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With opposition to his program widening, Sarkozy used a speech Tuesday to French mayors to reiterate his determination to pursue the contested reforms, yet vowed "There will be neither winners nor losers." That wasn't the kind of active engagement many pundits expected in the current showdown with unions. Even his conservative backers and resisting union leaders seemed anxious for Sarkozy to become personally involved in resolving the conflict. But it's still unclear when that will happen. With Sarkozy's personal involvement as arbiter viewed as decisive in brokering a solution, his rather predictable comments Tuesday suggest...
Sarkozy's record of total involvement in running French affairs - and the critical importance that victory in the current conflict is to his wider reformist and presidential regime - leave no doubt the President will eventually wade in with his usual high profile. But some observers believe that inevitability is why Sarkozy has opted for the strategically unexpected furtive approach. "He's made the non-negotiable essentials of this reform clear to everyone, so now he's probably letting unions and government officials lock horns until he sees the opportunity to step in and break the loggerheads with mutually acceptable compromise...
During his first six months in office, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has repeatedly shown his talents as a captivating performer on the world stage. In addition to that flair for dramatics, Sarkozy is now proving he also possesses an essential skill of a rock star: the late arrival on stage designed to agonize audiences with anticipation and longing...
...strike-weary French commuters head into their second week of minimal public transportation, many of them ask why the previously omnipresent Sarkozy has gone missing in this critical moment of his presidency. "He's quite simply waiting for the right time to step in," said Elysée spokesman David Martinon in response to questions about Sarkozy's delay in wading into a conflict that depends on his action...
Keeping his distance has other strategic value for the French President. "Should this become a Thatcherian struggle with unions for survival, Sarkozy's position above the fray will allow him to appeal directly to the public for it to choose sides - meaning his," Mistral says. "By resurfacing as things really get tough, he's in a better position to make a convincing appeal that he'll now try to over come union defiance - but will need demonstrative backing of the public...