsessed over the short term by 2017 (presidential elections), we would lose everything," Valls told French weekly Le Journal du dimanche (JDD) on Sunday.

The country is now teetering on the edge of a paralysis with oil refineries, nuclear power stations and transport hubs remaining shut after days of blockades by union activists.

The industrial chaos comes as thousands prepare to arrive in France for holidays as well as for the Euro 2016 football championships early next month.

The union General Confederation of Labour (CGT), which is leading the demonstrations in the European country, has threatened to disrupt the international event.

Paris is already in a state of emergency after November's deadly attack by Daesh which left at least 130 people dead. The French premier had earlier raised the possibility of amendments to the labor reforms while insisting that they would not be withdrawn altogether.

EA