Strikes Trash Sarkozy’s Popularity

As French President Nicolas Sarkozy tries to push through a reform plan to increase the retirement age, protests and strikes have wreaked havoc on the country and sent Sarkozy’s approval rating into a tailspin.

Al-Jazeera English:

The French president’s approval rating has plummeted in the wake of growing discontent over his retirement reform plan.

According to an opinion poll published on Sunday by the Journal du Dimanche newspaper, only 29 per cent of those surveyed still approve of Nicolas Sarkozy.

The poll also showed that a vast majority of the people supported the ongoing strikes over the reforms that Sarkozy has pushed through in both houses of the parliament.

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AP / Claude Paris

Members of Sécurité Civile, mostly soldiers, collect trash in downtown Marseille. Garbage collectors have been on strike for nine days to protest President Nicolas Sarkozy’s plan to boost the French retirement age.