London, Nov 1 (IANS) French President Nicolas Sarkozy is fearing for his life as he has become the country's "most hated" president in 50 years.
"I am so hated that I am beginning to fear for my life. Someone may just cross the line and attack me. But I don't know why the French have come to hate me so much," Sarkozy told his aides, according to The Sun.
France has erupted in strikes and protests since the president proposed saving cash by raising the retirement age from 60 to 62. The change has now been voted into law.
A poll conducted last week found that just one in three people backed Sarkozy.
He is even more unpopular than General Charles de Gaulle, when millions took to the streets in 1968 to demand an overhaul of French society.
Author Besma Lahouri said part of the blame lies with Sarkozy's ex-supermodel wife Carla Bruni, branded the "new Marie-Antoinette".