Sarkozy rules, okay

 

The term banana republic has been used by a couple of French friends in reaction to the news from Paris this week. They were referring to the high-handed way that France's ruler and his caste have been behaving in two or three current matters.The latest involves an astonishing act of nepotism by Nicolas Sarkozy. His barons are about to elevate Jean Sarkozy, the President's 23-year-old, undergraduate son, to a powerful and prized executive post.

More below, but first the other items. We have already visited the Clearstream trial here. As the case grinds on, at great expense to the people, it looks more than ever like a revenge play staged by President Sarkozy to demolish Dominique de Villepin, his erstwhile rival.

Royal revenge is more civilised than in the old days. When King Louis XIV decided, in similar fashion, to punish the noble Nicolas Fouquet, the Villepin of his day, he threw him into jail and let him rot. Villepin is not in jail. He is cocking a snook at Sarko by running in the Paris 20 kilometres foot-race today. His alleged crime -- abetting an amateurish and ineffective scheme to smear Sarkozy --  should never have been sent to a court. That's not just my opinion. It came today from Eva Joly, a formidable former investigating judge who specialised in corruption in high places.  "The conflict between Nicolas Sarkozy and Dominique de Villepin should be settled on the political field and not in a court," she told le Parisien. Huge resources had been wasted in indulging the president's whim, including the full-time work of two judges and teams of investigators for five years, she said.

Then there is l'affaire Mitterrand [last post]. Sarkozy and the Paris thinking class has decreed the matter closed, a case of circulez, il n'y a rien à voir ['Move along, there's nothing to see' -- an old police expression]. Frédo submitted to his television grilling on Thursday night. He denied that he had ever paid for under-age prostitutes. All the "boys" he bought on visits to Bangkok were consenting adults, he said. He also condemned sex-tourism. That's that then, it's over, said the Sarkozy camp.

The serious media have sided with them, depicting Mitterrand as the victim of a witch-hunt by scurrilous muck-raisers. But the affair has left a bad taste.  The fact remains that Sarkozy appointed a senior minister who, he knew at the time, had written about his exploits as a Bangkok sex tourist. People outside le microcosme, as the Paris chattering classes are known, are not impressed and they are telling their members of parliament. Paris gay activists are also angry, they told today's JDD newspaper, because Mitterrand has tarnished homosexuality by at least appearing to associate it with paedophilia and prostitution

And then to Prince Jean, Sarko's second son. He is to be appointed chairman of the Epad, the public agency which runs La Défense, the big business district on the west side of Paris. La Défense, an island of corporate towers that is seeking to rival the City of London, is in the heart of Sarkoland, the Hauts-de-Seine département which includes Neuilly, the President's fiefdom. Sarko Junior, who is repeating his second year of undergraduate law at the Sorbonne, was elected to a Neuilly seat on the notoriously sleaze-ridden departement council last year. He was immediately given the job of heading Dad's Union for a Popular Movement on the body.

Even Sarkozy stalwarts are embarrassed by the decision to catapault le Dauphin to the head of Epad, which oversees a billion euros of annual spending.Patrick Devedjian,a cabinet minister and retiring Epad boss, is bitter. To avoid lèse majesté, he voiced his thoughts with a quotation from Corneille, the 17th century dramatist. "For souls nobly born, valour does not await the passing of years."

The opposition are talking about dynasty-building. Putting Jean in charge of la Défense is part of Sarkozy's scheme for taking control of a new Greater Paris, say the Socialists who run both the city and the regional council. Sarkozy senior was boss of the Epad right up to his election in 2007.  Young Jean says that he is qualified for the job "because I know all the issues" (see video below of FR3 tv news report) and he dismisses criticism as "pointless and frankly facile". 

An internet petition is calling on Jean to do the decent thing and get his degree and some experience in life before rising to high responsibility. But we are told that Sarkozy père is determined to put the lad in the job. He will get the post in December at about the same as the dynasty enlarges. Jean's heiress wife is expecting the President's first grandchild in the same month.  

EPAD : pétition pour demander à Jean Sarkozy de renoncer
envoyé par grebert. -

Comments

[Lex Stevens]

My, my. Sarko is certainly feeling his oats, isn't he? It must be the autumnal air.

[Dominique II]

Quousque tandem, Catilina?

