President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Thursday he was intent on reform to boost France's economy and raise living standards, but that there was no money left in state coffers for huge cash handouts. In a wide-ranging television interview, Sarkozy sought to address voters' top concern, purchasing power, by saying firms could in future be freer to circumvent the 35-hour limit on the working week as long as they struck a deal on pay increases.During his 45-minute interview Sarkozy said employees should be free to choose cash rather than time off for overtime and be given more scope to work voluntarily, on double pay, on Sundays.
And, following unrest in poor Paris suburbs this week, the president also vowed to help those in tough neighborhoods who wanted to improve their lot.
Sarkozy did not cost the measures he trailed on Thursday and said he would not throw money at every problem. "The French people are not expecting me to hand out presents like Father Christmas as they know perfectly well that there's no money in the coffers," said Sarkozy, whose popularity has fallen below 50 percent for the first time since elected in May. "There is already a lot of deficit and too much debt. The only way to help purchasing power is to create the conditions for growth and to rehabilitate work."