Sarkozy courts French right with immigration pledge (international right-wing anti-immigration play)

[pampango]

French President Nicolas Sarkozy marked a rightward shift in his re-election campaign on Saturday, pledging to cut the number of immigrants and calling for clear labeling of halal meat in a bid to entice voters away from the National Front.

Speaking to thousands of flag-waving supporters at a rally in the western city of Bordeaux, Sarkozy vowed to defend secular values in France - which has Europe's largest Muslim minority - and to send a tough message on law and order if he wins a fresh five-year term in a two-round election in April and May.

Despite rebounding in polls since launching his campaign last month, Sarkozy trails Socialist rival Francois Hollande.

Sarkozy appeared to court Le Pen's (far-right) supporters by echoing remarks from his hardline Interior Minister Claude Gueant on Saturday rejecting "multiculturalism" and suggesting school canteens should not serve halal meat.

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wamc/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1909772/World.News/Sarkozy.courts.French.right.with.immigration.pledge

"Law-and-order" and anti-immigrant scare tactics (sounds like a tea party platform). Sarkozy knows that pandering to the far-right is his ticket to reelection.

[Justice wanted]

1. I think we are seeing the end of Sarkozy. French friend of my husband says he can't imagine him

winning again.

[midnight]

2. Sarkozy wants another five year term even though he is described by the French as the

worst President in modern times? Sacre bleu !

"The 57-year-old French president, who is standing for re-election in April, was campaigning in the south west of the Basque country.

Pelted
Eggs and stones were thrown at the 5.5 feet head of state who at one stage looked as though he would disappear under a crowd of people in the city of Bayonne.

As soon as the eggs and stones were hurled at him, Sarkozy's guards
hovered around him trying to protect him from the abuse."



"Opinion polls regularly show that Sarkozy is by far the most unpopular head of state in the history of modern France.
He is widely expected to lose the election to Socialist candidate Francois Hollande."

http://www.siasat.com/english/news/sarkozy-hides-cafe-eggs-fly