How bad do the French want change?

No matter who gets elected president of France in less than two weeks, he or she will have to work with a population that has never been willing to embrace difficult or unpleasant things, and in particular letting go of social perks. To voice their displeasure, the French use strike as a formidable tool.

The most effective strikes are those crippling the economic life of the country when truckers block the roadways. Since the French love to eat and live well, a deal is soon made, the trucks clear the roads and the populace keeps what it wants. It will be interesting to see how the new president can neutralize that form of blackmail to move the country forward, or if his, or her hands, are tied by the nation’s temper tantrums...