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Never has a French president been so disliked, as much for hispersonal style as for his austere deficit-busting policies, and theright-wing leader vowed months ago to quit politics if defeated. "You'll see a big surprise," an optimistic Sarkozy declared onFriday at the end of a ferocious campaign that saw him repeatedlyapologise for his perceived flashy presidential style. A one-on-one televised debate on Wednesday was seen by many as hislast chance to catch up with Hollande, when the Socialist impressedby remaining calm while Sarkozy surprised no one by lashing out athis rival as a "liar". When he was first elected in 2007, after 12 years of presidentJacques Chirac's dithering, many were ready to forgive Sarkozy'sbrutal side, in the hope his relentless energy would serve Francewell in an age of globalisation. Five years later, after promises of wealth and job creation proveda mirage, Sarkozy's aggression grated too much and his relationshipwith the electorate irreparably broke down. At 57, Nicolas Sarkozy de Nagy-Bosca retained the boundlessambition that drove the son of a Hungarian immigrant, with no tiesto the Paris elite or the provincial bourgeoisie that dominatepolitics, to the presidency. An activist at 19, a town mayor at 28, lawmaker at 34 and ministerat 38, Sarkozy won the presidency at 52, and his time in officeremained as busy in his personal life as it was in politics. He divorced his second wife after a tumultuous struggle to woo herback from her lover, then married supermodel and singer Carla Bruniand had a daughter with her. At the height of his powers, he was the most popular presidentsince General Charles de Gaulle. "I have no right to disappoint," he said. But disappoint he did.First with his overbearing manner and then through his actions. The first faux pas came on the very evening of his election, whenhe feted his victory in fine style in the glitzy Paris eateryFouquet's with some of France's richest people, setting the seal onan image of tasteless excess. One of his worst decisions was to allow his son Jean, a 23-year-oldlocal councillor who had not yet graduated college, to try to takecharge of the powerful public development agency in the La Defensebusiness district. He also struggled with the 2008 credit crunch and the subsequentfinancial crises. Sarkozy tried to rise to the occasion as a global statesman,staging crisis summit after crisis summit, but his high-rollingRolex and Ray-Ban image sat ill with an age of austerity, andFrench voters turned their backs on him. "The most important factor is the way in which he vulgarisedpolitics and lowered the status of the presidential office for hisown ends," said political scientist Stephane Rozes of the CapInstitute. Chirac was never happier than when greeting farmers, tasting foodand admiring prize cattle at the Paris agricultural show. Sarkozywas famously filmed there telling a grumpy bystander: "Get stuffed,you stupid bastard." His supporters point to the reforms that he managed to push past adubious parliament and public -- an unpopular increase in theretirement age from 60 to 62 and a measure to ensure theindependence of universities. He had an impact on the international stage, helping negotiate anend to Russia's drive into Georgia and leading the NATOintervention that helped Libyan rebels topple Moamer Kadhafi. Those most disappointed are those who believed in his slogan "workmore to earn more" -- unemployment is approaching 10 percent and hedid not live up to his promises to tackle tax loopholes anddiscrimination. He shocked some by pushing far-right themes, increasingly sobetween the April 22 first round presidential election and therun-off as he sought to claw back votes from the National Front. He linked crime to immigration, expelled EU citizens of Romadescent and launched a debate on the threat Islam supposedly posesto French national identity. I am an expert from african-lacefabrics.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Organza Lace Fabric , Double Organza Lace, Swiss Cotton Voile Lace,and more.
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