French students, currently on their half term holidays, are planning to hold protests today as public opposition to President Sarkozy’s pension reforms continues. The final vote on whether to make an increase in the age of retirement legal will be held in parliament on Wednesday. The vote to raise the age from 60 to 62 is expected to go through.

The student protests come as a two-week strike by Marseille’s rubbish collectors comes to an end, and three oil refineries decide to suspend their industrial action. Strikers at all 200 of the country’s fuel depots have now been dispersed. However, with most of France’s refineries remaining closed the threat of fuel shortages remains serious.

Although the parliamentary vote is extremely likely to make the pension reforms law, another nationwide strike has already been planned for Thursday. This will be followed by further action on 6 November.

Sarkozy will be hoping this week that people are concentrating on their holidays, and that a positive vote in parliament will help to calm the current disruption. However, the behaviour and number of students who turn out to protest today will be an indication of how much energy is left in the anti-reform movement.

Sarkozy’s popularity is at its lowest ebb ever, with approval ratings hitting 29 per cent, according to a recent poll. Christine Lagarde, the country’s financial minister, said the cost to France of the ongoing strikes was as much as £350 million every day. The growing budget deficit and an increasing aging population are two of the reason’s Sarkozy has given for the need for reform.