absolutely alex’s adventures & times

Perhaps the militant French unions have met their match in French president Nicolas Sarkozy.

Last week’s 24-hour strike by France’s transport, gas and electricity unions might have seen a massive turnout and Sarkozy himself suffered the indignity of power cuts in his home. But public opinion seemed to be in agreement with the government’s stance of the need for pension reforms for certain public sector workers, rather than the traditional sympathy and solidarity with strikers.

While Sarkozy’s political capital has been dwindling since his election, he does have the weight of the public behind him in this instance. 55 per cent of the public told the French newspaper, Le Figaro, that the strikes were not justified. It helps that Sarkozy has been preparing the French on this, even from as early as during his campaign for the presidency, when he had made an issue of France needing changes to its pension system.

More than having momentum behind him is the master stroke of announcing his divorce from his glamorous ex-model wife, Cecilia, on the very day that the strike had been scheduled. In one fell swoop, he switched the conversation, and headlines, from the disruptions to everyday life, to his personal life.

The state of the presidential couple’s marriage has been much speculated upon in the past few weeks. When the end was finally made official, the French press was only too happy to morph into American-style, detail-hungry packs, with one French paper, Liberation, even screaming in an ENGLISH headline “Desperate Housewife”, to describe Cecilia’s situation. What a change from a society that discreetly hushed up former president Francois Mitterrand’s life-long affair and daughter born out of wedlock, until the man passed away.

As a testament to his political genius, the strike does not seem to have affected Sarkozy too much. Nor did it go on into the following days, as some union leaders had threatened. However, another round of strikes could be planned for November.

But Sarkozy seemed determine to bounce back quickly, leaving the matter behind him and drawing headlines for a new issue this week, by announcing France’s “green” plans and hobnobbing with recent Nobel Peace Prize winner, Al Gore. Perhaps the tide really is turning in France, and the streets are not as powerful as they once were.

In typical French fashion, voters have resurrected their complex contrarian characteristic and rejected the talk that France would face a tidal “blue wave”.

True to form, they struck a blow, though not mortal, to their newly-elected President Nicolas Sarkozy, by denying his party, the Union for a Popular Movement, the commanding landslide that has been predicted for weeks. Its bitter rival, the Socialist party, managed to stage a stunning comeback after its recent defeat in the presidential elections, winning 25 per cent more seats than in the previous parliamentary election.

More embarassingly, one of Mr Sarkozy’s most important ministers, Alain Juppe, was unceremoniously dumped by voters in Bordeaux. Juppe had been appointed to a powerful superministry that oversees the environment, transport and sustainable development. He has resigned from Sarkozy’s cabinet.

Though humbled at the polls, Sarkozy could take comfort in the fact that the UMP still holds a parliamentary majority, which would allow the reforms he has promised to be pushed through this summer, such as moving away from the 35-hour work week, guaranteeing minimum service during public transport strikes and clamping down on lawbreakers and illegal immigration. A cunning move, indeed, as most of the country is likely to be too busy holidaying during summer to rally in the streets against the reforms.

Whilst the celebration for UMP might be muted as it lost seats this time round, it should celebrate the fact that not only does it have a clear majority (350 out of 577 seats, with its allies ), it has also achieved the tough feat of becoming the first ruling party in thirty years to be returned to power.

Sarkozy should also be relieved that the French electorate has not subjected him to the kind of “cohabitation” that his predecessor Jacque Chirac had been forced to put up with – when they elected a Socialist parliament after the right-wing Chirac captured the presidency.

The Socialist Party had cleverly harped on fears during their campaign that François Fillon, the Prime Minister, was going to raise value added tax by two percentage points. The tax is seen as being favorable to businesses and high-income earners and could have been a strong factor that swung voters towards the Socialists at the last minute.

But while the Socialists celebrate their unexpected victory and make claims of having resurrected itself, it remains an opposition party with slim chances of challenging the government effectively. It remains divided as its leader Francois Hollande carried on a very public spat with its most popular figure and presidential candidate, Segolene Royal. Reports say that not only is she trying to take control of the party, they have both also announced their separation. Hollande and Royal have been a couple for decades and have four children together, although they have never married.

“I will defend my convictions while respecting others,” pledges French President Nicholas Sarkozy, declaring his guiding philosophy, as he plunges into his job with relish, giving an opinion on anything or everyhing.

