Glad to see that France is finally moving on. I think it's great that Sarkozy is trying to reform a country that has so much potential, and so much to offer in the world stage, but is hampered by 1970's public worker policies. I mean come on, who strikes anyomore. France has stayed proud of it's heritage, and it's histoire......Unfortunately the rest of the world has reformed, and the UK is now reaping the benefits of those dark days of the early 70's - British Leyland, Miners strikes.....

It must be hard to be a victim of the strikes, but I admire Sarkozy for taking on the bully boys. With the globalisation and growth in emerging nations, France is in danger of slipping down the league table of economic power. Maybe the next step is to encourage the French to speak English, this must add a % point to there future GDP growth............In Jest of course..!

Ex-Pat domiciled in Sydney

Mark, Sydney, Australia

Manon, the sole reason of your reaction makes Sarkozy's reforms worthwhile. It will mean you and your friends will insist others will listen and you will not put up with the inconvenience of these strikes.

People agreeing with Charles Martin insisting the old regime was better are few and far between whilst people like Penelope, Montpellier really do understand that the Old France has to change and has, in actual fact, already changed so much.

Strikes are so old-fashioned now (or unions, come to think of it) Though people's instinct are to support the strikers, surely in France, where a strike of any sort is a daily inconvenience, it must get quite tedious - especially when it costs you wages,bonuses and/or even promotion

For France to have a say in World Affairs it needs an open mind and I, for one, believe it has reached this point just by having Sarkozy rather than Chirac.

Just make your feelings clear, Manon,and put you life first!

Lianne, Warminster, UK

I wish there would be a description from within on what a strike looks like for those who cannot get to and from their jobs where a metro train comes once an hour and the crowds waiting are so big that people start fighting and vomiting, where all of Paris is a traffic jam and taxis never possible.
Next week schools will close because of strikes and who will take care of the children? Certainly not the trade unions.
I do not doubt that corruption helps those who already have and that those having nothing will be robbed even more.
But can this challenging of the Sarkozy regime defend the
boundless suffering of ordinary people?
If you have seen what I see daily the answer is no.

manon, paris, france

vive la france.
Sarko's influence will spill beyond the borders of France.
To my friend in Cherbourg France, if you need a respite from the change in France, you are always welcome under my roof in Wisconsin.

Matt Martini, Madison, Wisconsin

Go for it Sarko, and beat the lazy so and so's, if you do this could reverberate around Europe and governments will dismantle the privileged fews unfair pension rights.
Why is it ok for private workers to be held to the mercy of the financial markets and realities of hard times while these strikers enjoy such comfort in retirement.
The next line of attack must be the political elite who make vast fortunes from public service and retire in such public funded luxury.

D case, Newquay,

Charles Martin, You ask how foreign countries really see France. They see France as a divided country. Divided between old socialist ideals which are inward looking, and frankly pretty selfish, and the reality of the global economy in which if you don't compete, you'll get left behind . The old system was an ideal that can no longer be paid for. It was good while it lasted, but in order to keep pace with the new growing economies, and even 'the old enemy', things have to change.

Penelope, Montpellier, France

what the hell is happening to france ???
In which country a few people who can be cualified of lazy & priviledged can stand up against a public-wished reform ???
I would be proud of my country if thousand of people went on demonstration against this revoltating people !!!!
Furthermore, I would like to make you notice and wonder why neither french newspapers nor tv-news show those anty-strickers demonstrations and protestations . Yesterday, I was ashamed of my country and of it's citizens. Today I'm proud of a few people assuming their convictions and standing up to denonce the unfair state of being.
I wonder now how foreign countries do really see France ??Are we famous for our lefty-newspaper, for our weak governments, or for the solidarity french usually show to a few lazy who struggle the public economy ?
Hope president Sarkozy will make things change !
Please, Times' reporter, keep on telling what PPDA "forgets".

Charles MARTIN, Le Boupère, France

Hooray for Sarko! Time French workers got out of their outdated mindset, and set about working like the rest of the world.
Sharada

Sharada Lartet, Chennai,

Hooray for Sarko! High time someone changed the mindset of French workers and got them to think of work instead of planning for their holidays.

Sharada Lartet, Chennai,

And here I was feeling guilty about retiring at 62 when my Grandfather retired at 72. But 50 at full pension? Very generous (and foolish) of the rest of French workers to support that.

Andrew, Los Angeles, USA

If public opinion is overwhelming why has support for Sarkozy and Fillon gone down?
The real object of the exercise is to lower the living standards of pensioners, while the quite rich (top civil servants lioke Chirac) and the very rich (like the friends of Sarkozy) earn more than they can spend. There is an inherent corruption which gives more goodies to the rich (not unlike certain forms of bribery).
If they could afford to, more people would support these very successful strikes.
As Bakchich pointed out the students' problem is due to poor uninspirational teaching in French universities.

poprey, Angers, France

Lucky France with a new leader determined to remove the heavy hand of socialist suffocation. How much longer must we wait for the same release to happen here.

Simon Marshland, Bath, Somerset

A few thousands are gathering in Paris, but millions are against Sarkozy. This strike is about ALL the unjust reforms he is introducing. 60% of the registered voters did not vote for Sarko. He DOES NOT have a mandate from anyone, but his rich friends. He has increased our taxes, diminished our benefits, allowed privatizations in all sectors which have in some cases doubled and tripled the prices we pay for necessities. He has given his rich friends 15 Billion Euros in tax breaks and is now surprised to find that we are 15 Billions short in money for hospitals, schools, police, prisons, food for the hungry. ALL the statistics and polls are false. And, when we go to the public forums on France TV to give our opinions, they are blocked. 145 local courts are closing, which, as they are already overcrowded, will effectively STOP all Poor people from using them. AND He is demanding that the poor PAY a part of their court costs. A Fascist regime is being introduced here. Period.

Victor Compton, Cherbourg, France