The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Paris

President Nicolas Sarkozy has returned from his summer vacation with a golden tan but somewhat sapped of his superstar glow. The hope he inspired with promises of changing the way France works has turned to worry amid turmoil in world markets and lackluster economic growth figures - causing his stellar support ratings to slip slightly. To make maters worse, his office has been embarrassed by the revelation that his love handles were airbrushed out of photos of the swimsuit-clad president during his vacation in the U.S. True to form, though, Sarkozy is not leting any of these setbacks slow him down. One hundred days into his presidency, Sarkozy had lunch Thursday with labor leader Francois Chereque in a bid to smooth relations with unions itching to protest Sarkozy's plans to reform state pensions and redesign France's worker-friendly employment contracts.

On Friday, Sarkozy heads to southwest France to meet anti-terrorist officers, fishermen suffering from poaching and tourism officials hurt by a cold and rainy summer.

His young presidency has been action-packed. His government pushed through income tax cuts and laws that encourage the French to work more hours to minimize the effect of strikes and tighten punishment for repeat criminal offenders.