Nicolas Sarkozy

Reports of a 245,772 euro temporary shower for Sarkozy spark public outrage

Team Observers — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:40:01 +0100

According to socialist lawmaker René Dosière, French President Nicolas Sarkozy had a 245,772 euro shower installed for him for a one day summit in Paris’ Grand Palais. The figure, although not entirely accurate, is just one of many reports emerging about the Sarkozy government’s extravagant spending.

A public audit report slammed the “opaque” accounting and “unjustified” costs of France’s EU presidency budget, the most expensive in the country’s history. The elaborate EU-Mediterranean summit at Paris’ Grand Palais on July 18, one of Sarkozy’s final EU presidency flourishes, was one such occasion. The audit report notably singled out a 1.07 million-euro dinner for 200 guests, which works out at 5,362 euros per guest. The webiste Mediapart also published published the list of event expenses considered ‘essential’ by the govenrment, including a full refurbishment of the Palace’s air conditioning system which cost 653,703 euros.

One of the most striking examples of lavish and misused presidential spending was a state of the art shower installed in the temporary Grand Palais presidential offices. It included a built-in spa system and massage chair, and was dismantled directly after the summit and reportedly never used. MP René Dosière claimed the shower cost 245,772 euros just as photos of the state-of-the-art installation were leaked on the web.

These photos were published by the website Mediapart, who obtained them from construction workers who took part in the massive Grand Palais refurbishment. The workers claimed they know the shower was never used, because the hot water tank counter was still at zero when they dismantled it.

French budget minister Eric Woerth tried to defuse rising public outrage by explaining that the figure of 245,772 euros was not just for the shower itself but for the entire 8-room presidential office area built in the Grand Palais, as confirmed by the French weekly Nouvel Observateur. The minister claimed that the shower wasn’t specifically for the President’s use, adding that his residence at the Elysée Palace was just a few minutes away.

Photos of the presidential office suite built for Nicolas Sarkozy in the Grand Palais. Photos : Mediapart

Sarkozy nepotism row viewed from abroad: “a return to monarchy”

Sophie Team Observers — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:43:49 +0200

The prospect of Nicolas Sarkozy's 23 year-old undergraduate son being catapulted to the head of a major public agency has sparked widespread accusations of favouritism both at home and abroad.

Jean Sarkozy is a regional councillor in the rich Parisian suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine, where his father himself acted as mayor between 1983 and 2002. Still, he doesn't have any substantial business experience and is yet to complete his degree in law, leaving him considerably under qualified to run EPAD, a public agency in charge of overseeing development in the La Défense business district just outside central Paris. Except for a few hear-hears from conservative politicians in the country, the majority of French people find the idea outrageous. Our Observers in Gabon and China give their views on Sarkozy's latest imperial move.

French under attack for Bongo victory

Sophie Team Observers — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:53:58 +0200

The day that Ali Ben Bongo was proclaimed the winner of Gabon's presidential poll, opposition supporters set fire to the French consulate in Libreville, underscoring the level of anti-French anger fuelled by Bongo's victory.

Areva, Sarkozy, and the Niger crisis: “No coincidence”

Sophie Team Observers — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:10:51 +0200

Niger President Mamdou Tandja dissolved the country's constitutional court on Tuesday, removing yet another obstacle to his plans to stand once more for the presidency, in defiance of a constitutional ban.

Mamadou Tandja's second presidential term runs out in December of this year, and the constitution prevents him from standing for re-election. With this deadline in sight, the country's leader has prepared a referendum to allow him to stand for a third term. In order to give his project a good start, Tandja granted himself emergency powers to rule by decree last week, and then went on to scrap the constitutional court, which had been attempting to block his referendum plans.

Two months earlier, Niger's government granted French state-owned nuclear giant Areva a crucial uranium contract. Coincidental timing? Although France has condemned Tandja's actions, a specialist on the subject tells us that there's still cause for concern.

UPDATE (3 July 09 - 11am Paris time): Areva has responded to Daniel. Read the statement below his comment.

Daniel Dubreuil is an activist for Survie, an association working on Franco-African relations, and a specialist of Areva's policies in Niger.

