Main focus of Monday, January 15, 2007

Nicolas Sarkozy's sacrament

On Sunday, January 14th, the French Minister of the Interior, Nicolas Sarkozy, was named official candidate of the Union pour un Mouvement Populaire (UMP) for the presidential election with a vote of the party's members. Over 98,1 % of the voters chose him. This result and the speech delivered yesterday by Sarkozy have received abundant commentary from the European press.

El Mundo - Spain

"A hundred days away from the presidential elections, the French minister put his cards down in a brilliant, vigorous, revitalising speech", considers the daily. "He intends to restore certain values, both in daily life - with more discipline in the classroom and the obligation for students to stand upon teachers' entrance - and in more universal matters, such as courage and firmness facing terrorism. 'The country that I believe in is one which puts assassins in prison', he declared. His speech has a particular resonance in the current context, with the 'peace process' launched by the Spanish government concerning the ETA [Basque Separatist Organisation]. ... The clarity of his messages, their roundedness, is one of the qualities that differentiate them from those of his main rival, the Socialist Ségolène Royal, who comes across as more ambiguous." (15/01/2007)

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Berliner Zeitung - Germany

The potential of French presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy is overestimated, Thorsten Knuf writes in the Berliner Zeitung. He may well be "clever, hyperactive and an achiever", and so a tough opponent for Ségolène Royal. But content was never as important to him as his own personality and career, Knuf comments: "Sarkozy has learned well in recent years how to manipulate the public wrath - regarding such matters as high petrol prices, immigration, criminality or the entry of Turkey into the EU. He has polarized public opinion, and has given the impression that he stands outside the mighty Parisian political elite. What does someone like that do when he finally reaches his career goal, has to show results and can no longer come across as a rebel? As we saw in the example of Gerhard Schröder, that is when the disenchantment begins." (15/01/2007)

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Der Standard - Austria

Christoph Winder suggests that, despite the "Gallic pomp" at the official party nominating ceremony, Nicolas Sarkozy has not completely won over his own party. "One should not underestimate Chirac's potential as a spoiler," he warns. Chirac "already has used this potential unscrupulously against representatives of his own political camp, if it seemed to serve his interests to do so." He describes the presidential candidate: "In recent years, Sarkozy has tried to portray himself to the French public as a fighter for law and order (although recent crime show his time in office had its ups and downs). But it would be wrong to conclude that Sarkozy is a pure law-and-order man, his political personality is more complex. He is considered to be substantially more Europe-friendly than the lack-lustre Europe-pragmatist Chirac, and on top of that, he has attained the reputation of an economic liberal - which in France is anything but an advantage." (15/01/2007)

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Financial Times - United Kingdom

"He calls himself an economic liberal, in a country where the word 'liberal' is almost as unpopular as it is in America [where this word signifies left-wing]", notes the daily. "He promotes more labour market flexibility and lower taxation. Yet his recent speeches have sounded alarmingly protectionist, and his track record as finance minister was notably dirigiste. ... He sought to force supermarkets to freeze their prices, and would cut tax relief for companies that move jobs overseas. ... In the first round of the elections (on April 22), he must see off the far right challenge of Jean-Marie Le Pen, and the centre-right alternative of François Bayrou, to ensure that he wins through to the run-off ballot on May 6. Hence the need to sharpen his clear conservative credentials. But if he then faces Ms Royal in the final contest, he must show he can win the centre ground, by being less economically liberal, and more caring." (15/01/2007)

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Le Soir - Belgium

The editorialist Joëlle Meskens has noted "a little more simplicity" coming from the French right-wing candidate. "Nicolas Sarkozy, aware that he is his own worst enemy, has sought to lay himself bare, to round the harsh edges of his image that the mirrors of the polls reflect as 'too authoritarian'. He has managed to show that he is, like all French people, made of flesh, blood and wounds. He will nonetheless need more than this little supplement of humanity to be convincing. ... In his 'Ode to a united France', to the 'Real Republic', Nicolas Sarkozy is casting his net so wide that one ends up doubting his good faith. Can one declare oneself right-wing whilst working to seduce the center and winking at the left by evoking the spirit of Jaures [founding father of the French Socialist Party] and reach out to FN voters?” (15/01/2007)

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