[rocket]

CB

"I wouldn't, of course, dream of making such a comparison. "

The sarcasm is oozing out of that statement!
[You're right. I'll drop it. CB]

[Pierre]

I generally respect Eva Joly’s stances but Clearstream is a confusing issue, and probably more complex than the only and undeniable quest of revenge by Sarkozy.
To cut a very log story short Villepin has at least “tendu le baton pour se faire battre”.
Le Figaro excellently summed up the case and the court hearings recently.
http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2009/10/09/01016-20091009ARTFIG00006-clearstream-villepin-a-evite-le-k-o-.php
I understand the critics about the cost and the confusion.
But from an English and journalist point of view it’s rather a paradox. The French have generally –and often rightfully- been exposed to the opposite critic: that unacceptable actions regarding the elementary ethics standard in a democracy – conflict of interties, corruption, manipulation- were “pushed under the carpet” and kept away from justice. Or that justice was put in the incapacity to judge the cases (generally speaking the Mairie de Paris’ affairs). Wouldn’t it have been much worse in the Clearstream case not to let the court deal with that issue? As far as I know no one has questioned the independance of the two investigating magistrates who concluded there were sufficient elements for the case to be judged.
As for Jean Sarkozy a the head of the big money factory of La Defense, I’m afraid the Elysée will be more impressed and prone to backward if the international press highlights it in the same tone as Charles Bremner than if weakened independent French medias question it.

[Thanks Pierre. I think Joly's point, which she made in her full piece, was that the political elite continue to brush serious corruption and abuse under the carpet (e.g. Chirac's complete immunity from decades of apparent abuses) while Clearstream is a costly and minor distraction. CB]

[Amélie]

Ah ah, too late. The sarcasm is on my FB page!

[Evening Hérault]

Re Sarkozy junior, it's the sheer scale (and gall) that's amazing. La Défense truly is a mini-city in itself, with around 150,000 daily workers and over 37 million square feet of office space.

[Julio]

If President Sarkozy decided he was the right man for the job who are we to even consider discussing his decision ?

We're not worthy ...

[dot king]

He also condemned sex-tourism. That's that then, it's over, said the Sarkozy camp.

CB

Unfortunate choice of phrase . . . ;)

[it was deliberate... CB]

[dot king]

When you consider just how the rest of France's young people are pressed to have this or that piece of paper before they can get any kind of a toehold on any rung of the career ladder, this upward, unqualified, propulsion of Jean Sarkozy (whether he "knows the issues" - all or any of them, or not) verges on foutage de gueule.

[Comeau-Montasse]

Je suis enseignant et j'ai de plus en plus de mal à expliquer l'utilité des études alors même qu'un fils de président qui est en seconde année de droit (3 ans de retard ! et aucun diplôme en poche) va commander et gérer des personnes ayant un très haut niveau de formation. Tout cela parce que son père est ... élu en haut de la France.
En France, on peut dire
"Si à 23 ans tu ne t'appelles pas Jean Sarkozy tu as raté ta vie"*

[Très bien dit. CB]

Qu'on renvoie ce jeune homme à ses études, et par la suite on lui proposera un poste à la hauteur de ses compétences réelles.

*(la phrase originale, tout aussi lamentable étant celle du publicitaire ami de Sarkozy, Jean Séguala qui déclarait
"si à 50ans tu n'as pas une rolex tu as raté ta vie"

[Dominique II]

Doux sire Daniel, que faist vostre épée au fourreau quand le gent damoiseau de vostre suzerain se faist si vilainement rosser par manants et plumitifs de grands chemins? Volontiers vous prêterais-je main-forte si n'étais trop occupé à me tenir les côtes. Palsambleu, que le Dyable m'esborgne si je ne voys déjà les perfides Angloys, impervieux à la taxe carbone, ériger un bûcher sur la place du Vieux Marché, en la bonne ville de Rouen.

