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The Next Jackie O?
France's President Nicolas Sarkozy is reportedly set to wed his girlfriend Carla Bruni: According to some reports in the French press, they married at a "secret ceremony" in the Elysée Palace a week ago.
Much of the press, both in France and overseas, has criticised the President for his very public affair, while commentators have scorned Mme Bruni's colourful past and the President's apparent haste to marry her.
Here at EURSOC, however, we're going to stick our necks out and say that perhaps Sarko has made a wise choice: Ladies and gentlemen, we give you Carla Bruni, the World's Leading First Lady.
France's BSD
Quote of the day:
"I couldn't give a damn about people's commentaries.
"For 12 years they were used to having granny and grandpa [Jacques Chirac and his wife] at the Elysée.
"I have a new style. Everyone is going to have to adapt. Now the French have a real man at the Elysée who has balls and uses them."
Poodle Or Pit Bull?
Transport strikes first big test for President Sarkozy
At this moment, members of France's Communist-linked CGT trade union are marching on one of Paris' main boulevards in one of the biggest protests in five years. Public transport in the capital and throughout the country is at a standstill as the first major strike of Nicolas Sarkozy's Presidency takes grip.
The strikers are protesting against proposed reforms to their retirement benefits, which allow some transport workers to retire at fifty. Sarkozy's government wants to raise the retirement age in line with the private sector and public sector in other European nations. With a hefty parliamentary majority and a stunning personal success in the Presidential elections, he believes he has the mandate to reform France. The unions - increasingly anachronistic, with dwindling membership, but eager to stamp their authority on the new era - claim Sarkozy has misread France's mood.
French Paper "Announces" Sarkozy Split
The web edition of a French newspaper claims that Nicolas and Cécilia Sarkozy appeared before a judge on Monday afternoon to put into motion their separation and eventual divorce.
