Who is Nicolas Sarkozy?
Sarkozy was elected the French president in May 2007. Before his presidency, he was leader of the Union for a Popular Movement, a right wing party. Known for his penchant for modernism, Sarkozy advocates a clean break with the country’s traditional ruling elite. He seeks closer ties with the European Union. ‘Tonight France [Images] is back in Europe,’ was how Sarkozy dramatically declared in the victory speech soon after he was elected. What is the row surrounding his girlfriend? It could well have been a diplomatic puzzle for India. But the French president’s girlfriend’s rather timely decision to skip the India tour came as a relief for South Block. Had she come as a president’s girlfriend, India would have struggled with problems of protocol. What is on Sarkozy’s agenda? Nuclear cooperation and defence techonology will be high on the agenda. Reforms in the United Nations Security Council and a Mirage aircraft deal will come up during discussions. He has already told an Indian busine