This is a man who has the energy of a man half his age, seems like he is staying up all night thinking through all the biggest issues of the day and is keen to unleash himself and his ideas onto his first big international appearance, at the G8 summit in Germany this Wednesday, while simultaneously projecting the image that France is once again a major player in the world stage.

On the European Union and its role, Sarko has been urging that European leaders accept a new, simplified European treaty that will be ratified by member states through parliamentary votes rather than popular vote, which had sealed the fate of an earlier incarnation through rejection by French and Dutch voters. His philosophy towards the EU has also solidified around the idea of it wielding more power as an economic entity and less in political realms. But at the same time, he told the Financial Times he opposed EU’s trade policy, labeling it “excessively liberal”. It figures. Despite his reformist credentials, Sarko is at the core a protectionist when it comes to French industries, insisting on staying the course on French agriculture and justifying it by explaining that “the security of Europe’s food supplies was vital”.

On the incoming UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Sarko had this piece of advice. “Gordon Brown has advanced and modernized the British economy over 10 years. I hope that in moving from Number 11 to Number 10 Downing Street he understands that Europe is not outmoded.” But Sarko smoothly added, “Europe has need of the UK and the UK has need of Europe.” He further established the groundwork for a smoother transition in his dealings from Tony Blair to Brown, by telling the Financial Times that “I don’t think that everybody shares my opinion. I don’t have this arrogant vision. He is more liberal than I am.”

Sarko, who has long professed his admiration for the US, is also playing nice when asked about US President George W Bush, Iraq and Bush’s recently-announced environmental initiatives. Regarding Iraq, he pulled out the diplomatic card, professing to not being qualified to comment when he doesn’t have troops in Iraq and affirming French support in Afghanistan through continued troop presence. When it came to commenting on Bush’s environmental plan, Sarko called it an “encouraging evolutionary”. This guy looks set to have a great conversation on the sidelines of the G8 summit with Bush. Expect an invitation to Camp David in the mail for him soon.

But really, Sarko seems set to build consensus and make friends everywhere. It’s a smart move that will warm him to the leaders and create an easier basis for doing business. He was equally flattering about German Chancellor Angela Merkel, complimenting her on her leadership in the EU’s rotating presidency and expressing confidence of her ability to push for issues such as reform and the environment through.

The only person that might not get the full assault of Sarko’s charm is Russian President Vladimir Putin. On the latest hissy fit Russia is throwing about the US’ missile plan, Sarko said he plans to have a “frank and direct” discussion with Putin. Though professing to desire a strategic partnership and amicable relations with Russia, Sarko had came out strongly to condemn Moscow’s strengthening authoritarianism and human rights abuses in Chechnya while campaigning for the presidency. Russia is unlikely to forget that quickly.

So it looks like this upcoming G8 summit might be a little more than just boring business as usual with Sarko’s kinetic and involved presence. The attending heads of states will no doubt have to hear plenty of his opinions and contend with a French President with an assertive approach. While it remains to be seen if Sarko will wear them out, the media, especially the European ones, is still nursing its love affair with Sarko. You could bet on seeing, and hearing, a lot of the guy over the next few days.

After 12 years of malaise under Jacques Chirac, France ushered in a hyper-kinetic Nicolas Sarkozy as the new president of the French republic.

Will Sarkozy be able to make the changes he has promised? Will the French have to work more? Is France likely to be revitalized under Sarkozy?

It will be interesting to see if he can face down the most daunting challenge to French presidents: demonstrations. Sarkozy’s predecessors have usually backed down in the face of massive demonstrations and protests out in the streets. It’s hardly going to be easy for Sarkozy, with two of the biggest groups – students and unions – publicly stating their opposition to his proposed measures of university reform and ensuring minimum service during strikes.

Detractors have said that many French governments have usually started their terms promising changes, only to be gradually disillusioned or paralyzed by the French population’s resistance to change. So why would the Sarkozy presidency be any different?

For a start, Sarkozy does have a more reasonable chance of fulfilling his goals, given the comfortable margin by which he won the election, on his platform that France needs to change. It’s a sign that the French are perhaps finally tired of the dysfunction in their system and are betting on Sarkozy being the one to make the necessary changes.

Sarkozy also seemed to have learnt from his previous rival and prime minister Dominique de Villepin’s mistake last year of pushing through the job contract for younger people stealthily and then having to make an embarrassing climbdown as youths took to the streets in revolt, effectively killing his shot at the presidency. Sarkozy will instead follow a plan of having open discussions and persuasion before enacting reforms, making them more palatable to the public while avoiding the kind of fiasco de Villepin had experienced.