[Your vieux françois is admirable, D II. CB]

[Scarlett]

One thing is to mention the Grand Paris agenda of Sarkozy senior, another, never really seriously investigated, is to stress upon the billions which will be discussed at EPAD and to look for past stories, official or not, about bribery from those who had to go through highly political institutions such as Epad. Fair enough, Sarkosy junior won't be officially paid for his additional new job (anyway, most revenues in France for MPs and others are, I believe, treated as indemnities, i.e. not taxable, but this another debate ...), however this does not mean there won't be any financial reward on top of a political agenda, one way or another - the ruling family would not exactly qualify as philanthropist,and, hey, you are in France, with all the known issues such as the financing of political parties, even if a mere cover for some greedy, but smart, politicians . But had UMP / Sarkozy been faced with an organised, united "oppposition" including some more independant medias, that would have made him think twice. You cannot blame someone from taking advantage of such situation and behaving like France was his. What is of concern is the lack of sensitivity of the elite (right or left over time) to the daily problems of the citizens, and the arrogance being displayed in cases such as this Epad story, accumulating over time, and enlarging the gap between the political caste and the citizens. During tough economic times, the reaction of the street could eventually be daring, to say the least. Social unrest looks like a tradition since at least 1789 - after all, the principle of a revolution is that it never ends, does it?

[Maggie]

Has he had a haircut (Jean Sarkozy) to make himself look more grown-up and serious?
[Yes, he had a haircut and now wears very expensive suits. CB]

[richard jones]

Toujours dans le mois de brumaire.....

[Listen2]

Whats a little nepotism anyway. Let junior have his run at ruining business, how else will he learn. Step-mom, the singer, former model, beauty, clothes horse and now power broker has expanded her wings too. After all, it's all in the family, the French like scandel and should be used to this by now, they voted for it.

[thomasine]

Jean Sarkozy won't be officially paid...and I thought he denied his wife is an heiress. Is it not strictly speaking a political appointment? and the little man in the video is a very little man.

[Valentin]

[Yes, he had a haircut and now wears very expensive suits. CB]

Yes, because he knows - and he's not the only one - that

CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN !

http://clothesmaketheman.org/v4/news.html

:)

[roccu la kieppa the revolution emporer]

Stop nipotism, nipotism.

remember liberte egalite,
stop.
masons.

[Helene]

I completely agree with Dot King and Comeau-Montasse. Here in the UK it is so difficult to make people understand that in France 'a degree' (3 years at university, for them) isn't enough to land an office job, let alone an executive job... except when you're a daddy's boy! And Sarko's campaign was about change etc. Now French people have the worst of two worlds: 'gauche caviar' and moronic rich people who get their positions thanks to their connections.
Regarding Rolex watches, when I was at secondary school (private), I had 11-year old colleagues who sported such expensive watches. Indeed my half brother had one himself! I'm still wearing the cheap Casio my lovely godfather gave me nearly 20 years ago, nearly went beserk 1 year ago when I thought I had lost it!

[Daniel Strohl]

DOMINIQUE II,

J'en suis fort marri (enfin, en partie! :)

"say the Socialists who run both the city and the regional council" (CHARLES)

as well as 20 regions out of 22. In addition to a few mistuned notes (couacs :) in recent internal elections, the Socialists managed also among other things to keep "le preux baron de Septimanie demeurant en la bonne ville de Montpellier" in their ranks although the said elderly gentleman does apparently not comply fully :) with the stringent criteria of republican virtue heralded by our Socialist friends...

[azloon]

As Chicago Mayor Richard Daley (the First) once said, when questioned about putting family and friends on the payroll (I heard him say this in person):

"So who do you expect me to appoint? Total strangers?"

[ced]

The second son of Sarkozy being appointed in such manner is too big to be forgotten by the people and political opponents.
I wonder about his other son, the one who is a rap music producer, will he become culture minister?

[Romain]

Meanwhile, Dati tallies her bananas in Brussels :

http://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2009/10/11/01002-20091011ARTFIG00090-conflit-d-interets-dati-cree-la-polemique-a-bruxelles-.php

[Rick]

Toujours dans le mois de brumaire..... [RICHARD JONES]

...voit-on surgir du tréfonds obscur ‘un gent damoiseau’ qu’on appellera l’Aiglon ou – mieux encore – Jean de Sarko…

[Johnny Foreigner]

Regarding the comments about French degrees, and although I agree that Jean-y Sarko should be put in charge of this, it reminds me of my time before I chose the bucolic rural French muse as a lifestyle. When I was a manager in the UK I often had trouble explaining to my French staff why I would rather employ someone with 5 years' experience and no degree to a young graduate. They always acted as if they had a right to a better paid grade than their less-qualified colleagues. Incidentally I'm talking about scientist jobs in a lab, not shelf-stackers at at Tesco.

Didn't seem to understand my argument of "Er, I'd rather employ someone who actually knows what they are doing"

As I said, doesn't apply in EPAD and in any case such talk would land you in the employment tribunal in the UK. No discrimination on age is allowed, so you have to guess if they will be any good from the interview. Any attempt to determne the candidate's age will land you in hot water.

