DW-World.de
Deutsche Welle

Up to three million people took to the streets of cities in France in a national strike on Thursday to protest against the economic policies of President Nicolas Sarkozy. Opinion polls suggest around three in four French voters backed the rallies. Schools, hospitals, public transport and other services were affected by the work stoppages. Workers are angry over rising unemployment and the high cost of living in the eurozone's second largest economy. The trade unions that called the strike are demanding more pay for low income earners, better employment protection measures, and a tax increase for the rich.