Appointing a cabinet with those from outside of his Gaullist circle, like the opposition Socialist party, is another way Sarkozy is hoping to win over the opposition. The word is out that he has offered the foreign ministry portfolio to Bernard Kouchner, the founder of the Nobel-prize-winning Médecins Sans Frontières and a former Socialist health minister. Sarkozy has also reached out to unions and promised to hold conferences on labor issues.

The next five years ahead ought to be interesting for France and Sarkozy. Here’s hoping he will reform France without it losing its allure or essence.

Ooh la la! The French are actually frowning on holidays!

At least that’s what the French opposition is doing, condemning President-elect Nicholas Sarkozy for taking a three-day break in a luxury yacht in Malta before taking office next week.

Words flung at him by the defeated Socialists include “scandalous”, “indecent” and “shocking to the great masses of French”.

Whoa. Am I reading right? Are they actually condemning someone for doing a quintessentially French thing, no, make that a right? This from a nation that loves making “le pont”, basically extending a holiday by taking days off leading to or after a national holiday that falls in the middle of the week, hence creating a long weekend? A place where “the Protestant work ethic had been refused a work permit”, as described by The Guardian?

Wait a minute, weren’t the Socialists the ones who implemented the 35-hour work week in the first place?

It’s all political of course. There are parliamentary elections up next month and the Socialists are firing their salvo in the hope of winning back some dignity through that election. Remember, they had failed for the third successive time at capturing the Presidency.

Give Sarko a break. It’s going to be a tough five years ahead, what with all the fixing that’s needed in France. And his holiday isn’t on taxpayers’ account anyway.

“I have no intention of hiding,” Sarko told reporters. “I have no intention of lying. I have no intention of apologizing. I don’t see the controversy.” Good for him.

He’s got his hands full when he returns. Rioting and protests are already ongoing, with students protesting his proposed higher education reforms while haters continued on their rampage, torching cars and breaking windows of buildings around the country.

If anyone needs a break, it’s this guy.

A remarkable thing happened in France today.

The French elected the son of a Hungarian immigrant to its highest office, the Presidency, allowing Nicolas Sarkozy to occupy the Elysée Palace on May 16. He beat his opponent Socialist party candidate – and a woman no less – Ségolène Royal, taking 53 per cent of the total vote.

The French ought to be proud. The French ideals of Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité seem more than just rhetoric.

It was brave enough to put two outsiders into the final round of the presidential election. For years, the top echelons of French business and politics have been occupied by a select few groomed for those positions from elite schools and universities. Not only is Mr Sarkozy an immigrant’s son, he went to public schools and a state university. Ms Royal was not born of the manor either, being the daughter of an army officer.

Also impressive was the turn out at the polls. That 85 per cent of the 44.5 million registered voters showed up is a clear sign of the electorate’s wish to make a difference, and of France’s vibrant democracy. Notwithstanding the fact that the French love a good debate and politics, interest in this election was noticeably high, as new voter registration grew and people debated in cafes across the country.

Not surprisingly, 20 million people tuned in to watch the final TV showdown between Mr Sarkozy and Ms Royal last week. A two and a half hour debate, at that. That’s a third of the country’s population of 64 million, or about 50 per cent of the voting population.

It’s noteworthy that the French have the maturity to understand they are voting for Mr Sarkozy, and not his spouse. A good thing, as Mrs Sarkozy has been conspicuously absent from his side as he campaigned. That she had a affair with another man a few years ago and told the French media she sees herself jogging in New York’s Central Park in 10 years’ time, did nothing to dent Mr Sarkozy’s standings in the polls. Can you imagine a US presidential candidate getting that kind of support if his spouse behaved the same way?

Imagine too, if a US politician was quoted calling young rioters “scum”. In the political correctness gone wrong atmosphere of the US, the politician would have been strung out to dry, inundated with calls to resign and his political career over. Not for Mr Sarkozy, as French voters thankfully supported his policy of zero tolerance towards violence.

No doubt the pockets of violence and rioting in parts of France after the results show that it’s not all rosy in France. Mr Sarkozy is detested by a large swarth of the population, especially those of immigrant origin. France still has serious problems, ranging from a weak economy, high unemployment to an inability to integrate immigrants, particularly Muslims ones, well. But the French have opted for change by voting in Mr Sarkozy, known for getting things done, his energy and dynamism. There’s hope for France yet.