This was no coincidence. Areva and Niger signed a [€1.2 million] contract in January to develop the Imouraren uranium mine [in central Niger]. Negotiations took two years, during which the Niger government eventually gave up on most of its demands. Then in March, Nicolas Sarkozy passed through Niger and made a speech in which he quite clearly stated his support for Mamadou Tandja. On May 4, the mine's first stone was laid, and just a few weeks later, as though by chance, president Tandja launched his constitutional reform plans and dissolved the constitutional court.

How I see this timing of events, is that Areva got the contract in part by promising that France wouldn't take too much of a harsh stance against the president's intended actions.

Areva has ruled out any political pressure. But it's obvious that in the case of Niger, the position of Areva and the French state, which owns 90% of its shares, are inseparable. That's been the case since uranium was discovered in 1959 and up until today. Niger's uranium is a key factor in French diplomacy. Once the Imouraren mine opens, Niger will be supplying a third of Areva's uranium, making it an evermore important player in France's independent energy supplies.

Nicolas Sarkozy made a speech announcing the end of Françafrique [France's ambiguous relationship with former African colonies], but what's actually followed is quite the opposite. Although the French government said on June 5 that it would look into reform projects in Tandja, the half-hearted statement didn't even put forward any sanctions against Niger or president Tandja. It would have been possible, as proved by other countries (notably the US), to take coercive measures - threatening to freeze assets, reconsider certain agreements, etc.

I repeat that in my opinion, Areva has an obvious interest in Niger's internal politics. Recently, one of the company's managers made a revealing statement about the company's behaviour in Niger. According to [French analytical publication] Le Canard enchainé, he said that France should help the Niger government ‘sort out' the Tuaregs [the government has been faced with a rebellion by the local nomadic Saharan people since 2007]. It appears that the Areva manager in question didn't use the phrase ‘sort out', but that was basically what he meant. There's nothing surprising about that. As soon as the accord between Areva and Niger had gone through, the directors of the company felt that they could exploit whatever resources in the region they deemed fit: water, land, air... They didn't seem to think that the effects of their actions on the local Tuareg population held any importance. Just to take a recent example, in order to open the mine in Imouraren, Areva will have to drill a hole eight kilometres long, two km wide and 150 km deep. Can we really believe that such a creation won't have any impact on the local Tuareg people, who live solely from farming?"

“Nobody forces me to wear the full veil, it’s my choice”

Sophie Team Observers — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:57:38 +0200

Posted on Flickr by "The Art Of Veiling".

The French parliament has launched an inquiry into how many women wear head-to-toe Islamic veils in France. President Nicolas Sarkozy used the occasion to spell out that "the burqa is not welcome in France", leading to concerns that he would ban it in public places. A French Muslim explains to us why she chooses to wear the sitar - the Saudi full-face cover - and why Sarkozy's comments frighten her.

Oum Abdallah (not her real name) lives in Marseille. She's worn the sitar for 10 years.

I'm French, I'm not of Arab origin. The rest of my family is either atheist or agnostic; none of them are Muslim. I decided to convert to Islam well before getting married. Until my wedding day I wore a headscarf but didn't cover my face, and from my wedding day onwards I've worn the sitar. I would have done so earlier but my parents disallowed it while I was still living at home.

I wear the full veil because it's what my religion wants. I dress like the prophet's wives; they're my role models. My husband didn't order me to do this, not at all. He leaves those decisions up to me, even if he does like that I cover up.

"People say that the women aren't respected in Islam, when in fact the religion is based on the well-being of women"

People say that the women aren't respected by Islam, when in fact the religion is based on the well-being of women - at home, as a wife and mother. How many Western women are victims of domestic violence in France today? The sitar is certainly not there to hide black eyes, like some stupid people think! It simply hides the beauty of a woman, which shows how highly they are regarded by Muslim men.

When I'm at home with my husband and my son I dress as I want. When my friends come over (most of whom wear the full veil too), I wear only a veil that covers my body. When I go out or am in the presence of men however, I always wear the sitar.

