Sarko-analysis

Yesterday, Nicolas Sarkozy went center stage, grilled by four journalists, for a televised, 90 minute question and answer session addressing the current economic crisis. At first, we were a bit skeptical about a man portrayed by the media as more preoccupied by his rock-star status than by governance, but very quickly, faced with press representatives that were mediocre both on economic matters and on interviewing skills, the man displayed a vast knowledge of the issues and didn’t hesitate to delve into their minutia. We believe that he had previous knowledge of the questions that would be asked, which might explain how deftly he dealt with them; like a talented ice skater he danced flawlessly around them. It’s undeniable that France’s president is a consummate populist with a penchant for demagoguery, but also someone who’s on top of what’s going on in his government, who’s also highly focused, organized and willing to work hard. Just like De Gaulle, Sarkozy is an autocrat; without a doubt, he is the kind of leader France really needs, especially in the absence of any real socialist opposition. He managed to answer all questions launched at him and with few exceptions didn’t attempt to evade the issues or get away with fuzzy answers. His intentions seemed very genuine and my only criticism is that Sarkozy comes across as a micro-manager as opposed to a statesman able to focus on the big picture (as he probably should) and capable of letting his lieutenants tackle the nitty-gritty of each issue. This said, I’d conclude that he’s a good leader for France. Now, how does he compare with Obama? That’s a particularly hard question because what’s facing France pales in comparison with what President Obama has on his plate. I think Barack Obama displays a superior intellect and a better hands-off approach to tackling the many thorny issues that are barreling towards him. In the US, and considering the makeup of our congress, Sarkozy wouldn’t stand a chance, but in France, his pragmatic and populist approach might suffice to produce results…
If you’ve seen the interview, or have something to say about Mr. Sarkozy, share your comments here...