Takeaway #1
Angry over the economy large crowds swarm the street of France in protest demanding action from the government. Unions said 2.5m workers had rallied to demand action to protect wages and jobs. Police put the total at 1m.Takeaway #2
The strike action disrupted transport services but did not cause the paralysis forecast by unions.Takeaway #3
Many people are furious that Mr Sarkozy said there was no money left to raise wages and consumer spending power, but nonetheless managed to find billions of euros to bail out floundering French banks, says the BBC's Emma-Jane Kirby in Paris.
Takeaway #4
With unemployment looking likely to reach 10% next year, she says, the protesters hope he will drop his programme of cost-cutting reforms and focus instead on protecting workers' jobs and wages.
