More legal hurdles or talks

Labor Minister Eric Woerth saw no need to continue protesting as the pension reform plan is on track to become law. He said there is "no point striking now against pension reforms."

According to a survey by pollster BVA, 69 percent of the French backed the union movement as they opposed the pension reform, which raises the retirement age from 60 to 62 and the full pension age, regardless of contribution period, from 65 to 67.

"The situation is a little bit complicated. It's difficult to predict the end of this showdown," Gael Sliman, director of BVA, said.

"Demonstrations are more backed by the public opinion, which called for continued protests even after the Senate vote. But it's hard for (President) Sarkozy too to step back and has no interest to sit on the table of negotiations," Sliman told Xinhua.

The bill is moving closer to becoming law after its adoption by the Senate House and is very likely to be passed by the National Assembly given the majority seats held by the ruling party.

"We are in a parliamentary battle that is not completely finished since the Assembly will vote on the final text tomorrow," said Jean-Marc Ayrault, president of the Socialist group at the National Assembly.

"We will file an appeal to the Constitutional Council and propose to the other opposition groups to join it," he added.

Jacques Capdevielle, a political analyst at the Cevipof political think tank, believed that talks are the best alternative to stop the showdown between the government and trade unions.

"The government and unions should join the same table of negotiations to point fingers on the points of disagreement and both try to find intermediate solutions," he said.

France's central-right government seems willing to renew discussions with unions after three months of showdowns over the controversial retirement reforms. Officials hailed the proposal of Francois Chereque, CFDT union general secretary, who called for negotiations on employment of older workers and youth.

"Joining the discussion table, talking about youth employment, about the employment of older workers and examine the underlying problems which create a real anxiety among youth and seniors, this is really a turning point and I think it's a very good thing," Economy Minister Christine Lagarde was quoted as saying by Radio Classique.

Laurence Parisot, head of France's top industrial group MEDEF, also agreed "to open a social discussion" as it would be "a good way to move on."