[Johnny Foreigner]

oops, I meant JS should NOT be put in charge!

[Rick]

SCARLETT, you wrote such good sense and concluded:

‘During tough economic times, the reaction of the street could eventually be daring, to say the least. Social unrest looks like a tradition since at least 1789 - after all, the principle of a revolution is that it never ends, does it?’

Andrew Knapp and Vincent Wright in ‘The Government and Politics of France’ (2001) identify a ‘domination-crisis’ model:
‘French political culture is characterised by both “limited authoritarianism” and “potential insurrection against authority”, and the French oscillate between a normal servility towards authority and sporadic rebellions against it. Closely associated with this idea is the Toquevillian view . . . that “France is a profoundly conservative country which dreams of revolution but rejects reform”.’

Perhaps, rather than a possibly bold ‘the reaction of the street’ you should dare to contemplate the Revolution-that-wasn’t, even the ‘grand béguin’ that ended ere it began:

‘Does Bonaparte break the surface again as Napoleon or is it simply Napoleon disguising himself in Bonaparte, in order to remain Napoleon?’ [Dominique de Villepin, writing of the leading actor of ‘The Hundred Days’ in ‘Les Cent-Jours’]

[PARITOLOG]

in order to summarize this political
dad-to-son miracle, I propose this
nickname : SPERMATOZY

[Ava]

Disgusting - horrifying.. these are some words that come to my mind when reading of what is happening in France. Seems to me - as a Scandinavian citizen - as a dictatorship had won in the country of liberte, egalite, fraternite!

And the spouse of the President of the Republic is defending a child molester and abuser! Sick - so sick!

Is this some conspiracy to ruin one of the greatest country in the world?

[Julio]

I tried to check what "Le Figaro" was thinking of it and what crazy justification they would think of.

To no avail.

But I'm glad to report that Miley Cirus video is an internet sensation.

Ca va leur péter à la gueule ...

[Dominique II]

DANIEL that you choose to attempt a diversion speaks volumes on your true feelings.

The Georges Frêche affair at least shows one thing: there is still a party in France which cares for virtue, if not to the full extent of practicing it, at least to that of attempting to hide its own assaults on it... modesty is the first step towards true virtue, and the current surge of nepotism and buddyism in the ruling non-elite is the exact reverse.

[do-re-mi]

Chill,

It's not a Banana République.
Quand on a un fruit sec on le case ou on peut, comme dit ma mère.

[miz]

A sex tourist called Fréderic MITTERAND, wrote in 2005 about Thailand brothel : «kids withdraw only crumbs, drugs wreaks havoc and enchain them [..] All these rituals of the slaves market excite me a lot [. .] I am pleased beyond reason. The abundance of very attractive boys, and immediately available, puts me in a state of desire that I no longer need to curb or conceal» This author is in fact the French Minister of Culture. Well pedophilia is apparently now legal and encouraged by France, a very strange country since French gouvernement became crazy

[TomTom]

I know for a fact that, even though nepotism has always been important in France, and even though politician concerns often trumped merit alone as soon as charges were somewhat important, things have gotten much worse with Sarkozy's authoritarian ways.

It's important to note that it's the popular reaction, in this case as in the Polanski affair, that lead to the current scandal. French newspapers and politicians didn't care much : the foreign press was quicker and louder to react than the national one. Why? The opposition is dead. Newspapers and TV channels are owned by Sarkozy's friends Bouygues, Lagardère, etc.

Sarkozy is on par with Berlusconi.

[pasdenomcateregardepas]

clearstream is the heart of finacial paradise used by france in corruption, at a time where sarko says, afeter G20, it's all over while he's prince of Andorre wich didn't change anything yet about their financials pratices...so
as a french (with a bad english sorry) i think this kind of leaders is just mafia

maybe some heads gonna be cut again

[pasdenomcateregardepas]

can some one free us, stupids frogs??

[richard jones]

TO RICK,
Absolutely old boy, brumaire again!

[rocket]

Pierre

"independent French medias"

That's an oxymoron if ever I heard one

[isabelle]

Je vous écris de france où il n'y a plus de liberté, plus d'égalité et plus de fraternité, il ne reste qu'un peuple qui semble anesthésié comme celui du chateau de la belle au bois dormant, mais de quel preux chevalier viendra le secours ? Qui saura reveiller ces millions qui cauchemardent sans répit ?

