Sarkozy Aims to Prevent Rumored PSA Plant Closing

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has summoned CEO Philippe Varin to a meeting on Saturday at the Elysee Palace to discuss the future of PSA Peugeot Citroen's assembly plant in Aulnay.

Sarkozy, who faces the first round of presidential elections on April 22, says he wants to arrange a three-way meeting with PSA, its unions and Industry Minister Eric Besson. The president says he will do everything possible to save the facility, which employs about 3,300 workers.

Sarkozy met on Thursday with PSA's three main unions after workers protested outside his campaign headquarters.

An internal company document leaked last June said PSA intends to close the underutilized factory but would not announce the plan until after France's national elections this spring. PSA denies it has made any decision about the Aulnay plant.

The company said last September that the facility's future was secure only until 2014, when the Citroen C3 supermini built there is scheduled for replacement. Reuters reported earlier this week that PSA is seeking tenants to use some of the plant's excess capacity.