Posted on 07/02/2007 11:52:25 PM PDT by Cincinna
David Martinon, the Elysee spokesman, will hold a press briefing every week. This is the White House "syndrome." Nicolas Sarkozy's team is revamping presidential communications. Yesterday, shaking up practices at the risk of encroaching upon government spokesman Laurent Wauquiez's role, the Elysee gave its first press briefing by reporting on the President of the Republic's activities.
The Elysee spokesman, David Martinon, a young 36-year-old ENA [National School of Administration] graduate and diplomat, took charge of this major first. The Elysee was careful with the setting. It renovated a television studio located in one of the palace's annexes on rue de l'Elysee. It was Claude Chirac who had the idea of setting up this studio, which neither her father nor his assistants ever used. The Sarkozy team, for its part, decided to make it its communications headquarters so as to stimulate a "new style com" [English in text], to use the expression employed by a press attache.
So yesterday, David Martinon, in the presence of at least forty journalists, stood in the middle of a stage in front of a navy blue backdrop and behind a transparent lectern on which the Elysee shield with the words "Presidency of the Republic" appears. He went over the head of state's international appointment calendar and then gave a detailed list of his domestic trips and his political meetings in Paris.
In essence, there was really nothing new because the same appointment calendar had been faxed earlier to all the media. However, everything changes with the form chosen and that very meticulous staging. This method, which was initiated under Ronald Reagan, was borrowed directly from the Americans. The only difference: the United States presidential spokesman's briefing, which is held in a similar television studio, is daily.
"Republican Gathering"
For his first weekly press briefing, David Martinon, who was wearing a mauve tie over a white shirt and a conservative grey suit, announced that the president would be taking part in a "republican gathering" in Strasbourg on the theme of Europe. The following day, he is going to inaugurate the Marseille tramway. Martinon then answered 22 questions. The former assistant presidential campaign director was at ease and he did not evade any issue. He went over issues covering the Middle East, Darfur, Ingrid Betancourt and the industrial issues of EADS and Alcatel-Lucent.
He also did not refrain from [addressing] more political issues. What perimeter of expression does Francois Fillon have left, he was asked? "I am not the prime minister's spokesman. The executive couple is working remarkably well." Asked another question about the contents of the general policy declaration that is scheduled to be made on 3 July, Martinon added somewhat clumsily: "Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Fillon prepared the president's proposals together. He will not need to demonstrate a great deal of imagination for his general policy speech."
A final question emerged at the end of an hour. A journalist asked him about Guy Roux, the football coach who is considered to be too old (editor's note: he is 68 years old) by the Professional Football League to coach the Lens club. Martinon retorted on both a serious and very professional tone: "Nicolas Sarkozy feels that it is more a matter of the regulation being old than Guy Roux."
Congratulations to Sarko, who is obviously striving for American style openess in his Presidency.
A huge change from the secretive, cynical Presidents past. Mitterand and Chirac never gave full press conferences on a regular basis. Just met for a TV interview with two pre-selected journalists on July 14th and New Year’s Day for an “official” very formal Q&A.
ummmm... They say this as if it is bad? I don't understand the French...
- I don’t think that is what the author of the article wish to say.
He’s simply saying President Sarkozy’s style is ‘American’.
Personally, I agree with what Cincinna wrote above. This kind of openness can only be benign.
France is a country in need of change. France will HAVE to change and Sarkozy has the support of the nation for bringing these changes about.
In this context, I’d say his openness plays a key role.
Europe will not slumber forever.
“Just met for a TV interview with two pre-selected journalists on July 14th and New Year’s Day for an “official” very formal Q&A.”
Tony Snow might stand up in front of the press on a regular basis, but how many interviews has the President himself given in the past six years? And how many of those weren’t with Fox News?
Don’t ever give up the good fight. Compromise is just a form of not believing in what you know is right.
We will be celebrating the 4th of July here in the USA and Bastille Day in 10 days should be one about pride, courage and hope for the people of France.
And hopefully, neither will America - but we all seem to wait for the last minute, don't we?:)
Will you be celebrating the 4th of July in Sweden?
Trashing the President of the United States on the 4th of July is not cool.
President Bush has given Press Conferences on a regular basis.
Many French people do not “celebrate” July 14th. A date that is viewed by many as infamous, the beginning of a bloody reign of terror that overthrew not only the Royal family, but was hell bent on the destruction of the church and religion as well.
Many of the problems of secular (laic) France of today can be traced back to their bloody heritage of July 14.
Tens of thousands of innocent people were guillotined by the French Revolution, including priests and nuns, the elderly and the very young.
The in-laws of La Fayette, our Revolutionary hero, the Noailles family, were guillotined in todays Place de la Concorde, the la Place de la Revolution. They were more that 80 years old.
To begin with,
Greetings on 4th of July!!!
“Will you be celebrating the 4th of July in Sweden?”
- Yes, in a way. I’ll cook a clam chowder and at the dinner table, we’ll say “Skål för USA!”(”cheers to The USA!” in Swedish).
In Sweden, there are probably other 4th of July celebrations going on, for instance among US citizens who live in here in Sweden. However, I guess these celebrations are more like private parties. I’ve never heard of anyone organizing a parade or anything like that, but if someone did over here, I’d welcome it.
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