[Jean-Louis de Gaëtan]

in France, young people faced with scolarship failure all have equally the right to get helped, no matter their family name.

[John]

What's the difference between a french republic and a banana republic?

You cannot grow bananas in france.

[Pierre]

When I wrote yesterday that international medias now had to take on the issue to put real pressure, I was a few hours from being pleased, even Le Figaro reports.And, à tout seigneur tout honneur, C.B is duly quoted.

http://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2009/10/12/01002-20091012ARTFIG00445-l-affaire-jean-sarkozy-epinglee-a-l-etranger-.php

Fabius commented with quite an unusual and well thought "cold" irony this morning on France Inter.

http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/depeches/societe/20091012.FAP7725/laurent_fabius_ironise_sur_larrivee_possible_de_jean_sa.html

[Juliette]

As a young graduate in Science-Po who struggled to get internships because I apparently didn't have enough degrees for them, who went from a summer job to the other, who was active in local politics and university councils, I take this as a giant slap in the face. I'm also thinking of applying for the job. I'm quite more qualified than him.

[Francois D]

Charles, you have probably seen in Le Monde that they write about you..
Very well, all politicians here read Le Monde.

http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2009/10/12/la-presse-etrangere-raille-sarko-junior-et-la-republique-bananiere-francaise_1252912_823448.html#ens_id=1052464

Effectively that's nepotism.

[A. A.]

I'm studying Law in the same university as Jean Sarkozy and I can confess that he's having a distance learning in Sorbonne.
I'd also like asking the journalist whether his repeating year is about 2008-2009 course or 2009-2010.

Thanks.

[Thierry]

In France, everybody is laughing about that

[Dom]

Shame on France, thanks to Sarkozy !

[Jean Pommy]

Oh no !!!

The brits are going to make fun of us.

Again.

(at least we still have the labour to joke at.. sigh.)

[Fred]

I want to change my name into "Jean Sarkozy". I'm 37 yo, almost ten years in the public sector as a project manager. I have invested the two last years to pass a MBA (evening classes)... And I can't find a new job. So now could you just imagine what positon I would have if my name was Jean Sarkozy ??

[Toinou]

"What's the difference between a french republic and a banana republic?

You cannot grow bananas in france".

Sad but true, but maybe in a few years, thanks to global warming... Who knows ? Thanks anyway to worlwide newspapers and journalists for talking about the Sarkozy dynasty : please go on speaking out loud about it all !

[richard jones]

TO JULIETTE,

Why doesn't every graduate in France seeking a job apply?

[asimov]

I am ashamed to be French !

[Walid.E]

This article is amazing! I like it. I know the situation in France because I am French. We are in a really stupid case. Personally I love my country but I hate the Governement wich obeys to th King's oders.(When I talk the King it is Sarkozy of course)

[Thomas]

There's one special thing that makes the masses compliant : France has been so enamoured with its own "decline" (perceived, usually based on fallacies ie the Franch are not productive enough, which is a lie) that it turned it into a quack science, declinology. Bringing to numerous book contracts for this "French exception" that those who slams "French exception" never denounced. For ten years, we heard the mantra that We Are Bad, the French are the drecks of humanity, whatever they do is doomed, the country is done and never was great to begin with, the rest of Europe is BETTER and basically, that's all we deserve. After ten years of such propaganda, yes, the masses who kept hearing how they are the Untermensch of our times are discouraged. Add to this that immigrants are supposed to adhere to the "values of the country" that the locals gleefuly trample endlessly. Besides, if you rule a country which is doomed to fail, well all you can do is grab what you can and run, since it's BAD to begin with.
Divenda ut regnare ! Works all the time. It's all someone's fault, take your pic : public servants, unemployed, the young, the old, the big bad intellectuals… Take your pick, the supermarket of hate is alwys open !

[Dominique II]

JOHN you might know that in its initial meaning, a "banana republic" is not a country where benign nepotism and corruption carry the day in some folkloric environment; it's one where the central government is wholly sold out to a foreign power, in a conspiracy with foreign private interests to exploit the local workforce. The name itself was coined after the Central American countries which were sucked dry by such philanthropists as United Fruit (but sugar or rubber also were favourites of that kind of investor). Most plantation hands had a simple choice - to starve to death or be mowed down by machine gun fire. How convenient to forget this, a vivid memory in these countries, and call France a banana republic, when at this stage it is only yet another country being ransacked by a local family gang.

