Almotamar.net Google Nws - FRANCE'S newly appointed Prime Minister Francois Fillon is expected to act fast to set in motion the ambitious social and economic reforms promised by President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Mr Sarkozy had pledged to move swiftly after taking over from Jacques Chirac yesterday, rolling out a raft of measures to cut taxes, keep trains running during strikes and bust open the 35-hour working week.
Early next month, Mr Fillon will lead Mr Sarkozy's Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party into parliamentary elections to try to secure the majority needed to push through the reforms in the eurozone's second largest economy.
Most opinion polls say the UMP will easily win that majority. Mr Sarkozy is due to appoint the rest of his ministers on Friday, most of whom will likely stay in their posts after the vote.
Mr Sarkozy and Mr Fillon then plan to press ahead with a package of reforms to be submitted to an extraordinary session of Parliament in July.
As prime minister, Mr Fillon is likely to be in the front line of any battle with the French unions, some of whom are already warning they will call the French onto the streets to block a reform drive pushed through without their consultation.
But Mr Fillon has experience of staring down protestors: as social affairs minister, he was the architect of a 2003 pension reform adopted despite mass union-led protests joined by over a million people.
In 2005, as education minister, he once again pushed through reforms despite protests by hundreds of thousands of students.
The first big test of his premiership - and of Mr Sarkozy's presidency - could well come with a bill to be presented this summer to force public-sector monopolies, notably in transport, to ensure minimum services during strikes - a proposal that has angered unions.
On the economic front, Mr Sarkozy has promised to bring unemployment, one of the highest in Europe at 8.3 per cent, down to below 5 per cent by 2012, and wants to stimulate economic growth through tax cuts.
He has sharply criticised the 35-hour workweek brought in under a Socialist Government, saying it has undermined France's competitiveness.
He plans to exempt from tax and social charges - - both for employer and employee -- overtime worked above 35 hours. The measure is intended to encourage longer working hours, boosting employees' salaries and purchasing power.
Once again, Mr Fillon has precious experience in the field: in 2002, he authored a law relaxing the 35-hour rules.
Mr Fillon is also expected to have overall responsibility for a "Marshall Plan" for France's riot-hit suburbs, to provide training for unskilled youths and prevent them from turning to crime.