French Presidents

Election Promise: - modernising solution to on going problems; neo-liberla reform; less state intervention in economy

Pre-recession (2007-mid/late 2008) ; Recession (late 2008-2012)

Tactics

- recruit members of left: Bernard Kouchner ; Eric Besson

- Policies on issues associated with left: work; ecology; education

--> RMI - RSA; Grenelle

- 'Blizzard' of reforms

- Compromise through negotiation

Nature of reforms

- focus on work/labour: TEPA

- Higher Education

Recession

- interventionalist

- raise retirement age 60-62

- poor growth: proj. 2.25% in 2008. Actual = 0.9%

- unemployment 10% of active pop. 2010

- Pro-American foreign policy / rejoined NATO

Success or Failure?

Success:

- despite strikes, laws passed (unlike Chirac)

Failure:

- difficult to judge - time will tell

- changes not as thorough as hoped

- Economic crisis has blurred the picture

Election promises:

- separation of banks

- raise taxes

- 60,000 teaching jobs

- retirement age back to 60

- gay marriage/adoption

- troops out of Afghanistan

Presidency

- reduced salary of pres. and govt members by 30%

- Bill for sep. of banks

- elec. prod. by nuclear form 75% to 50%

- Taxes - loophole €10k; 75% €1mil+

Only been President 1 year - hence not done all he promised yet - but criticised for indecisiveness/weakness

- But already backtracked on 75% tax

- +ve, gay marriage, intervention in Somlia, troops out of Afghanistan

- -ve France 3x dip recession; high unemployment; 36% approval after 10 months - record unpop

Success / Failure?

- More unpopular than Sarkzoy

- Time will tell

- Disappointing first year

- Recession a problem - but doesn't seem to have rigour to tackle problems efficiently