A general strike is not beyond the bounds of possibility, and if the demonstrations are determined, and particularly if they are ugly, he could find himself standing three paces in front of an army which has just taken six paces to the rear. Which is why he is also currently talking up "unity" - the need to change the Face of the Hexagon without alienating any sections of the population.

Sarkozy really does not want a repeat of the 2005 autumn riots which provided such a spectacle for the rest of the world. So it is lucky for him that the usual season for demonstrations, strikes and civic unrest is the autumn, kicking off when the schools go back in September and lasting until a week or so before Christmas.

This gives him a few months' grace because July and August are traditionally slow months in France. It is "la belle saison" and everyone is on holiday. Life is way too beautiful during "les grands vacances" for messing about with slogans and protests. It is unlikely that there will be many political fireworks this summer.

There will however be time for hatching plans and gathering forces for the autumn offensive. Sarkozy has July and August to warn off the "soixante-huitards", broker a deal with the unions, cut some cards with leftist and centrist politicians, get himself some allies in Europe and gather some ammunition for those who refuse to roll over and purr.