Around the World: France

Reform path to stay put

The French government will press ahead with its reform program and cut state spending, Prime Minister Francois Fillon said yesterday, playing down disastrous opinion polls for President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Sarkozy won a clear cut election victory one year ago promising to usher in an era of change for France, but he has so far failed to live up to expectations and has the worst approval rating of any French president just 12 months into office.