Submitted by Edmund Lazar, Jul 30, 2008 03:36

Your assessment on President Sarkozy's failure to reform the French political and business scene is somewhat exaggerated. He seems to have a slower, step by step approach which brings him closer and closer to his aims. He might achieve only partial success, but even that would still be welcome. By guaranteeing minimum services during strikes, he blunted the most powerful weapon of the labor unions. With not taxing overtime and letting cadres and their employees swap days off for more pay, he made the 35 hour week rather meaningless. He rolled back the early pension times and eased some restrictions on businesses. The diminishing number of demonstrators showing up gives the impression that the French are getting bored by the negative attitude of Sarkozy's opposition. Living in France, it seems to me that the population is not so much against Sarkozy's politics, but is impatient because it takes him so long to achieve it. Edmund Lazar Lorgues, France

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