The president spoke at a meeting with rural officials southwest of Paris as strikers blocked traffic in several cities and other protesters vowed to continue weeks of efforts to thwart the retirement changes on which Mr. Sarkozy appears to have staked his political future.
Mr. Sarkozy said strikers and demonstrators blocking fuel depots did not have the right to “take hostage people who have nothing to do with it.” He was referring to 10 straight days of strikes at refineries and blockades of fuel depots that have left motorists struggling to find fuel.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/22/world/europe/22france.html?_r=1&hpSo that's what a democracy looks like. When people get screwed by their govt., they take to the streets.