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”