PARIS: Engaged in a fierce tug of war with unions and some of his own party over labour reforms, France's embattled Prime Minister Manuel Valls has staked his political career on staring down the crisis.
Valls finds himself in a devilish position, says Frederic Dabi of polling firm IFOP.
"If he withdraws the law, he will no longer count for anything," said Dabi.
But the alternative is standing his ground and risking that the unions keep up their paralysing unrest through to June 10, when France will start hosting the Euro 2016 football championships.
"Despite his drop in opinion polls, Valls still has an image of strength, an image of authority -- maybe a bit too much," said Dabi.
Only 26 percent of French voters support the prime minister's tough line, while 69 percent want the labour reform bill withdrawn "to avoid a blockage of the country".
Three months of protests against reforms have led to strikes and blockades at fuel depots and refineries, as well as multiple strikes across the transport sector that could seriously impact the smooth running of Euro 2016 in 10 venues around the country.
"Valls has his back against the wall. If he withdraws the bill, he can't stay in his job," said an MP from the ruling Socialist party, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The prime minister has been through a rough few months, becoming a hate figure for the more militant left-wing of his party who say the reforms are too liberal and give too many powers to employers over workers.
"How long can he stand firm?" asked the front page of right-wing newspaper Le Figaro on Friday.
It followed an eighth day of protest marches in little more than two months, with between 150,000 and 300,000 people taking to the streets on Thursday. Another is due on June 14.
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