I don't know much about his internal policy and it matters little (as long as French do not engage in overseas adventures) but Mr Sarkozy's image on international scene was like Arlekin's, hysterical, stupid and utterly ineffective. All his theatrics and antics (like threats to walk away from every forum where he was participating) did not go down well with foreign leaders. So they will have to adapt to his mercurial style if they really need France's support. But he should not expect that anybody will listen to his initiatives or acknowledge his leadership.
On the domestic front, the good news is that people have been reacting rather strongly against Sarkozy's most recent attempts to have a debate a bout "national identity" - so while I agree that Sarkozy is playing on dangerous ground, indeed at times reminescent of Vichy, it's not working.
On the international front, I can only hope that his fellow leaders, and pundits, are now getting tired of his permanent attempts to take the cover to him whatever the topic, and will treat him accordingly (the risk for France is that smart partners will give Sarkozy his chance to strut in the limelight while getting deals that are better for them than for France in reality if not in appearance). But as people catch on, he'll be increasingly ineffective, which is mostly a good thing, I guess. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
