PARIS, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- France's National Assembly began Tuesday debating controversial plans to privatize the nation's highways.
Already shadowed by fractious talks between the government and unions over another privatization plan -- of Corsica's public ferry line -- the highway privatization initiative is opposed by many lawmakers from the left and right.
Among the top opponents is Francois Bayrou, head of the center-right UDF party, which is often a discordant voice in the majority umbrella Union for a Popular Majority party.
"Once again, the state is selling the family jewels to handle the short term," Bayrou told Le Figaro newspaper in July.
Plans to sell three main highway arteries in France were first announced by Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin in June.
Money from the sales -- estimated by one expert at between $12 billion and $16.8 billion -- are intended to finance large public works projects.
The initiative is the latest of several privatization plans floated by de Villepin's government with mixed results.
Efforts to privatize Corsica's SNCM ferry line has sparked massive protests and a temporary blockade on the Mediterranean island.
And last week, hundreds of thousands of French workers took to the streets across the country to protest government policies, including privatization.
Indeed, some pundits note that former Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin had far greater success with privatization than the current center-right government.
