21.   A French appeals court on Wednesday upheld a six-month fraud sentence against Bernard Tapie, the ex-sports tycoon and former leftist government minister.

22.   A leftist government headed at the time by Peasant Party leader Waldemar Pawlak delayed implementation last year.

23.   And it has riled relations with the mostly leftist governments of the European Union.

24.   Borowczak, and other unionists argue that the leftist government has ignored the difficulties of industries it controls, including coal mines.

25.   Both Stanculescu and Chitac are close to the current leftist government, which returned to power in November.

26.   Business leaders lash out at leftist government.

27.   Business leaders and analysts have argued that the leftist government was focusing on the wrong solution.

28.   But former President Ion Iliescu and his leftist government were against it, apparently fearing he might try to re-establish the monarchy.

29.   But environmentalists have pressured the leftist government against approval.

30.   But in a dig at the leftist government, President Jacques Chirac said the state must reduce its role in the commercial sector.