the Government appeared for what it is i

Enough, Nicolas Sarkozy said that the economic crisis is born "a new world" for not being jostled to turn in its political foundations. The days to come to precede the social Summit were whistling winds of unreported disorder in the Elysee Palace. Visit the countries of the Gulf Caribbean gallop, appoint mediators as many screens to governmental impotence, back by small not and without say on the University, multiply promises to unions: the President of the Republic appeared to be on the defensive, tentative and sometimes even exceeded, as if the Sarkozy method was more fool-proof shield that she had been for almost seven years.

The Ministry of the Interior, at Bercy, in the presidential campaign since on national and international, the head of State has owed its success to the three ingredients of a recipe which has never wavered: surprise and act almost daily. be on the front line; and conduct several fronts. He well powered these three engines in recent weeks, but the three have been misfiring. With a curious result indeed, illustrated by the aftermath of the TV show from February 5: the French seem to expect from him that he keeps this posture of "Captain at the helm" with response to everything for which they elected him post-émission surveys have been positive but with a deep dissatisfaction on the effects to expect his popularity rating has plummeted then. A bit like if they continued to admire "the artist", but they doubted now responsible policy.

Nicolas Sarkozy has multiplied the initiatives to respond to the crisis and social expectations, but without the French seem to understand or remember much at all. "It is has had so many words of the President that this word is used;" "so open billion that people have lost their bearings", finds sociologist Denis Muzet. "The"quick action for rapid results"method is more appropriate to the situation", said Emmanuel River, TNS-Sofres. His desire to be always in the front line has also seen its limits, as he comes home from the idea, basically, the Government in somewhat. However, with the proliferation of fire (Antilles, research..), the Government appeared for what it is, i.e. too low as to regret to some relatives of the President that he had not conducted a true reshuffling early January. Normally, a Chair at the front is a Chair in the initiative; in times of crisis, it is a single President, who takes the shots. Any attempt to correct shooting may therefore appear late, even messy. François Fillon and his ministers have been invited to "anchor their shirt", the President's advisers are made more discrete. But the President also gave sense to disavow Yves Jégo (DOM TOM) by return of the West Indies, and Valérie Pécresse (higher education) asking him to review his order.

The last pillar of the Sarkozy method is even more problematic, because it is the quinquennium as a whole played there. The President always posed as a rule of conduct several reforms at a time, to fly to right and the opportunity to release the ballast on some accelerating on other. The problem is that the seriousness of the crisis prevents this time keep several reins in hand and leads, at the same time, to not be able to do otherwise. Responses of emergency crisis may weigh heavy on debt and deficits, hence the willingness of the President to "pursue reforms", including in public employment. A speech responsible over the medium term, but the French felt as extremely anxiety-provoking immediate, whereas unemployment flies. Nicolas Sarkozy is even less inclined to put the brake on the reforms that the only way for him to expect out of this period by the top is build on an economic recovery in a few months and then be able to demonstrate that the France is draws well with his action. If that were the case, the crisis would have at least had advantage of arrived in a good timing for Nicolas Sarkozy. "He will have had reverse agenda to that of Lionel Jospin, who started with a strong growth be overtaken by a slowdown... and fail the presidential," recalls Gaël Sliman, Deputy Director of BVA. Responding to emergencies while anticipating the coup after: the President has always known juggle these opposites. Unless the "crisis of the century", as he called it, makes this difficult task time.