November 2007 strikes in France retire with full pension benefits after 37.5 years rather than 40 years. The Sarkozy administration claims the current pension system allows some public sector workers to retire as early as age 50. The government calculated the cost of these early-retirement benefits at $7 billion a year. President Nicolas Sarkozy felt that his victory in the 2007 presidential election gave him a mandate to carry out labour reforms, stating "I said before I was elected what I would do," and "we will do these reforms because they have to be done." He declared the strikes a test of political will. "I
France at the 1912 Summer Olympics France at the 1912 Summer Olympics France competed at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden. 119 competitors, 118 men and 1 woman, took part in 66 events in 13 sports. Three swimmers competed for France at the 1912 Games. It was the third time the nation had competed in swimming. None of the three French swimmers advanced past the quarterfinals in any event. "Ranks given for each swimmer are within the heat." France made its second appearance in Olympic water polo in 1912; it was the nation's first showing since 1900. The 1912 French team had little success, losing