Posted on 05/05/2007 8:34:57 PM PDT by Cincinna
PARIS, May 6, 2007 (AFP)
- Determined, outspoken and unashamedly right-wing, Nicolas Sarkozy is within an ace of his cherished presidential goal, but if he fails it will be because he struggled to win the affection of the nation he longs to lead.
The 52-year-old head of the ruling Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) has spent the last five years plotting his course to the Elysee palace, convinced that his policy of a "clean break" from the past consensus is needed to shake France out of economic decline.
In office he promises to cut taxes, curb union powers and encourage people to work harder for more pay. He inveighs against the "generation of May '68" whom he blames for the ills of society. And he calls for open debate on French "national identity" -- a red rag to the left.
But Sarkozy also defies attempts to caricaturise him as a pro-rich free marketeer. He backs affirmative action to encourage minorities out of the "banlieue" ghetto, while his support for state help to ailing industries is viewed askance by France's European neighbours.
The son of an exiled Hungarian aristocrat and grandson of a Greek Jew, Sarkozy was born in 1955 in Paris. He has himself said that his father's abandonment of the family four years later deeply affected him, and left a burning need to prove himself to the world.
After the May 1968 student uprising -- when most young French people were bathing in the fashionable ideas of the left -- Sarkozy struck right, and attached himelf to the rising Gaullist star, future president Jacques Chirac.
The two fell out many years later after Sarkozy backed Chirac's rival in the 1995 presidential election, and the 2007 campaign was until recently clouded by suspicions that the president was secretly trying to undermine his former protege's bid for power.
Sarkozy is married to a 49 year-old communications consultant, Cecilia, which whom he has a ten year-old son. He also has two children by a previous marriage, as does she. Their relationship has been rocky, though friends insist she will join him in the Elysee if he wins.
Since 2002 Sarkozy has been a dominant force in French politics, serving at the interior ministry for four years, finance for one, and transforming the UMP into a personal electoral machine.
His inexhaustible energy and blunt-speaking analysis of France's social and economic problems won him many admirers, but at the same time a view took hold that he is a dangerous authoritarian who would divide rather than unite the country if made president.
The 2005 riots by black and Arab youths appeared to bear out this fear. As interior minister he was accused of fanning the flames when he described suburban delinquents as "racaille" or "rabble." There have been warnings of more trouble if he is elected on May 6.
Enemies have made much of his supposed personality flaws -- with one magazine describing him as "in some manner mad, and fragile." Fair or not, the attacks had a clear effect on the campaign -- with swing voters citing his character as a reason to vote for Socialist rival Segolene Royal.
SDS , or Sarkozy Derangement Syndrome, is closely related to BDS, Bush Derangement Syndrome. The main symptoms are loser Leftists spewing hate and lies about the guy they lost to.
“Enemies have made much of his supposed personality flaws — with one magazine describing him as “in some manner mad, and fragile.” Fair or not, the attacks had a clear effect on the campaign — with swing voters citing his character as a reason to vote for Socialist rival Segolene Royal.”
Yes, all 45% of them. I guess the writer of this AFP article missed the debate with the mad, erratic, irrational, screeching Socialist, Segolene Royal.
I understand what you mean...these attacts are the begining...hopefully there will be no riots.
Poland, Canada, Germany, Australia and now France...all moving closer in line with GWB....(yet, we hear constantly from the MSM that the world hates him....BS).
There probably will be riots. But when aren’t there riots in France these days? So what if the muslims get angry? Isn’t that what the French are hoping for, finally?
Royal-and this is one of those rare moments where I'll pay a compliment to my junior senator and say that she isn't a complete ignoramus, which Royal would appear to be-would be an unmitigated disaster.
I guarantee you that if she wins within three months the plot of Banlieue 13 will become a reality in that country.
Racaille is as racaille does.
I saw the last debate on C-Span, and it had to have sealed her fate. She was shrill and almost stereotypically hysterical.
Interestingly enough, she was dropping in the polls before the debate.
IMO she used desperate tactics to try and salvage her campaign. It backfired, and she will go on to lose... bigtime!
From the description given it sounded almost as if Sarkozy was debating a borderline schizophrenic.
My Junior Senator as well. Hillary is the same exact hard core Leftist that Sego is, only not as attractive.
Royal is much smarter than Hillary, and a much better speaker.
Hillary could not hold her own in a face to face 2 1/2 hour debate without notes.
What we say happen in the debate and after is what happens to all Leftists when they know they are losing...desperate playing to fear tactics.
Hope this sends a message to Anmerica. Royal=Hillary=screecher=loser=Socialist!
The implication being, of course, that any "normal" person would be ashamed to be (gasp) "right-wing."
Sarkozy will win tomorrow and I hope if there are riots he sends in the armed police. It is about time the poisonous left is put in its place in France and here in the US. They say the debate is over so that leaves one thing.
“In office he promises to cut taxes, curb union powers and encourage people to work harder for more pay.”
Holy s**t, no wonder Europe is going to hell.
I guess in French it's ecume.
Superimpose that declaration over an image of whatever brand of detergent is popular in France.
Except, W stopped our movement to the right by meeting liberals on the left, with socialism.
Well put.
Royal is just another Hillary except worse, right??
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