Sarkozy seeks help from Blair
The Observer 25/06/06
"In an effort to salvage his bid for the presidency from the chaos of
France's centre-right government, Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy has met
Tony Blair twice in the past few weeks for advice, The Observer can reveal.
The overture is likely to be regarded with deep suspicion by many Frenchmen,
who see Blair as the epitome of the detested free-market 'Anglo-Saxon' model.
The unofficial meetings, covering both policy and campaign advice, have taken
place despite calls from President Jacques Chirac for them to stop. Chirac is
opposed to Sarkozy becoming the centre-right's 2007 candidate for
President.
The most recent encounter was last weekend when Sarkozy was on a private
visit to London to mark his reconciliation with his wife, Cecilia. Officially,
he laid a wreath at Charles de Gaulle's statue in Covent Garden and met only
Home Secretary John Reid. In fact, as one of Sarkozy's aides confirmed
yesterday, France's most ruthlessly ambitious politician also met Blair. The
aide, Gerard Longuet, said that comments made by Blair during their meeting had
'inspired' a keynote speech by Sarkozy to his Union Pour Un Mouvement
Populaire..."
"...The revelation of the close relationship between the Prime Minister and
Sarkozy comes at a difficult time in the minister's campaign to succeed Chirac.
Though the socialist party will not choose its candidate until November, the
popular Segolene Royal - who has also expressed admiration for Blair - is
neck-and-neck with Sarkozy in opinion polls. While needing to carve out a clear
campaign in the face of competition from Royal, Sarkozy needs to distance
himself from the unpopular incumbent government of which he is part..."
"...In spring 2004, when he was finance minister, Sarkozy made his first
request for a head-to-head with Blair. The Elysee Palace was not keen, but it
is believed that Peter Mandelson intervened and a meeting was arranged for 25
May. Last October they met privately at a hotel in London, after the Elysee had
asked Downing Street to turn down a request for an official encounter.
Most tellingly, Sarkozy's campaign team - 'The Firm' - has drawn direct
inspiration from the Blairite spin tradition. According to Le Monde journalist
Philippe Ridet, 'La Firme Nicolas' is a crack team of thirtysomething
workaholic men, with the latest mobile phones, Ralph Lauren suits and an
image-building obsession that stops at nothing: 'It's a political style we have
never seen in France before.' "
