Oct 25 (Reuters) - Fuel shortages persisted across France on Monday and the government said weeks of strikes against an unpopular pension reform were costing the country between 200 million and 400 million euros per day.
A quarter of France's petrol stations were short or out of fuel, and workers at seven of the country's 12 refineries voted to continue striking for the next 24 hours. Just two refineries voted to end strikes that began two weeks ago.
Here are comments from French newspapers on Monday and over the weekend.
LES ECHOS (business daily)
A determining step will be taken this week with the final adoption of the law reforming the retirement system in the two houses of parliament. But will it be the last battle? Nicolas Sarkozy hopes so. The unions are hesitating about what to do and divisions are emerging over the blockade of petrol supplies. Meanwhile, public opinion is becoming increasingly resigned. LIBERATION (left-wing)
The government has from the start totally underestimated the public's rejection of its retirement reform, hoping to force it through using police against the strikers and a whole range of tricks against the opposition to cut short debates in parliament. But it didn't work. In poll after poll, the French still support the protest movement.
LE FIGARO (conservative)
In the frenzied quest for growth, a merciless competition, France is running the race with a bag of rocks on its back. Strikes, demonstrations, blocked public transport and fuel shortages have paralysed and disorganised the country for 10 days.
OUEST FRANCE (regional daily)
By putting into question the right to retire at 60, an unprecedented social reaction was inevitable. Retirement at 60 was a socially symbolic reform of the then-ruling left under the leadership of (former president) Francois Mitterrand. It was the equivalent of paid holidays and the 40-hour work week under the Popular Front in 1936. (Reporting by Leigh Thomas; editing by Andrew Roche)