France is in the midst of a battle between the government and unions over pension reforms.

France has taken a major step towards raising its retirement age - the issue that has sparked demonstrations and strikes across the country for the past few weeks. 

The senate has approved the reform bill, but unions insist the protests will continue against President Nicolas Sakozy's flagship pension bill.

Is the new law in the long term in the best interest of the country? Has Sarkozy's popularity been damaged beyond repair?

Joining the programme are Paul Midy, the communications director of the Youth Wing of France's ruling party - the Union for a Popular Movement, Rafael Nedzinski, an executive committee member of the Force Ouvriere Union, and Pierre Purseigle, an assistant professor of History at the University of Birmingham.

This episode of Inside Story aired from Saturday, October 23, 2010.