Paris France’s governing Socialist Party has taken the exceptional step of calling off its annual conference amid fears of violent protests by opponents of plans to reform labour laws.

Jean-Christophe Cambadélis, first secretary of the party, told France 3 television yesterday (Sun) that militants were threatening to attack party members in the western city of Nantes, where the conference was to have been held next month.

“We were being threatened with violence against our activists, there were threats to wreck the whole city,” Mr Cambadélis said. “We will discuss another date when things can be done with more calm.”

France has suffered five months of strikes and protests against proposed reforms to make hiring and firing easier and relax the 35-hour working week, which have often degenerated into ugly clashes with police. Troublemakers, known as “casseurs”, have pelted police with stones and set fire to cars.