Source: : Henry Samuel, http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk
Yesterday was a field day for anyone seeking an insight into the mindset of Nicolas Sarkozy.
Nicolas Sarkozy and Hosni Mubarak
So eager was he to say that he had clinched a deal between Israel and the Palestinian Authority,
the President jumped the gun and got his office to issue a statement "warmly" welcoming the two sides'
"acceptance of a Franco-Egyptian plan" for a ceasefire in Gaza.
This was by any standards wishful thinking – Israel made a few positive noises but gave
no indication it would cease its operations.
Even Tony Blair, who I saw at the British Embassy in Paris last night - just back from Jerusalem in
his capacity as Middle East diplomatic Quartet representative -
admitted that an outline may be in place, but no details agreed.
But this was classic Sarko – convinced that he can bend reality through sheer willpower.
You have to admire his chutzpah. Sometimes it appears to work, such as when he cajoled G20 leaders
into thrashing out a financial rescue plan or got Russia to sign up to a peace deal with Georgia, even if flawed.
This time, however, he ended up looking like the mouse that roared.
At any rate, the Middle East trip was the latest sign that Sarko wants to hog the limelight as leader of
Europe despite that fact that France's EU presidency expired on January 1, when the Czech Republic took over.
Sarko will get another chance to shine today, when he will co-host a conference in Paris on
the financial crisis with his friend Tony Blair. Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany,
with whom he doesn't get on, will also take part, along with various political leaders
and Nobel economists. Gordon Brown won't be attending the "New world, new capitalism"
forum which the French swear is not a rival summit to the G20 gathering Brown will be holding in April in London.
Back home, critics accuse Sarko of grandstanding in order to take France's mind off the
painful reality of economic recession and growing resistance to his reforms.
Last month, he all but scrapped a school reform, this week he put off a parliamentary vote over
loosening Sunday working rules for fear of backbench revolt.
But as soon as there is a drop in political cabin pressure, the man they call the Duracell bunny of
French politics pulls another rabbit out of the hat.
Yesterday that rabbit was Sarko's decision to scrap France's investigating magistrate,
the all-powerful inquisitorial judge that has been a pillar of the French judicial system
since the days of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.
The move was slated by the opposition and many magistrates, who said it would strip judges of
their cherished independence and make them more prone to political pressure,
as they would now answer to the justice ministry.
But before the protests could gather steam, yet another rabbit appeared:
Sarko announced that France was ready to put more money on the table to kickstart
the economy over and above the current 26 billion euro package.
"They say I'm an omnipresident. I'd rather that than the lazy king. We've had our share of those,"
he said, aware that some French are getting queasy just trying to keep up with him.
"By writing that I do too much at least you don't ask yourself what am I doing,"
he told reporters. That remark can be interpreted in two ways: either
"at least nobody thinks I'm twiddling my thumbs" or
"my hyperactive pace stops you from really looking at what I do."
Either way, the French are still left wondering whether all this dashing about is ultimately helpful.Source: : Henry Samuel, http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk
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J-L K.
Procurement Consultant
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P.O. Box 3867
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Blog: http://cepgl.blogspot.com
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--
J-L K.
Procurement Consultant
Gsm: (250) 08470205
Home: (250) 55104140
P.O. Box 3867
Kigali - RWANDA
East AFRICA
Blog: http://cepgl.blogspot.com
Skype ID: kayisa66
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