Nicolas Sarkozy de hervormer en het personalistisch presidentschap

Niek Pas explains that Nicolas Sarkozy's leadership qualities are difficult to assess. He represents a com­plex political persona and is both a representative and dissident within the thoroughly personalized French political culture. Although he presented himself as an outsider in the 2007 presidential elections, he followed a classic trajectory that perfectly matches French politics of today. When it comes to per­sonal style, his straightforwardness, popular taste and unclear division of private and public, he seems more of an iconoclast. Modern communica­tion techniques, opinion polls and spin doctors are important tools in his effort to revitalize French politics and society. Sarkozy's leadership is furthermore characterized by his bold plans and broad visions both on the domestic scene and abroad. He energetically takes initiative and pro­poses reforms. Since he became the sixth president of the Fifth Republic Sarkozy mounted an ambitious programme of change in several fields of policy. In his opinion French society has to live up to the 21st century and it has to modernize.The same frentic ambition is advocated in international affairs. Sarkozy aims to restore the position and influence of France in Europe and the world in order to remain an important player on the international stage.