How different will Sarkozy 2.0 be?
Daniel Korski 2:35pm
After months of rumours, plummeting approval ratings, and battles with anti-reform
protesters, French President Nicolas Sarkozy reshuffled his Cabinet yesterday. With a new government in place, the worst of the reforms behind him and the G-20 chairmanship in the offing, President
Sarkozy is hoping to rebuild his profile before the next presidential election. But will it work?
The popular François Fillon continues as Prime Minister despite a strained relationship with the Élysée. But Defense Minister Hervé Morin and Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner have been replaced by Alain Juppé, a former prime minister and protege of former President Jacques Chirac, and Michèle Alliot-Marie, a former justice minister in the last cabinet. Both Juppé and Alliot-Marie are formidable politicians who will strike out in new directions. One is a well-connected power-broker, the other a potential future prime minister – and perhaps one day even France's first female president.
Investors reacted positively to the changes. With Socialist Bernard Kouchner, centrists Hervé Morin and Jean Louis Borloo out, the Cabinet is said to be more right-wing. The only Socialist remaining is Éric Besson who has been moved to the Industry Ministry. The French ministerial line-up certainly has fewer problems for the Élysée – scandal-hit Éric Woerth will leave, as will gaffe-prone Rama Yade.
Yet the next election will probably not be fought on foreign and defence issues. And having promised a complete change, Sarkozy decided not to go all the way in the end. Keeping both Prime Minister Fillon and his finance minister, Christine Lagarde may betray the president's weakness rather than his strength.
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Sally Chatterjee
November 15th, 2010 2:49pm Report this commentThere might be new faces but are there any fresh ideas?
I don't think any more domestic reform is planned and if the G20 is any guide - with the French taking early leave - international ideas aren't taken seriously.
The pension reform was a genuine flash of reform. But it was badly managed. Far from bringing change, Sarkozy has entrenched France in its conservatism and defensiveness.
Percy
November 15th, 2010 4:06pm Report this commentSo the new start consists of old lags like the convicted Alain Juppe..... brilliant.
Nick
November 15th, 2010 4:30pm Report this commentThe problem politicians face is that they know how far up the swannee the countries are, but because they have been lying through their back teeth, its difficult now to tell the truth to the electorate.
Telling the truth is the way forward.
1. Everyone gets a statement with their share of the debts.
2. Everyone gets a line on their payslip with their contribution to paying off the debts, and the cumulative figure.
People will then realise that you can't borrow and spend your way out of trouble.
All debts have to be included.
Frank P
November 15th, 2010 5:02pm Report this commentGreat picture - is his arthritis playing up?
Edward McLaughlin
November 15th, 2010 9:57pm Report this commentThat's not very nice Frank P.
He's not arthritic, he just likes telling big tit jokes. Massive jug jokes. Huge Jamongers he likes, our Nikolas.
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