[Dominique II]

JULIETTE what a tremendous idea. Forget about that wishy-washy petition - obtain legit application forms and circulate them on the net. I'm sure ninety percent of the posters on this blog are about one hundred percent better qualified, by degree and experience, than the new kid on the block.

[Alain Lafon]

Positivement écoeurant, au-delà du soutenable. Un tel mépris de caste et une telle servilité des obligés du "prince" n'annonce malheureusement rien de bon au pays de la Liberté, de l'Egalité et de la Fraternité.
The perfect Iago you depicted a few years ago, a "engendré" une progéniture prometteuse.

[L'Inuit]

A Russian colleague told me today that it was astonishing, even by Russian standards...

[rocket]

Dom2

"it's one where the central government is wholly sold out to a foreign power, in a conspiracy with foreign private interests to exploit the local workforce."

How about an Italian turned French heiress for your foreign power.

[styx]

Yes, I can see the resemblance between the son and Carla Bruni...

[claudine]

What does the French republic hold in common with the African states of Gabon, Senegal, the democratic Republic of Congo and various central Asian Republics?....They are turning to unconstitutional monarchies...

[Ezra]

Soo long,
Farewell,
Now it's time to say goodybe
To the old Republic of France with the free press and media. Sarkozy is copying the model introduced by Berlusconi.

Thank you Mr. Brenner as none of the French press has raised this alarming news anywhere on their sites.

So long and Farewell!

[keith]

Its a shame. Sarkozy started well but power seems to have gone to his head. His initial ideas to help business were sound. Now he just seems to be interested in power either through nepotism or by bullying the EU leaders to move to a federal Europe.

[Arturo Ui]

British citizens have to understand that is a very bad news for everybody. Whe ar'nt talking about Berlusconi but about the first market place in Europe, a large part of the benefits in France. It mean, many money, more again, english money too, will be dispent without economic interest.
Nicolas Sarkozy, when he was 28 year old, was elected as major of Neuilly, where the inhabitants are quiet involved in the "system", to deputize at this fonction a man who was the driver of the general Degaulle! Why him? because, he was new man, enterely made by the party. Then he was elected as chief administrator of the Defense. Today, same script.
Everybody in France is laughing about the transparency program for nepotism. But it is realy very bad news for everybody on the continent and in the islands, a symptom of regress.

[Bob]

Something is happening in France. For those of you who speak French, go and have a look at the reader's comments in Le Figaro.

Le Figaro is the main French right wing newspapers. Its readers are supposed to be the hardcore supporters of the president and the UMP.

Remember 2002...

[richard jones]

TO JULIETTE,

Why isn't every young graduate who seeking a job applying to run ERPAD?

[Sigaud]

To my knowledge Eva Joly left her charge for a more rewarding one without conducting many embarassing cases to their end....

[coline]

Thank you Mr. Bremmer.

[Rosbif]

With Sarko junior’s meteoric ascension thanks to papa, methinks Sarko senior has just lost himself his 2012 re-election.

[Daniel Strohl]

BOB,

"Its readers are supposed to be the hardcore supporters"

However, since we are (still :) in a free country, and the access to Le Figaro's site is (still :) free, many of Le Figaro's reader letters are written by hard core leftists or moderate leftists, already for a long time. Of course, most of them are unsigned - on ne sait jamais :).

It doesn't look like as if they were censored by the Figaro editorial staff, ces suppôts du capitalisme et maintenant des visées dynastiques de notre président :).

On the contrary, to be authorised to write reader letters to be published on Le Monde's site, you have to be a subscriber to Le Monde. This is called "liberté de la presse" - filtering out of most politically non-kosher reader letters :).

PS:

For our foreign friends: the august Le Monde has the reputation to be the paper of the left wing intelligentsia. When money is in play, "Socialists" (Hey, Don :) are not any better than capitalists or even modest UMP members (which BTW I am not :).

[Gill]

Having read the articles in Le Figaro and Le Monde posted by Pierre et Francois D, I was struck by the fact that neither journal offered their own opinions on the matter but composed their articles on the basis of reporting the comments and criticisms in the foreign press. A neat way of getting round their normal reticence on directly criticising Dear Leader.

