Sarko’s cardinal emerges from the shadows

Nicholas Sarkozy is irremediably in vogue. Everywhere.

In the last months, the President of France arranged the liberation of the FARC’s hostages in Venezuela, pushed the new European Treaty to reform and signature in Lisbon, got divorced and married again with the Italian supermodel Carla Bruni and on the top of all this he was elected the personality of 2007 by the American Time Magazine.

Although his main acts were in the international scene, Sarkozy didn’t forget the French. Behind him, in the shadow of his hyper action, Sarko left the Cardinal – Prime minister, François Fillon.

On his own, Fillon gained the support of the French since he moved to Mattignon last May. Now that Sarko is losing some of his initial impetus he has stepped forward to grab the international attention for himself.

On the eve of speaking to the World Economic Forum, Mr Fillon gave an interview to the – very suspect -Financial Times where he announced the plan to freeze public spending for five years under France’s biggest programme of social and economic reform since the late 60s.

According to the FT, Mr Fillon plans to inject more competition, cut labour costs and adopt UK financial and stock market regulations.

Fillon said that his priority was “to reduce public expenditure” and added the essential foundations of the economic modernization law late this spring will be driven by liberalization principles.

But while hailing liberal reforms, Fillon also found time and bluntness to criticize the blind market defendants.

The day the stock markets were falling steeply and its greatest believers were shivering with unfaithful thoughts, Fillon was a true spokesman of France: “Competition is the heart of my policy. While you present competition as a way of cutting prices, living better and creating jobs the French will accept it. If you present competition as a religion, as an objectiv in itself the Fench wil be against it”.

For now there are few deeds to show. The government’s early attempts at bold reform such as scrapping pension perks for public sector workers and giving universities more autonomy ended up in compromise.

“Change seems slow but it is great for revolutionary France”, the Prime minister warned.

“This is not the continuation of minimalist reform or reform without substance. We want the French to work more, to invest more, and the state to spend less. Of course, we still have a long way to go. Our external trade balance is not good. The reduction in our deficit is not yet enough. The competitiveness of the French economy has to be improved. But we have started nearly all of the big structural reforms”, he added.

For the FT, Mr Sarkozy is delivering a real rupture with the past while carrying people with him.

Sarko gives the cry for the French to rally behind his flag. In the shadow Fillon polishes the France to shine.

“The role of the president is to open new avenue, to bring the country with him, to encourage change. The role of the prime minister is to make things work from day to day”.

Links:
Financial Times
Fillon: FT interview transcript
Sarkozy person of the year 2007

 

Ernest