Did French PM Nicolas Sarkozy really mean what he said in a recent, shocker of a political speech? I think not and perhaps that it was simply political bluster seeking voter support from extreme elements on both sides of the political spectrum.
As the result of his speech, the Merkozy Alliance (Angela Merkel-Nicolas Sarkozy); which bonded over the EU crisis years, now appears to be developing visible cracks. For years they were the "cement" which held the central parts of the EU together, but Sarkozy's sudden, sharp turn to the right caught Merkel by surprise and shook her to the core.
In his speech, Sarkozy threatened to opt out of the Schengen Agreement which allows free movement to citizens of twenty-six member states. Since its inception, "Schengen" has been blamed for a flood of immigrants into France most of whom are seeking work and easy benefits from a social-welfare state.
The pressure on France has been relentless and, with the struggling global economy, France has suffered economic setbacks exacerbated by the flood of immigrants seeking elusive jobs. This has caused the country massive problems and has become a major issue in its current national election. Political parties on both extremes are now taking pot-shots at Sarkozy's policies as well as politicians from other countries.
Whereas politicians in trouble in North America lean toward the centre, the European answer is for politicians to steal policies from the extremes to see how they fly. At the moment, Sarkozy's new, extremist policies are flying very well and have stolen the thunder from his political adversaries.
In his recent, hard-hitting speech Sarkozy has taken direct aim at Schengen which he blames for the flood of immigrants. He has also raised the spectre of new protectionism with Buy French and/or Buy European policies to counterbalance America's Buy American Act. A recent poll has shown that Sarkozy's tactics are working and he is steadily gaining in voter support.
Sarkozy's alarming speech was not well-received by German Chancellor Merkel and especially Turkey's Premier Recep Erdogan who branded it xenophobic and more particularly "Islamaphobic". And, considering Germany's past, Merkel cannot dare to appear, or even remotely
appear, to endorse such extremist policies.
Outside observers are, therefore, wondering whether the EU has turned a political corner and can now openly engage in the politics of other, sovereign states or whether this is a "one-off" criticism of a far-fetched policy simply used to gain the populist vote. Whatever Sarkozy's motives, his borrowed policies have suddenly resonated with French voters across the political spectrum.
This is one time that EU members hope that French voters can vote for a dishonest politician - one who says what voters want to hear but will not follow through on his election promises. And should he follow through, the entire European Union beginning with the Schengen Agreement may make the Euro Crisis look like a tempest in a teapot.
Sarkozy's threats are unlikely since the French must also remember that they are beneficiaries of the EU and Schengen who did very well from both. The free movement of people and goods throughout Europe has benefited everyone.
A Sarkozy re-election victory will most likely result in a quieter, more sober reassessment of his rough, tough politicking and showboating. EU politics, the realities of life, and the rigid constraints placed upon him from many sources and member states are most likely to alter his hard-nosed, right-wing approach to governance.
One of the great freedoms in a democracy is the freedom to "spout off" during an election campaign and then quickly and politely backtrack like Michael
Jackson's famous moonwalk.
