France during the Sarkozy Years

France during the Sarkozy Years

“This fundamental difference is why people elected him in 2007 and why they rejected him in 2012. The French liked the unconventional candidate; they never liked the unconventional president. They had been accustomed to distant fatherly figures and instead they got France’s first president of the 21st century: pragmatic, proactive, transparent and media savvy.”

Sarkozy’s achievements

• Liberation of Bulgarian nurses (July 2007)• Liberation of Ingrid Betancourt (July 2008)

Sarkozy’s achievements

• French presidency of EU (July-Dec 2008)

Sarkozy’s achievements

• Minimum service during public sector strikes (Aug 2007)

Sarkozy’s achievements

• Le Grenelle de l’environnement (Oct 2007)

Sarkozy’s mistakes

• President for the rich?

Sarkozy’s mistakes

• From Cécilia to Carla in 3½ months

Sarkozy’s mistakes

• At the Salon de l’Agriculture (Feb. 2008)

La crise…

L’affaire Jean Sarkozy (Oct. 2009)

L’affaire Woerth-Bettencourt (2010)

L’affaire DSK (2011)

The Front National

Jean-Marie Le Pen: 10% in 2007 Marine Le Pen: 18% in 2012

“La laïcité positive”