Sarkozy seeks to reassure disgruntled
President Nicolas Sarkozy, looking to rebuild his shattered popularity ratings, promised on Tuesday to preserve France's 35-hour work week and cushion the impact of soaring energy costs for the hardest hit. In a dawn media blitz, Sarkozy visited France's biggest food market and then went on breakfast radio to reassure people that he understood their concerns over rising prices. The president ruled out any budget austerity, laid to rest fears his government might hike the retirement age and denied rumours of a possible increase in the television licence fee. "I don't believe in austerity ... What did austerity measures bring (in the past)? Higher unemployment, higher deficit and less growth," Sarkozy told RTL radio. Sarkozy's ratings have hit record lows for a president one year into office, with voters angry about the rising cost of living and disenchanted with a ceaseless churn of reforms.
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