Obituary: Nicolas Sarkozy

Sarkozy's presidential campaign poster
reads "A Strong France", subjected to
parody of course (see below)

I love a good election. It's just under a week to go until the French choose their president for the next 5 years. France has been run by a centre-right president since 1995, but seems to have had enough of Nicolas Sarkozy's increasingly right-wing policies and is ready for a change.

Sarkozy was elected narrowly - by 53% against 47% for the Socialists, but a month into his term, his party, the UMP, won a majority in the general election.  

Nevertheless, he has been progressively alienating more and more people further into his term. He got off to a bad start even before his presidency as the Foreign Minister by denouncing those involved in the 2005 French riots as "racaille", or "scum", which may well be true, given the British public's perception of those involved in similar riots in London last year, but it's not very wise for a senior politician to be so blunt when trying to win votes.

"A Mad France"

There have been numerous controversial laws that have been passed during his leadership - most infamously the so-called "burka ban". Seen as an attack on Muslims not conforming to his view of French society, it is now illegal to wear any item of clothing that covers the face, with notable exceptions such as a motorcycle helmet. Equally, he attempted to strip French citizenship from naturalised citizens convicted of a serious crime, which was later ruled as unconstitutional.  

He has also implemented typically conservative policies, such as reducing taxes for the wealthy, raising the retirement age and revoking inheritance tax, but he has spearheaded E.U. attempts to improve the economy and led the military intervention in Libya.

A man of vanity, Sarko was voted one of the best dressed men by Vanity Fair, and even had French magazine, Paris Match, digitally remove a love handle from a picture of him. No-one can accuse the 160 cm (5ft 5in) tall man of having Short Man Syndrome.

As with many democratic countries, it's usually a two-horse race: Labour vs. Conservatives in the UK or SPD vs CDU in Germany - and France is no exception. The centre-left Socialists' candidate, François Hollande, has been the favourite to win for some time, perhaps chosen by the anyone-but-Sarkozy voters rather than for his policies or his charisma, or lack thereof. 

"A Free France"

Hollande comes across as confident, experienced and determined, and is trying too hard to position himself as a liberal socialist by proposing a 75% tax rate for earners of more than €1 million, supporting gay marriage and adoption, pushing renewable energy and planning to recruit more civil servants.

It seems that the election has come at the right time, with a change of government more likely at times of economic problems, but we've seen it all before...promises, promises and more promises, possibly making this article redundant.

Whatever the outcome and despite his legendary gaffes, France will have had a more memorable leader over the past five years (albeit in the same way that Sivio Berlusconi was memorable) and it is worth remembering what he actually has accomplished since 2007: abolishing tax on hours worked over the 35-hour week, his work towards peace in the Middle East, and forging closer relations with one of France's closest allies and neighbours, the UK, damaged by the likes of the ungrateful De Gaulle and corrupt Chirac.

"A Dead France"

A Certain, Well-Off, Elitist, Cynical,
Racist, Disdainful and Warmongering
France