euro|topics - The French rap Sarkozy's knuckles

Main focus of Tuesday, March 16, 2010

The French rap Sarkozy's knuckles

The results of the first ballot of the French regional elections put the Socialists in the lead with 29 percent of the vote, with the governing conservative UMP trailing behind at 26 percent. European commentators say the French want an end to President Nicolas Sarkozy's actionism and cast a worried look at the low election turnout and the success of the extreme right.

Der Standard - Austria

Nicolas Sarkozy and his nonstop reform announcements are to blame for the defeat of the French governing party in the regional elections, the liberal daily Der Standard notes: "The crisis, the economising, the fear of losing one's job - all this has left its mark on the French people. They are 'weary', writes Jean-Paul Delevoye, Mediator of the French Republic in his annual report. They are also tired of a president who is great at gesticulating but in the end has brought about little change ... . For the first time - and not just since the Greek crisis - left-wing voters are hearing the words 'social benefits cuts' while the conservative camp has lost its faith in reform for lack of implementation. There's no doubt about it, the French want the time out the political whirlwind now promises them. But it is doubtful that Sarkozy will keep even this promise. Taking a break is not his style. It would reveal him for what he is. Because what is the president without all his activism, his constant hustle and bustle?" (16/03/2010)

Ouest France - France

The low turnout of only 46.5 percent in the French regional elections has come as a surprise to many. The regional daily Ouest France explains why so few people bothered to vote: "The French stayed away from the regional elecions first of all because the regions fail to interest voters. People have a hard time identifying with these young political formations. With limited and hazily-defined areas of competence, they can never be at the centre of lively local politics. ... Secondly, many voters used the elections to punish the presidential majority, because they feel that after more than half the legislature period results have been slow in coming. ... With the debate over national identity and the attempt to open [to the Left] the government has lost support on the right without gaining on the left. ... Thirdly, the French want another style of leadership: more humble, closer to the people, with more participation and less show." (16/03/2010)

Il Sole 24 Ore - Italy

The far-right National Front party won just under 12 percent of the vote in France's regional elections on Sunday. President Nicolas Sarkozy is partially to blame, writes the business paper Il Sole 24 Ore: "It is problematic that Jean-Marie and Marine Le Pen's National Front did so well in the elections - generally regarded as a mood indicator for the national elections - and once more established itself as France's fourth-strongest party. ... It was Nicolas Sarkozy who, by launching the national identity debate for tactical reasons, brought the Le Pen's extremism back into play. Basically all they have done is to take back what Sarkozy took away from them as presidential candidate in 2007. They talked not only of national identity and immigration but also of setting up a ministry dedicated to these two issues which are so important to the right-wing electorate." (16/03/2010)

ABC - Spain

The non-voters are the big winners in the first round of the French regional elections, writes conservative daily ABC: "The first conclusion to be drawn from last Sunday's regional vote: non-voting won the day hands down. In a country where power is concentrated mainly in the hands of the [central] government and the city halls, the regions are of only limited interest. More than half of the French quite rightly ignored the call to vote last Sunday. And considering that the socialists are in a position to retain the power they already had, the most that can be said of the election is that the party of the president, Nicolas Sarkozy, failed to motivate its voters to conquer French socialism's last bastion, the least important seat of political power." (16/03/2010)

» To the complete press review of Tuesday, March 16, 2010

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