France's 'red postman' spies opportunity in financial crisis

SANDOUVILLE, France (AFP) — The financial storm buffeting the world has put wind in the sails of a communist postman whose eloquent calls for revolution have made him one of the most popular figures on the French left and a darling of the media.

Olivier Besancenot is about to launch his New Anti-Capitalist Party and the timing could hardly be better.

"This crisis could be an eye-opener for millions of people," the postman told AFP as he took a break from expressing solidarity with workers outside a Renault car factory near the northern port of Le Havre.

"It may enable them to see that it's urgent and necessary to change society," the 34-year-old, who has stood in the last two presidential elections calling for the overthrow of the French state, said Tuesday.

The man who defeated him last time round, Nicolas Sarkozy, had visited the ...