Nicolas Sarkozy, president of France, has une certaine idée de la France which, given his inconsistent record on most things, is actually remarkably steady. One particularly strong element in his vision is that people should be free to work more if they want to earn more. In 2008 he pulled apart the country’s 35-hour working week legislation. Now, Mr Sarkozy is supporting liberalisation of Sunday shopping.

Under new laws, likely to be passed in the next week, it will be possible to open a wider range of outlets in densely populated areas on Sundays. Tourist centres will also receive exemptions. This is a minor dilution of an already homeopathically weak and widely ignored law. But the issue of what Sundays are for cuts across questions about French identity.