Victorious Sarkozy seeks sanctuary to ponder his policies

France's president-elect, Nicolas Sarkozy, vanished yesterday. After being inescapable for months, and after winning a crushing victory in Sunday's presidential election, M. Sarkozy departed for a three-day retreat in an undisclosed location. Some reports suggested that he had gone to a monastery. If so, the future president had much to ponder - and to pray for.

M. Sarkozy, 52, has promised a 100-day blitz of negotiation and legislation to push through the main points of his programme to cut taxes, curb union rights and encourage France to work harder. He is expected to announce his choice for Prime Minister soon after he formally replaces President Jacques Chirac in the Elysée Palace on Wednesday next week. The most likely candidate is the former social affairs minister, François Fillon, 53.

Scattered, violent protests against M. Sarkozy's election victory continued yesterday but seemed unlikely to develop into outright confrontation with the authorities. Hundreds of cars were burnt in poor multiracial suburbs on Sunday night. Anti-Sarkozy protesters clashed with police in cities across France. Groups of students attempted, without success, to close down a half-dozen lycées in Paris yesterday morning. M. Sarkozy fought a campaign which was highly-charged with right-wing rhetoric. The protesters accuse him of being an "ultra-capitalist", who will unleash police repression in the multiracial suburbs.

The president-elect says that "for me there is only one France". He said that his victory over the Socialist candidate, Ségolène Royal - by 53.06 per cent to 46.94 per cent - was not the "victory of one France over another". That is not the way M. Sarkozy's triumph is seen in the poor suburbs surrounding Paris. "Young people here are in a panic," said Mohamed, a 22-year-old student from the disadvantaged town of Trappe. "They are convinced there will be expulsions, cuts in welfare and a tougher line by the police."

M. Sarkozy's first challenge will be another election - the two-round parliamentary poll on 10 and 17 June. On past form, France is likely to give its new President a clear majority.

He is then expected to bring the first elements of his economic and social programme before the new National Assembly in July. Trades union federations have threatened strikes and demonstrations in September but M. Sarkozy's team has indicated that it will be prepared to compromise in negotiations before then - up to a point.

M. Sarkozy's first measures are expected to include cuts in income tax, a weakening of the 35-hour week to allow more overtime and reductions in social charges on business.

The real confrontation may come over his plans to force trade union ballots for strikes more than eight days long and to oblige unions to provide a minimum service during transport stoppages. He also wants to scrap the cherished special rights of railway, Metro and electricity workers which allow them to retire early on full pensions.

M. Sarkozy is under some pressure to choose a left-leaning prime minister, such as the Social Affairs Minister, Jean-Louis Borloo, to pilot this programme through parliament.

The president-elect is said to have promised the job to the smooth-talking M. Fillon, a relatively inexperienced politician from Le Mans who pushed through reforms of the pension system in 2002-04. In any case, M. Sarkozy is likely to be his own prime minister in all but name. He has promised to be a hands-on president who will personally appear before the National Assembly - something no previous modern president has done.

M. Sarkozy's opponents accuse him of having bullying and anti-democratic instincts. The president-elect says that he will run one of the most accountable administrations in French history. He has promised to create an official "Leader of the Opposition", based on the British example.

Interesting? Click here to explore further