Nicolas Sarkozy, who won the French presidency this month promising a blaze of reform, has begun to water down some of his most radical plans to avert turbulence with trade unions and European leaders.

Key foreign policy and domestic election pledges, which were presented as vital shock therapy to French working and living habits, have been trimmed.

After promising throughout his campaign to block Turkish accession to the European Union, Mr Sarkozy now says that he will not oppose the opening of the next phase of entry talks at the EU summit next month.

A French veto would have torpedoed Mr Sarkozy’s top priority of forging a modest new treaty to replace the defunct EU constitution, his aides said.

It emerged yesterday that Mr Sarkozy had sent his national security adviser, Jean-David Levitte, on a mission to reassure Ankara at the weekend. On the home front Mr Sarkozy has diluted a plan to force minimum service from striking public transport workers.

With parliamentary elections on June 10, he and his Prime Minister, François Fillon, are eager to avoid souring the good-will that has greeted the most popular new administration since Charles de Gaulle was called to lead the Fifth Republic in 1958.

Mr Sarkozy’s energetic, direct style and his surprising inclusion of leftists in his right-dominated Government, have won favour even among many who voted against him, polls show.

Mr Sarkozy broke yesterday with recent tradition by which the president stays out of party politics, and led a campaign rally in Le Havre for his Union for a Popular Movement. The party is expected to secure a comfortable majority.

In trademark style Mr Sarkozy threatened yesterday to apply a French veto in the World Trade Organisation to defend European farm subsidies.

He also spent the morning reassuring Bernard Thibault, the boss of the CGT, the biggest militant trade union, that he would do nothing to undermine the right to strike.

Instead of a law guaranteeing service the Government now plans framework legislation that would involve agreements among employers, workers and local government. The normally tough Mr Thibault said after his bonding moment with Mr Sarkozy that he took him at his word “but we have to remain vigilant”.

The Government has also softened plans to scrap rules requiring children to attend schools in their own neighbourhood and an unpopular scheme for a small universal yearly charge for medical treatment.

The most central of all Mr Sarkozy’s promised reforms – a measure to encourage work beyond the 35-hour maximum week – has also run into difficulty. Mr Sarkozy campaigned on the slogan “Work more to earn more”. A group of economic advisers told the Prime Minister’s office that the scheme in which working beyond 35 hours would be exempted from income tax and payroll charges would be counterproductive.

“The temptation to force through laws has given way to a wish to convince,” La Montagne, a newspaper in central France, said. “Reforming without ruffling people has become the order of the day. At least until the parliamentary elections.”

On the foreign front diplomats regard the President’s hesitation over Turkey as proof that reality is already colliding with the simple formula of his election campaign.

In his manifesto-book last year Mr Sarkozy complained that “Europe seems incapable of extracting itself from a promise made in 1963 . . . The more time passes, the worse it will be to tell the Turks that they cannot enter the European Union.”

His team now says that Mr Sarkozy will “take up the Turkish dossier” next December.

Promises, promises

Promise Immediate French opposition to Turkish entry to European Union

Since election Turkey is a low priority, compared with new EU treaty. France will not oppose next phase of entry negotiation. Will take up the Turkish question in December

Promise Universal extra annual payment for medical treatment

Since election Low-income families will be exempted

Promise A law enforcing minimum service during strikes on transport and other public services from September 1

Since election Autumn plan for “framework” law that requires workers, employers and regional authorities to ensure minimum service.

Promise Abolition of the “school map” – rules limiting children to schools in their district of residence.

Since election The school map will be phased out over at least three years.

Promise Hours worked beyond the 35-hour maximum week will be exempt from income tax, national insurance and payroll charges. Basis of Sarkozy’s campaign slogan: “Work more to earn more”

Since election Economists say the measure is difficult to draft or apply and is likely to encourage abuses. Government remains determined to implement it.

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