PARIS, May 8 (UPI) -- Not everyone was happy with the victory that made Nicolas Sarkozy the next French president, but such massive post-election protests were unexpected.
Tens of thousands of youths demonstrated against the country's new president overnight for a second straight day in which far-left activists staged violent protests in several French cities. Most damage was reported in Paris, Lyon, Lille, Toulouse, Nantes and Rennes.
In Paris, more than 200 people were arrested after clashes with police. In Lille, demonstrators torched more than 50 cars. They screamed out, "Sarko scum," a term used by immigrant youths in 2005 protesting in the banlieus against Sarkozy, the country's interior minister at the time. But the banlieus remained quiet since his election Sunday.
Socialist leader Francois Hollande, in a radio speech, called on the left to protest peacefully and fight back at the June 10 parliamentary election, rather than on the streets.
Sarkozy, meanwhile, was taking a cruise on his yacht "La Poleta" in the Mediterranean Sea, where he is said to be drafting out plans and considering whom to appoint to his Cabinet.
