The weak are the first to fall

General Motors' restructuring plan also menaces the Opel plant in the Belgian city of Antwerp with closure. The plant's 2,700 employees have little hope, writes the daily Gazet van Antwerpen: "Today Antwerp must fight for its survival. The plant is hopelessly trapped between the various German, Spanish and Swedish sister companies which like GM Belgium have little chance of a guaranteed future. ... The European unions are attempting to put pressure on the government and are putting together a plan whereby their plants can be disconnected from the American company. This is commendable, but it offers no solution to the basic problem of the car market. There is simply a surplus of production capacity. The supply of cars is too large. The state as a potential partner must also realise this. If you want to restructure the market you've got to make cuts. And the weak twigs are usually the first to fall."

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