As I am in England at the moment I haven't been able to watch out for any television coverage. I haven't seen anything on the internet sites of the main channels. Can anyone tell me if this is being reported or debated on any of the main television channels? Most people I know in France get their news from television (the newsagent in our nearest town in France stocks only a few copies of Le Figaro and Le Monde and the local newspapers have very little news coverage).

[dot king]

Excuse me, but you can grow bananas in France, plenty of banana trees around (I can supply photos if necessary) - they produce little fruits, but they don't come to much and are inedible . . .

[dot king]

"obeys to th King's oders.(When I talk the King it is Sarkozy of course)"

WALID E

Well thank goodness for that - :)

[Dan Dx]

Usually, the French don't give a damn about what the US or UK's press tells about them or about French politics.
Most of them don't read English, and when they are told about those stories, at the very worst, it makes them laugh!
But in that specific case, you've created the big buzz in the French medias, Charles!
Let's go on! Wake them up!

[dot king]

"It doesn't look like as if"

DANIEL S

Hhhhhaaww, not AGAIN . . . ;)

[Jb vargas]

Hi,
I'm feeling sad, my country is sick, we got a new Emperor Mr Sarkozy, France didn't have the same face since he came to manage the country.

We are not at all proud to have this tiny president, and I'm not alone in this case ... Sorry for his arrogance against the world ...
A french citizen desperate ... and waiting for 2012 !

[quidam]

Hi,

I'm French but... Yeah, I know...

Thank you, Mr President, to make me ashamed of who I am.

[FC]

ROSBIF "Sarko senior has just lost himself his 2012 re-election"

that supposes that the opposition get their act together by 2012... wouldn't hold my breath...

[Mauvezin]

Le nepotisme est la forme la plus achevée de l'excellence en matière de gouvernement.
L'illustration la plus éclatante en est la réussite deux fois millénaire de l'Eglise Catholique dont la France est Fille Ainée.

[Mauvezin]

@ Rick
"...Does Bonaparte break the surface again as Napoleon or is it simply Napoleon disguising himself in Bonaparte..."
*****************************
AMHA N Sarkozy serait plutot de l'étoffe d'un Concini...ou pour etre plus aimable d'un Mazarini (la finesse en moins).

[Lex Stevens]

"Why isn't every young graduate who seeking a job applying to run ERPAD?" - Richard Jones

Because they don't "know all the issues."

[Rosbif]

@FC

"that supposes that the opposition get their act together by 2012... wouldn't hold my breath..."

Unless the UMP does a "Brutus" on him...

Did someone mention François Fillon?

[Rosbif]

France DOES grow bananas:

http://www.bananeguadeloupemartinique.com/

[francois]

Serieusement, ou et quand cela va t-il stopper ? Il est grand tremps de s'inquieter de l'inacceptable comportement de nos "élites", au niveau europeen - vivant en Irlande on a notre lot de débiles politiques sur place, a croire qu'une compet européenne est en cours - dont le seul but est d'assurer leur arrieres. Et si on commencait par dire STOP et sanctionner ces minables ? a nous de reagir.

[Simone D. Vest]

It's interesting how little things change... Years ago my father used to rail about "les fils a papa" getting the jobs due to "le piston qui fait marcher la machine."

[yyba]

History confirms age is no measure of genius. Jean BEFORE his father, was the first European to recognize, the strategic value to France and Europe, of using the NEW economic paradigm model, for achieving sustainable growth for France, the EU and al...so in the G-20, ONLY when based upon its NEW model, when first focused on the development of its world class Global Technologic Infrastructure-GTI. Since it can and will properly be used to generate tens of millions of "platform ready" JOBS for France and the EU and eventually the G-20; this "Barack Who" attitude, is precisely what France and the EU need NOW, and sorely. I vote he gets the job!!! Tky, YYBA
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[johny]

I suppose President Sarkozy appointment of his son to this post, was a strategic move, to draw media attention away from Culture Supremo "Fredo'' and his rent boy tourist escapades in Thailand.

[inigo]

It's not only the French who practice nepotism. Just look at the families of Blair ( daughter with plum job in "admin" at the House of Commons) and Kinnock whose whole family, sons, daughter and their spouses are living the life of Riley on our taxes in Europe posts or in Moscow for the British Council.

[Rick]

MAUVEZIN, et Madame Consini que l’on accusait d’entretenir des rapports avec le Malin… eh oui, en effet, un peu comme la Bruni avec monsieur Clapt-out.

