Chirac calls for talks with Anglo-Saxon free marketeer to stop as interior minister seeks PM's advice to boost presidential bid
Alex Duval Smith, Europe correspondent
Sunday June 25, 2006
The Observer
In an effort to salvage his bid for the presidency from the chaos of France's centre-right government, Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy has met British Prime Minister Tony Blair twice in the past few weeks for advice, The Observer has revealed.
The overture is likely to be regarded with deep suspicion by many Frenchmen, who see Blair as the epitome of the detested free-market "Anglo-Saxon" model. The unofficial meetings, covering both policy and campaign advice, have taken place despite calls from President Jacques Chirac for them to stop. Chirac is opposed to Sarkozy becoming the centre-right's 2007 candidate for president.
The most recent encounter was last weekend when Sarkozy was on a private visit to London to mark his reconciliation with his wife, Cecilia. Officially, he laid a wreath at Charles de Gaulle's statue in Covent Garden and met only Home Secretary John Reid. In fact, as one of Sarkozy's aides confirmed on Saturday, France's most ruthlessly ambitious politician also met Blair. The aide, Gerard Longuet, said that comments made by Blair during their meeting had "inspired" a keynote speech by Sarkozy to his Union pour un Mouvement Populaire.
Longuet said the men had discussed the euro and Blair allegedly said: "We're not in Euroland and have better growth and less unemployment than you. How can you expect my voters to agree [with the French approach to Europe]?" The aide added: "Nicolas was struck by the argument. He remains impressed by Mr Blair's forthrightness."
Despite the high profile Sarkozy has achieved through tough comments on law and order, he is seen by many in his own party as undecided on crucial economic issues and hesitant to take a stand on France's complex relationship with its public-sector trade unions. But at Agen last Thursday, his first rally since meeting Blair, he launched a powerful attack on the European Central Bank and called for workers' overtime to be made tax-free, which would in effect dismantle the 35-hour week and expose him to a revolt from the powerful unions.
The revelation of the close relationship between the prime minister and Sarkozy comes at a difficult time in the minister's campaign to succeed Chirac. Though the socialist party will not choose its candidate until November, the popular Segolene Royal -- which has also expressed admiration for Blair -- is neck-and-neck with Sarkozy in opinion polls. While needing to carve out a clear campaign in the face of competition from Royal, Sarkozy needs to distance himself from the unpopular incumbent government of which he is part.
Last week, when Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin caused uproar in the National Assembly by insulting François Hollande, leader of the Socialist party, Sarkozy had stayed uncharacteristically silent. The issue that led to the furore was the delays to the Airbus A380 project and allegations of insider dealing in the Franco-German EADS partnership. The EADS debacle is expected to dominate French politics this week, but Sarkozy has opted to travel to French Guyana on a mission to stamp out illegal gold mining.
Leaving the country is no way to win an election in the long run, but for his previous unofficial meeting with Blair, according to French sources, Sarkozy spent a weekend in Florence. The two men first met in 2002 after Sarkozy had reached an agreement with then home secretary David Blunkett over the closure of the Sangatte immigrants' centre.
In spring 2004, when he was finance minister, Sarkozy made his first request for a head-to-head with Blair. The Elysee Palace was not keen, but it is believed that Peter Mandelson intervened and a meeting was arranged for May 25. Last October they met privately at a hotel in London, after the Elysee had asked Downing Street to turn down a request for an official encounter.
Most tellingly, Sarkozy's campaign team -- "The Firm" -- has drawn direct inspiration from the Blairite spin tradition. According to Le Monde journalist Philippe Ridet, "La Firme Nicolas" is a crack team of thirtysomething workaholic men, with the latest cellphones, Ralph Lauren suits and an image-building obsession that stops at nothing: "It's a political style we have never seen in France before."
guardian.co.uk
Alex Duval Smith, Europe correspondent
Sunday June 25, 2006
The Observer
In an effort to salvage his bid for the presidency from the chaos of France's centre-right government, Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy has met British Prime Minister Tony Blair twice in the past few weeks for advice, The Observer has revealed.
The overture is likely to be regarded with deep suspicion by many Frenchmen, who see Blair as the epitome of the detested free-market "Anglo-Saxon" model. The unofficial meetings, covering both policy and campaign advice, have taken place despite calls from President Jacques Chirac for them to stop. Chirac is opposed to Sarkozy becoming the centre-right's 2007 candidate for president.
The most recent encounter was last weekend when Sarkozy was on a private visit to London to mark his reconciliation with his wife, Cecilia. Officially, he laid a wreath at Charles de Gaulle's statue in Covent Garden and met only Home Secretary John Reid. In fact, as one of Sarkozy's aides confirmed on Saturday, France's most ruthlessly ambitious politician also met Blair. The aide, Gerard Longuet, said that comments made by Blair during their meeting had "inspired" a keynote speech by Sarkozy to his Union pour un Mouvement Populaire.
Longuet said the men had discussed the euro and Blair allegedly said: "We're not in Euroland and have better growth and less unemployment than you. How can you expect my voters to agree [with the French approach to Europe]?" The aide added: "Nicolas was struck by the argument. He remains impressed by Mr Blair's forthrightness."
Despite the high profile Sarkozy has achieved through tough comments on law and order, he is seen by many in his own party as undecided on crucial economic issues and hesitant to take a stand on France's complex relationship with its public-sector trade unions. But at Agen last Thursday, his first rally since meeting Blair, he launched a powerful attack on the European Central Bank and called for workers' overtime to be made tax-free, which would in effect dismantle the 35-hour week and expose him to a revolt from the powerful unions.
The revelation of the close relationship between the prime minister and Sarkozy comes at a difficult time in the minister's campaign to succeed Chirac. Though the socialist party will not choose its candidate until November, the popular Segolene Royal -- which has also expressed admiration for Blair -- is neck-and-neck with Sarkozy in opinion polls. While needing to carve out a clear campaign in the face of competition from Royal, Sarkozy needs to distance himself from the unpopular incumbent government of which he is part.
Last week, when Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin caused uproar in the National Assembly by insulting François Hollande, leader of the Socialist party, Sarkozy had stayed uncharacteristically silent. The issue that led to the furore was the delays to the Airbus A380 project and allegations of insider dealing in the Franco-German EADS partnership. The EADS debacle is expected to dominate French politics this week, but Sarkozy has opted to travel to French Guyana on a mission to stamp out illegal gold mining.
Leaving the country is no way to win an election in the long run, but for his previous unofficial meeting with Blair, according to French sources, Sarkozy spent a weekend in Florence. The two men first met in 2002 after Sarkozy had reached an agreement with then home secretary David Blunkett over the closure of the Sangatte immigrants' centre.
In spring 2004, when he was finance minister, Sarkozy made his first request for a head-to-head with Blair. The Elysee Palace was not keen, but it is believed that Peter Mandelson intervened and a meeting was arranged for May 25. Last October they met privately at a hotel in London, after the Elysee had asked Downing Street to turn down a request for an official encounter.
Most tellingly, Sarkozy's campaign team -- "The Firm" -- has drawn direct inspiration from the Blairite spin tradition. According to Le Monde journalist Philippe Ridet, "La Firme Nicolas" is a crack team of thirtysomething workaholic men, with the latest cellphones, Ralph Lauren suits and an image-building obsession that stops at nothing: "It's a political style we have never seen in France before."
guardian.co.uk