There's no problem at home. When we have friends over, my husband eats with the men and me with the women in another room... I pass him the plates to serve his guests. He's never seen my friends. Outside however, it can be tricky. People give me funny looks, sometimes insulting me. I leave the house as little as possible; only for things like going to the doctor, admin stuff etc.

"I miss swimming"

Life in France is not easy for a woman who wears the sitar and I dream of leaving. In Muslim countries, there are some beaches and parks especially for women. Of course I miss being able to swim. One of my friends goes to the sea sometimes. But she has to find a completely deserted beach and she swims fully dressed. That's no life. I know very well that in my case it's me who chose to adopt this way of living in France and not the other way round, but that's why I'd like to move to a Muslim country. It's not easy though - my husband would have to find a job first.

"We've talked a lot about if the burqa is banned"

We've talked a lot about if the burqa or the full veil is banned after Sarkozy hinted on it. We're really worried. That would mean that I couldn't leave the house at all! I've just been to get a new ID card, so I'm ok for the next ten years in that sense. But how would I go to the doctor?"

Sarkozy a "poor cretin" – going too far?

Sophie Team Observers — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:43:11 +0200

This is the front page of today's French satirical magazine Sine Hebdo, a recently launched weekly. The caricature refers to last week's outrage in the foreign press after French President Nicolas Sarkozy was said to have insulted Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Zapatero. "Pauvre con" (poor cretin) is what Sarkozy called a farmer at an agricultural fair last February - another incident which didn't do much for his popularity ratings.

Is the magazine going too far? Will the Elysée react? Tell us what you think.

"‘Sarkozy poor cretin', it's not only the foreign press who think it!"

'Sarko watch your ass, we’re coming really fast'

Sophie Team Observers — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:28:25 +0100

"More researchers, less traders". 11 March demonstration in Paris. Posted on Flickr by "Ptit@l"

On today's menu in France you'll find general strikes and national protests. The main ingredient? Brilliant slogans! Here's our selection of the ones that didn't get lost in translation.

If you want to read the originals (where they actually rhyme...), see the French version.

For the Mexicans, Cassez is a criminal and Sarkozy a hypocrite

Sophie Team Observers — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:24:08 +0100

Police photos of Florence Cassez when she was arrested in December 2005.

Both the press and politicians in France have come to the defence of a French woman condemned to sixty years of jail in Mexico for kidnapping charges. Former victims of the crime however see the accused in a much darker light.

Found guilty of kidnapping and carrying arms, 34-year-old Florence Cassez was sentenced to 60 years in prison by a Mexican court. The French citizen however, insists that she's innocent. Her defenders call on case irregularities and contradictions in the witness statements. Even President Nicolas Sarkozy has demanded her return to France to serve out her sentence - something which has outraged the Mexican public, especially victims of the criminal gang which Cassez was supposedly part of. For them, there's no doubt that the former girlfriend of ringleader Israel Vallarta is guilty.

Nicolas Sarkozy: "These days when there's a strike in France, nobody notices". Really?

Sophie Team Observers — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 18:42:57 +0100

Last July, Sarkozy passed a law that meant public services are forced to keep a minimum service going during strikes. "These days when there's a strike in France, nobody notices" said the French President. It was not, however, the case on Thursday.

Although public transport was severely disrupted, Sarkozy's "minimum service" rule functioned well. For example, in Paris, one metro out of two was running. So was the strike a failure? One union chief, François Chérèque from the Democratic Workers Federation, called it the biggest demonstration in twenty years. Police say over a million took to the streets across the country (the unions say it was 2.5m) - a number certainly unprecedented since Sarkozy took office.

Sarkozy and Israel

Sophie Team Observers — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:17:04 +0100

Our Observer Joel Schalit shares his analysis on Sarkozy's ceasefire plan from an Israeli point of view, and what the move represents in terms with Europe's relationship with Israel and the Middle East, while the US remains the most influential ally to the Jewish state.

The US military analyst's assessment was predictably pessimistic. Asked whether Israel would agree to a ceasefire plan being worked out by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Anthony Cordesman told the BBC that it did not matter what kind of shuttle diplomacy the Europeans might be engaging in: Israel's military operations will only cease when its armed forces have accomplished all of their assigned objectives. Besides, the analyst respectfully chided his interviewer; Israel will only stop if America orders it to do so.

