When Sarko’s faithful prefer Tony Blair
The parliamentary members of Sarkozy’s UMP party were delighted last week by Tony Blair’s relaxed manner of speaking, and by his sense of humour – both of which, many noted, contrast strongly with their own master’s constantly jabbing forefinger and aggressive neck thrusts worthy of a bad actor on The Bill. Blair caused great merriment when he admitted that until he left 10 Downing Street he had never used a cell-phone – the French President is obsessed with showing everyone that his phone is busy all the time. Even during moments of great solemnity, such as signing contracts with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, Sarkozy was far more interested in making sure photographers saw him checking his messages. So feeble was Sarkozy’s reply to Blair (he seemed to think, for example, that the Battle of Austerlitz was against the English) that Valérie Pécresse, Sarkozy’s usually archi-loyal Minister of Higher Education, is quoted as saying: “Whoever wrote Sarko’s speech is going to get the chop, compared to Blair’s it was such rubbish.” I would imagine for allowing herself to be overheard saying that she’s another one who, come the re-shuffle, is up for the chop.