Sarkozy to use live TV interview to rally support for new cabinet

Tue, 16 Nov 2010

Paris - President Nicolas Sarkozy was set to canvass support for his reshuffled cabinet Tuesday evening, in a live television interview which will set the direction for his remaining 18 months in office.

In the 90 minute interview to be carried on all major French networks Sarkozy will discuss his cabinet rejig, recent pension reforms and his ambitions for the country's G20 presidency, presidential spokesman Franck Louvrier said.

Sarkozy revamped his team on Sunday in order to prepare the ground for his re-election bid in 2012.

The new line-up allowed the president, whom opinion polls show as deeply unpopular, to rid his team of some ministers whose presence had become problematic and recall some old hands.

Sarkozy is expected to outline his priorities for the remainder of his mandate in the interview.

He has declared he wants to reform taxes, including possibly repealing tax cuts for the wealthy.

He also has yet to tackle a few elements of his justice reform program.

These include reforming controversial rules on police detention, for which France has been slammed by the European Court of Human Rights. Parliament is soon to debate a bill on the issue.

Sarkozy has abandoned one element of the reforms, however: he no longer plans to scrap independent investigative judges.

Elderly care is another area singled out for change.

The government wants the elderly to remain at home longer to save costs.

Analysts have said he is unlikely to do more than launch a debate on the subject at this point, and defer any reforms until after 2012.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/353823,rally-support-new-cabinet.html.