The strike is to protest against [br] [originaltext] (21) French public sect

(21) French public sector workers are holding a day-long, nationwide strike to protest against the government’s social and economic policies. Tens of thousands of people rallied in Paris and other cities. Transport, schools and other services were disrupted by the strike, which was supported by all the major unions. The protest comes two days after regional elections in which President Nicolas Sarkozy’s centre-right UMP party suffered a heavy defeat. Resistance to Mr. Sarkozy’s economic reform program was widely thought to have contributed to the loss. (22) On Monday, the French president reacted by reshuffling his cabinet. Mr. Sarkozy has also suggested he may slow the pace of unpopular reforms.