Sarkozy and the Sun King

Nicolas Sarkozy walks between Republican Guards in the Palace of Versailles. He was portrayed by cartoonists in the long wig and robes of King Louis XIV. Photo / AP

Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday trod where no French President for 161 years has dared or chosen to tread when he spoke to Parliament.

After a constitutional change, completed a few hours before, Sarkozy addressed both houses of Parliament gathered in the Palace of Versailles to explain his vision of the future of France and of the world.

Presidential Question Time it was not. The parliamentarians were forbidden to intervene while the President was speaking. They were forbidden to ask questions. The President's 50-minute speech was followed by a debate but Sarkozy departed before it began.

As a result, Greens and Communists boycotted the speech. Socialists listened in silence but boycotted the debate. Sarkozy's centre-right supporters gave him a rhythmic standing ovation.

The whole event - transporting both houses of Parliament, the Government, the Republican Guard and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy to Versailles - cost the French taxpayer 400,000 ($884,000). One Green deputy suggested it was "the most expensive press conference in history".

Despite the explosion of the indebtedness of the French state, Sarkozy said there would be no tax rises and no "policy of austerity". Instead there would be a new form of "state loan" - but only for productive investment.

French Presidents have been barred constitutionally from addressing Parliament since 1875. None has done so since 1848. Sarkozy pushed through a constitutional change last year, requiring the President to speak to both houses of Parliament at least once a year, in the name of "transparency" and the "modernisation" of the French state.

Despite the modesty of these aims, the event became clothed in monarchical trappings. Satirists and opposition politicians had a field day. Sarkozy was portrayed by cartoonists yesterday in the long wig and robes of the absolutist Roi Soleil, King Louis XIV.

- INDEPENDENT