The regional elections in France have revealed the disappointment of the French people with politicians and their promises. A large number of people simply stayed away from the polls; it reached about half the French people, or 48.9 percent. The voters who took part in the polls demonstrated to French President Nicholas Sarkozy, along with his ruling party (the UMP) that he failed to convince them of his policies and direction. It is true that the majority of the French people elected Sarkozy in 2007, because he succeeded in a skilled and convincing campaign. However, he quickly disappointed them in light of the global financial and economic crisis, which has prevented an improvement in the domestic situation, as he promised. Nevertheless, Sarkozy, with his style and personality, did not gain the support of his conservative people. The traditional image of a president in the minds of the average French citizen is quite different than Sarkozy's personality. The French are used to presidents who are calmer and less nervous than he is. The majority of the French people are conservative, and not used to the public display of their president's personal life. But the president began his term with a divorce that was the talk of the town, followed by another marriage to a beautiful former model and famous singer, who has become the talk of the town wherever he goes, even if this is not at his instigation. The French media has given the French people a new image of a president, who wants to be the leader who “breaks with the past,” on all levels. Sarkozy also has a sharp temperament, which appeared at the opening of an agricultural show, for example, when he cursed an opponent, or when he became angry at one of his aides. Sarkozy's style does not serve him, and the prime minister, Francois Fillon, has gained more popular than he did, because he is just the opposite of what Sarkozy is: cool, a listener and someone who pays attention to others, and to what they say. Sarkozy is also surrounded by officials who have experience and ability, such as the secretary general of the Presidency, Claude Gueant, who is widely respected wherever he goes, because he, in turn, has a personality that is different than that of the president. He is also one of his closest confidantes, but is distinguished by publicly-recognized moral and political qualities. The rise in unemployment and social injustice, along with the openness to the opposition by appointing Socialist ministers hurt Sarkozy in right-wing circles who support him. He then insisted on seeking revenge against the former prime minister, Dominique De Villepin, by influencing a state prosecutor's decision to appeal a lawsuit against him, after a judge in Paris declared his innocence, in a move, which in turn was not in the president's interest. Making a small Cabinet re-shuffle to satisfy some leaders on the right, while bringing in people close to de Villepin into the government, such as MP George Tron and Francois Baroin, is not enough. Sarkozy must now convince the moderate right in France, before it is too late, that he can go ahead with reforms that he has been unable to push through, such as the Retirement Law. In his campaign, he promised many reforms, which he said would change France, and that the break with his predecessors would let him carry out these promises. However, the financial crisis has not helped him, and neither have his personality, or his tendency to rush things, without taking his time before moving. He is known for not taking into account the opinion of the legislators of the majority and the ministers of his cabinet. Now, two years before the next presidential elections, Sarkozy must save the party of the majority, if he wants to return the presidency to the right in 2012. On Tuesday, he will be in the White House for a meeting with President Barack Obama, who scored a big domestic political victory in pushing through health care reform for the American people. Sarkozy will look forward to the meeting to gain international support for his position, which has been considerably weakened domestically. International moves have long served Sarkozy, as during the global financial crisis, when he played a large role in decisions of the G20, to reform the international financial system.
