Sarkozy's new approach fails to impress

French President Nicolas Sarkozy impressed commentators by striking a more humble tone in a live television broadcast, but a lack of fresh measures did little to win over a skeptical public worried about rising prices.

In a 100-minute interview on France's two top television channels on Thursday night, Sarkozy admitted he had made mistakes in his first year in office and said he understood the public's disappointment, but he would stick to his program.

Sarkozy's combative style has drawn heavy criticism for not being "presidential" enough, and the calls grew louder after Sarkozy was filmed calling a critical bystander an "arsehole" at an agricultural fair in February.