In spite of leaving the G20 summit with less than he wanted, Nicolas Sarkozy’s victory parade is in full flow. The French president reckons he vanquished Anglo-Saxon capitalism, and he’s doing just about anything to make sure everyone knows it. Not even disparaging Barack Obama appears to be out of bounds.
People close to Sarkozy, I’m told, have been making it known that Obama wasn’t fully across his brief. He didn’t grasp the detail, they claim. Why? It all fits the narrative of Sarkozy coming to London knowing all the arcane regulatory details, standing his ground and outwitting the capitalists and tax-dodgers.
The catty assessment of Obama may just be some loose talk. But it adds even more colour to what has been an eventful day in Sarko/Obama relations.
I particularly enjoyed how Sarkozy responded after Obama successfully brokered a deal on tax havens, overcoming tensions between France and China. Once the deadlock was broken, Sarkozy was overheard telling Obama: “You have set a great example for a new and young US leader. This is multilateralism at its very best.” Well done young man!
Let’s see if Sarkozy decides to really turn on the charm at the Nato summit.
Jim Pickard
Kiran Stacey
