What a Week for President Nicolas Sarkozy

It’s not every week when the head of a major EU country can withstand the halt of much of the country’s transport and have the residents of France more concerned with the dissolution of the President’s marriage, rather than cursing not be able to get from here to there. If it were a question of timing, the announcement couldn’t have been made on a more propitious day.  The French public was riveted by the news that President Sarkozy and his beautiful wife, former model, 49-year-old Cécilia had called it a day. Each has two children by previous marriages and the two have a 10-year-old son. Even though jurists surmise the couple had appeared before the "Court of Reconciliation," they may or may not already have a formal divorce. But it’s only a matter of days and signing a few official papers.  Both members of the couple have been reputed to have other liaisons. But isn’t that ever so French?  And as was the case during the John Kennedy era, the French press rarely discusses politicians’ private lives.  Contrasted with the US public, the French don’t eat gossip for breakfast. Yes, there are glossy hot-off-the-presses magazines but they’re relatively few and considerably more cerebral than the ones you’ll find at the grocery checkout counters in any small town or city in the States.  What’s surprising is the French public doesn’t much care if its President is married or not. "It’s his business," most say. Plus, the couple had been having obvious differences of opi nion (including whether or not Cécilia should be at her husband’s side) when the couple was invited to join the W Bushes for a picnic at Walker’s Point, the seaside home of former President George Bush in Kennebunkport, Maine.  Much to my amazement, the French were more offended that Cécilia was a no-show than many in the US. Numerous French voiced that it was bad taste for the First Lady to be photographed out shopping the day before and after the official meeting. And such is life in France between couples.  The strike went on – but the French are used to them and even though they complain, they’re taken in stride. While the public was struggling with the traffic, Sarkozy jetted off for three days of official meetings in Morocco. Even if he’d stayed in Paris, dollars to doughnuts that he wouldn’t have to fight the miles of vehicles being back-upped. Power has it perks.  What is causing a huge outcry is that the French government is (more than) considering asking visa applicants to take DNA tests in order to affirm that they are bonefide relatives of people already living in the country. Nicolas Sarkozy was elected President of France in 2007, taking office on 16 May 2007. Among his campaign issues were immigration reform, jobs, law and order, and French national identity.  Ministry of Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Co-development, Brice Hortefeux, is championing the above reform, as it’s his job. On September 19th, 2007, the French National Assembly adopted a draft of an immigration law that allows performing DNA tests on candidates applying for a more than 3-month visa in order to join existing family members. The law was referred to the Senate on October 2, 2007.  A parliamentary commission has approved the amendment despite opposition from Socialists who call it discriminatory. The amendment fuels numerous associations and unions that contest this immigration bill, which will toughen visa requirements for those who want to come to France; many of the applicants who are from former African colonies. In addition, this law has incensed many Jews who remember all too well the last World War.  Many scientific researchers are adamantly against using science and DNA genetic screening as a means of discrimination. As an interim measure, the French government has conceded to paying for the testing if the applicant so desires. But, there are many of this government being Fascist and graffiti is visible throughout France. The dissolution of a marriage is one thing. Politics are quite another when it comes to people’s survival and wanting better lives. Just ask the US’s Mexican neighbors. © Paris New Media, LLC [email protected]