Sarkozy running for French presidency (currently FRench Interior Minister)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 11/28/06 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

PARIS - Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy said he will run in France's presidential elections next year, according to comments posted Wednesday on the Web site of the newspaper Liberation.

Sarkozy, the charismatic leader of Jacques Chirac's ruling conservative party UMP, has long been expected to announce the move and is considered one of the two top contenders for the job. He's best known for his tough stance on immigration and youth crime.

The report of his intentions accelerates the campaign for the April-May elections in what is likely to be a tight race. It follows the Socialist Party nomination two weeks ago of his key rival, Segolene Royal.

Asked if he planned to become a candidate, he said: "My answer is yes," Liberation reported.

Sarkozy expressed "the ambition to create a new relationship with the French that rests on two words: confidence and respect" and said he wants to "make France a country where everything can be possible," according to the report.

Sarkozy granted an interview to French regional newspapers that was not supposed to be published until Thursday, but the left-leaning Liberation — which has been critical of Sarkozy in the past — obtained a copy and released it on its Web site Wednesday night.

Sarkozy, 51, has been eyeing the presidency for most of his career, but this is the first time he is running.

Critics say his harsh comments fueled riots by youth, many of immigrant background, in neglected housing projects nationwide last year.

The news took some of the spotlight off Chirac, who celebrated his 74th birthday Wednesday, and who once mentored Sarkozy but later fell out with the outspoken politician. Chirac is not expected to run for a third term, though he has left the option open.

Polls show Sarkozy and Royal, who is vying to be France's first female president, running even.

[NormsRevenge]

French Interior Minister, Nicolas Sarkozy gestures during his New Year's address in Paris, in this Jan. 12, 2006 file photo. Sarkozy formally announced Wednesday Nov. 29, 2006 that he will run in France's presidential elections in an interview with regional newspapers released on the Web site of the daily Liberation on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)

---

Is it just me or does Sarkozy have more than just a passing resemblance to Kramer?

Regardless, he is one of the best hopes for FRance's survival and just what may be needed to stand up to and fight the forces within FRance that have screwed it up so royally, imo.

[JennysCool]

Should Sarkozy run and win, look for France to be the first European nation to begin deporting troublemaking Muslims back to country of origin, to be followed by nation after nation. This could be the first time France fires the first metaphorical shot to save the West.

They know very well the dire situation Mark Steyn has outlined in "America Alone."

[fireman43]

Sarkozy or no, France is finished. She has already ceded huge areas of the country to Islam, and more will be lost as the French die and the Islamonazis make more and more babies.

If they could get the Jews and the nukes out before the Jihadis take over, then I would say the French are getting what they deserve.

[SauronOfMordor]

Things will come to a head sooner rather than later. Long before the Muslims outnumber the French, the number of Muslim welfare recipients will overload the ability of French taxpayers to support them. Expect this to happen sometime in the next 5 years

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

2nd coming of Napoleon, IMO.

[JohnnyZ]

Wouldn't that be the 4th coming of Napoleon, at least?