[Daniel Strohl]

Re: népotisme

Ma femme a dit ce matin que si on lui donnait à choisir entre le jeune Sarkozy et le godelureau généralement mal rasé (Julliard :) qui a dirigé pendant quelques années le syndicat des étudiants UNEF, son choix se porterait sans aucune hésitation sur Jean Sarkozy (surtout depuis qu'il a rectifié sa coiffure - mais même avant, il était mignon, dixit ma femme :).

D'après ce que nous comprenons, aucun de ces deux jeunes gens ne s'est révélé être un foudre de guerre en termes d’études.

Cependant, Julliard a apparemment hérité d'un bon job à la mairie de Paris - nous présumons que ce n'est pas à cause du nombre et de la qualité de ses peaux d'âne :).

Plus sérieusement, ce jeune homme, avec bien sûr l’aide d’autres personnes de son acabit, a réussi à faire dépenser en pure perte des centaines de millions d'euros à notre éducation nationale, en organisant des grèves récurrentes pour un résultat plus que discutable. Pour l’instant, en termes de coûts pour l’économie, Jean Sarkozy ne lui arrive pas à la cheville…

Conclusion: si népotisme ou favoritisme il y a, l’exemple ci-dessus tend à montrer qu’il est assez bien distribué dans nos diverses factions politiques...

[Valentin]

(surtout depuis qu'il a rectifié sa coiffure - mais même avant, il était mignon, dixit ma femme :)

You sound more and more like Lt. Columbo, Daniel :) I just hope your quotations are more genuine than the ruffled-coat detective's !!

[anthony]

Not speaking of the real reason otherwise amazing that a 2nd year 23 year old uni student in law, gets this post!
I voted for Sarkozy as the Socialist candidate alternative was such a wipeout, but now regret having done so!

[Francois D]

"Banana republic', term used to describe Sarko Epad situation issued from this promotion, is now used by medias both written and televised. Thank you Charles: you have been very inspired by this couple of friends.
I should used lemon (more acid than orange) rather than banana because this fruit grows around mediterranean. We are in a clanic system: it's on this ground that grows Mafia.
I have no mood to joke about global warming and contamination to the north of this type of behavior.

A little one nonetheless:

http://www.lepost.fr/article/2009/10/12/1738460_jean-sarkozy-et-si-l-entretien-d-embauche-s-etait-passe-comme-ca.html

[Daniel Strohl]

VALENTIN,

Vous avez l'étoffe d'un bon détective :)

PS: the quotations are genuine! :)

[Lex Stevens]

"de la qualité de ses peaux d'âne" -- Daniel Strohl

Okay, I can't get my head around that idiom. Help, please.

[Romain]

Daniel,

Finalement, il y a une certaine continuité : n'est-ce sous la Mitte que le slogan "Touche pas à mon népote" est né ? De surcroît, notre billion$ young ladd est soutenu par Julien Dray, l'horloger de Solférino. La boucle est bouclée.

[John]

Dear DOT KING, banana trees do not exists, they are PLANTS.

[do-re-mi]

Got lectured few blogs backs on the Banana Republic term by Dominique II

It's just family business, if he was in the car business he would wreck your car. Be happy his father is not a doctor, the effects of his son's incompetence would be more immediate.

It's sad in a way for his son, who is forced by his father to follow his footsteps to please him even if he doesn't want to. He is not able to fail and create his own life.
He is taller and more handsome than daddy in the way that well pampered the fils de la haute are. His father will be able to live through him. Having Balkany, the well known kleptomaniac, as your fairy-godmother is quite a curse.

That the non-socialists here bang on about the "certain" socialists do the same is no doubt true, but Sarkosi got elected on a " break from the past". Who ever believe that, coming from a guy like him who is the French system, must have been in love. And love is a sweet form of madness, but sometimes after you bump uglies, some guys treat you like dirt and go back to their old ways.

[John O'D]

You couldn't make this up but a straight-faced Sarko senior came out with this yesterday :
'désormais ce qui compte en France pour réussir ce n'est plus d'être "bien né", c'est d'avoir travaillé dur et d'avoir fait la preuve, par ses études de la valeur'"

[rocket]

So we've got another affair. Like the last one, it will last until the weekend. The President will deem the affaire "over" and that will be it until the next one.

If this is Wednesday who in the President's entourage is the victim today?

Serious lack of ethics here