Last week in Toulouse, France's pocket president consoled victims, defied hatred and unified faiths. Now, he wants votes
There was shock and disbelief in a fair few households in London on Sunday evening, when an unexpected missive landed in 100,000-odd inboxes: "Merde!" said a French person of my acquaintance – "I've had an email from Nicolas Sarkozy."
With most polls naming his Socialist rival, François Hollande, as the clear winner in both rounds of the upcoming elections, the pocket president has clearly decided he needs every vote he can get.
Part of a mailshot to French voters living abroad, the "informative email … authorised by Article L330-4 of the Electoral Code" was sent to the 105,000 French citizens who are registered with the consulate in London (which is maybe a third of those who actually live here).
"France is a great democracy that will not give ground before any threat," it was titled, before going on to explain, in considerable detail, just how exemplary had been the president's handling of last week's tragic events in Toulouse.
"As you know," it said, "I immediately interrupted my electoral campaign to fully assume my duties as President of the Republic and commander-in-chief. I went the same day to Toulouse to be at the victims' side … and give the police the firmest possible instructions to identify and find the author of these monstrous acts."
Crisis duly resolved – thanks, in large part, to his efforts – Sarkozy then "brought together representatives of the Jewish and Muslim faiths in national unity". He organised "a minute's silence in memory of these martyred children", and took "drastic measures against the propagators of hatred and violence".
Now, though, "the electoral campaign has reasserted itself. My dear friends, one month remains. Help me to construct 'la France forte', and to carry through our ideas, our values, our ideal. I need you."
Some, of course, might say that a cruder example of trying to make political capital out of a national drama is difficult to imagine. Others might retort that subtlety has never really been Sarkozy's strong suit.
Either way, the worst of it – according to the French person of my acquaintance – is that "you can't even reply and tell him what you think of him. You just get a mail back saying, 'Delivery failed permanently: your message has been rejected by the recipient.'"
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/french-election-blog-2012/2012/mar/27/london-sarkozy-french-expats
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