Waiting game as Sarkozy plans for changes

FRANCE’S next president, Nicolas Sarkozy, will have to wait until after the parliamentary elections in six weeks’ time before he knows if he can introduce the changes he has promised the country.

In the meantime, the trade unions, migrants in the suburbs and civil servants are expected to test his mettle with promised riots and strikes as they object to his plans.

If the centrists can follow up Mr Sarkozy’s victory in the two rounds of parliamentary elections in mid-June, he will be able to appoint his own prime minister whose support for his policies he can count on.