The script is all too familiar. Even though Cordesman was being asked what it would take to halt Israeli operations in Gaza, his reply could have been issued in response to any number of Israeli military campaigns over the last thirty years: Lebanon, Gaza, or the West Bank during the Al-Aksa Intifada. This time was no different. As Arab civilian casualties piled up, European states petitioned Israel to act with restraint, and Arab and EU delegates to the UN worked towards a ceasefire; America continued to shield Israel.

However, in a surprising act, just hours after of the BBC interview with Cordesman, Israel agreed to implement a daily three hour ceasefire in order to allow Gazan residents to obtain relief supplies delivered through corridors set up by Israel. Though not the full ceasefire sought by Sarkozy, the move certainly reflected pressure caused by his diplomatic activities, along with intense Israeli embarrassment over the killing of forty in an attack on a UN school by Israeli forces the day before. This was the price they would have to pay for the error. Not to be sidelined, the Americans also gave their official blessings.

"His efforts are emblematic of

an increased European involvement"

So far, the French president's diplomatic initiative has received widespread international support. Proposing the deployment of international forces to locate and destroy smuggling tunnels along the Israel-Egypt border through which Hamas brings in its weaponry to Gaza, together with a French-led naval force to patrol Gaza's coast, Sarkozy's proposal echoes the solution imposed on Lebanon two years ago, with potentially superior measures to halt the flow of ammunition to Hamas.

Whether Sarkozy is ultimately successful, his efforts are emblematic of an increased European involvement in peacemaking efforts in the Middle East during the final years of the Bush administration. Beginning with the dispatch of substantial European troop contingents to UNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon in 2006 to help create a buffer zone between Israel and Hezbollah, European governments have attempted to play an increasingly important role in managing the Arab-Israeli conflict. Under the leadership of Nicolas Sarkozy, France has gone to the greatest of lengths to make itself a permanent player in this regard.

France's effort to position itself as an arbitrator between Israel and its Arab neighbours is of particular significance for Israel's political establishment. Diplomatic and military allies until the 1967 Six Day War, when French President Charles de Gaulle decided to suspend military aid to Israel over its seizure of Arab lands, the Jewish state has since regretted its alienation from Europe, hoping that it might one day be able to ‘rejoin' it on its own terms. Closer, to be sure, without being so beholden to the vicissitudes of European liberalism that Israel could ever be compromised by disagreements over its foreign policy.

"The EU is simply filling a vacuum

created by the US"

The present Israeli government has welcomed Nicolas Sarkozy's diplomatic outreach, seeing it as an opportunity for helping bring Israel back into the European fold after a near forty year spell of living almost exclusively under the American umbrella. Winding up his tenure as the president of the European Union with the EU having significantly upgraded its relationship with Israel - granting Israel observer status to the European Union, along with forging closer defence, security and economic ties - it would be hard to disconnect these developments from the foreign policy ambitions of its recently departed president.

Yet, despite this new intimacy with Israel, there's a very strong sense that all that's actually happening is that the EU, led by its most aggressive member states, is simply filling a vacuum created by the US, as it winds down its occupation of Iraq, and turns its attention towards putting its own house in order after the collapse of its banking and real estate sectors.

Hearing German Chancellor Angela Merkel blame the present situation in Gaza 'clearly and exclusively' on Hamas, and the Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg state that ''Hamas has excluded itself from serious political dialogue' is not exactly encouraging. Still, one might hope that such utterances are strategic rather than reflecting a typically American approach to Israeli politics; that, for example, such statements might be intended to reassure anxious Israeli politicians, who for now might need to have their new European partners sound more American than the Americans do. Certainly Sarkozy, and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner have made equally numerous ‘pro-Israel' statements, like threatening Iran with military action if it develops nuclear weaponry. Nevertheless, the brief respite engineered today is light-years better than anything that could have been dreamt up by the US these past eight years. Here's hoping there's a lot more where this came from."