Sarkozy `Free Fall' Jeopardizes Effort to Revamp French Economy

[Joanne98]

Source: Bloomberg

Feb. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Just about the only person who has said ``Yes'' to French President Nicolas Sarkozy this year is Carla Bruni, his new wife.

Public resistance to Sarkozy's proposals on deregulation and pension-spending cuts, plunging approval ratings and dissension in his party have damaged his ability to remake the nation's welfare and labor systems. The prospect of a setback in local elections next month may deepen his political troubles.

``His credibility is in free fall,'' said Francois Miquet- Marty, director of political studies at Paris-based polling company LH2. ``There is serious dissatisfaction on social and economic issues, and on his style. He needs a second wind.''

This month alone, taxi drivers rejected his plan to increase their numbers, the European Union criticized his proposed delay in cutting the budget deficit, and Sarkozy loyalists in the town where he was mayor declined to support his handpicked candidate for the job.



Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=a4WMSgaWNEkY&refer=home

[gaspee]

1. How the hell

Did he get elected in the first place? I'm still scratching my head over that one.

[ccpup]

10. his opponent Segolene Royal drove the French crazy

with her ability to speak at length in a long rambling paragraph without actually answering the question or saying anything -- ANYTHING! -- of substance. I used to shake my head in a mixture of amazement and fury as she mentioned the morning vegetable markets, compared herself to Joan of Arc, mentioned the plight of French women, spoke of her husband and children and tried to cast suspicion on Sarkozy for, well, whatever she could think of at the time all while answering a simple question on the state of the economy!

As South Park so memorably said, for the French it was a douche or a turd sandwich and they chose the turd sandwich.

[Joanne98]

12. They put in Diebold machines!

[Jane Austin]

2. At least they won't be stuck with him for

four full years.

[IntravenousDemilo]

9. No, they'll be stuck with him for

five at least. As of 2002, French presidential mandates were reduced to five years from seven.

[Jane Austin]

13. Accckk!

I was thinking they had a Parliamentary system.

[jgraz]

3. Hee hee. Just lovin it

The right wing is cratering all over the planet.

[calimary]

4. Good! A nice, vigorous, unspinnable repudiation of CONservatives

ACROSS THE BOARD, ACROSS THE GLOBE, would be a MOST welcome thing. And very-much deserved.

[Jed Dilligan]

5. Another narcissistic neoliberal shithead biting the dust

It feels good to be alive right now.

[Dr.Phool]

6. He's the Rudy Giuliani of Paris!

[cliss]

7. This man also has a temper.

I've seen some photos of him blowing his stack.
I think it was last year, he was out on a boating weekend. Some paparazzi got too close. Yikes this man has a serious anger problem.

How that beautiful woman could marry him is beyond me.
She says "it's for life"
just give her a few more weeks.
:smoke:

[Arctic Dave]

8. LOL

That first sentence cracks me up. How's that for a sharp stick in the eye.:rofl:

[tanyev]

11. Hmm...about time for a big disaster to happen.

I've been reading Naomi Klein's book The Shock Doctrine lately. She hammers home how catastrophes--natural and man-made--have been used over and over again in recent decades to implement radical Friedman economic policies. Everybody should read this book.

[JCMach1]

14. Excellent Book

There was also an excellent PBS series, "The Commanding Heights" that I would highly recommend.

[Kitty Herder]

15. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy........

:sarcasm: