Persuasive, pragmatic, ambitious but not a deep thinker, Nicolas Sarkozy has long been one of the world’s most fascinating politicians. For years, the candidate promised his country more than mere change; he promised la rupture, and during his first blistering 100 days in power he has delivered it, after a fashion.
Right from the start he shattered the aloof, monarchic French presidential style. Unflattering front-page photographs of him in shorts jogging up the steps of the Elysée Palace disconcerted some. More acceptable, but equally unheard of, was his descent into the crowd with his wife on 14th July, to join the fête populaire. Where his predecessors rarely spoke in public, and only then with studied gravitas, Sarkozy chatters away to the press on every subject—on holiday in America, he called a press conference to tell us he was on holiday.
But the greatest rupture came with his choice of government: parity between the sexes and a senior minister of north African origins. Later he added three secretaries of state from ethnic minorities. More surprisingly, he brought in members of the Socialist opposition—one as foreign minister and five as secretaries of state. The idea of opening up government was not his but came from his centrist rival for president, François Bayrou. During the election campaign, Sarkozy ridiculed the idea: “What can it possibly lead to? Impotence. Democracy is a majority and an opposition.” But in office he changed his mind, for although giving jobs to the left provokes grumbling from his own party, it confuses the opposition. Also, by giving ministerial posts to politically isolated or inexperienced people, he concentrates more power for himself.
If you are a subscriber, please log in »
This article is available to subscribers only
Subscribing to Prospect is the most reliable and convenient way to receive the magazine every month, and offers the best value.Subscription Types:
Online
An online subscription offers you complete and unlimited access to the entire website, including our searchable archive of every back issue of Prospect, and a PDF edition of each new issue: all this for just £20 per year. Purchase an online subscription »Renewal
Renew an existing subscription »Institutional access
If you are a library, business organisation or any other large institution that needs a multi-user licence, you can obtain institutional access.
Share
Subscribe to post comments
Print
