Caught in between the worst popularity levels since he took office (Le Figaro poll shows that 72 percent of those questioned don't trust Sarkozy to solve the country's problems) and the European Union, who is pressuring him over the Roma deportation decision, Sarkozy is on a break.
The second day of the Paris Motor Show press preview is to be adorned with a lot less conferences about new cars, but there is a distinct presidential atmosphere everywhere. Nicholas Sarkozy himself is currently taking a tour of the premises near Porte de Versailles, where the Paris Auto Show is being held.
It is unclear why Sarkozy chose to go there on a press day. Is he trying to avoid meeting the Roma, or the French men and women outraged by the rise in the retirement age in particular and the pension reform in general? Or maybe he is just taking a well deserved R&R break from all that pressure.
Completely ignoring the press-only admission rules (he is a president, after all), he entered the premises of the show surrounded up to his neck and beyond by cameras – which is not that hard, given his height - and DSLRs. Our sneaky photographer however, a lot taller, went in paparazzo mode and managed to snap a few shots of the controversial president while he was checking out the Citroen stand.
It was impossible for us to follow him some more. It was also impossible for us to locate the president's better half, the lovely and highly desirable Carla Bruni, because she is not with her husband at the event. Even more, it was also impossible to ask the president a few questions.
For what we were able to gather, Sarkozy circled the stands of French manufacturers Citroen, Peugeot and Renault more than he did others.
While there, he seemed happy. Happy, surprised, jovial and, most importantly, sober. For a minute or two, Sarkozy stopped being Sarkozy the President and became Carla Bruni the model. Nobody asked him questions. They just took photos.
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