June 25, 2004
SWIMMING WITH SARKO:
Chirac's offer to Sarkozy: A poisoned chalice? (Katrin Bennhold, June 25, 2004, International Herald Tribune)
In the latest chapter of the simmering power struggle between France's two most closely watched politicians, President Jacques Chirac told his finance minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, that he was free to seek the presidency of the ruling party, traditionally seen as paving the way to the presidency.The catch: Sarkozy has to give up his ministerial duties, according to sources close to Chirac.
It is yet another poisoned chalice dangling in front of Sarkozy, France's most popular minister, political experts said Thursday.
The proposal leaves the 49-year- old Sarkozy with a dilemma: quit his job at the Finance Ministry after barely three months, giving the impression that he puts his career before his country, or stay put and forgo the full-blown support of the financing and campaign machine that is the Union for a Popular Movement, or UMP, ahead of the next presidential election in 2007.
"This is very clever maneuvering," said Brice Teinturier, director of political studies at the Paris-based Sofres Institute. "Given how popular Sarkozy is, it would be very difficult for Chirac to oppose his candidacy, so he is trying to stifle his ambitions without saying it."
Why not just say you can do both and make Chirac fire you if he disagrees? Posted by Orrin Judd at June 25, 2004 1:23 PM
Why not just say you can do both and make Chirac fire you if he disagrees?
Because Chirac controls the UMP, and if Sarkozy doesn't leave but tries to run, Chirac will deny him "the full-blown support of the financing and campaign machine"? Then Sarkozy has no position and no official support from his party.
Posted by: PapayaSF at June 25, 2004 2:29 PMWhy's that bad?
Posted by: oj at June 25, 2004 3:06 PMWell, if he wants to run for president, not having a current office and not having the support of his party are both pretty much negatives, right? What am I missing here?
Posted by: PapayaSF at June 25, 2004 4:48 PMIsn't a little naive to think Chirac will give him the support of the party after he's quit? Sarkozy isn't going to trust Chirac any farther than Colin Powell now will.
Posted by: pj at June 25, 2004 4:56 PMBut being the most popular guy in the party is not the same thing as being in control of the party....
Posted by: PapayaSF at June 25, 2004 7:01 PMThe former has a funny way of becoming the latter, especially in a parliamentary system. The rank and file can lose behind Chirac or win with Sarko.
Posted by: oj at June 25, 2004 7:48 PMPerhaps, but as I'm sure you'll admit, the history of such bureaucratic/intra-party maneuvering shows there's nothing certain or neat about the process. The Old Guard doesn't always take the gracious or intelligent course.
Posted by: PapayaSF at June 25, 2004 8:46 PMDoesn't Chirac have to stay in office until he dies or else he'll go to jail for various corruption charges?
Posted by: brian at June 25, 2004 9:28 PM