France: Domestic Politics

Background:

The current president of France is center-right Nicolas Sarkozy, whose appointed prime minster, François Fillion, is head of government. Sarkozy, of the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), succeeded Jacques Chirac to the presidency in May 2007 on a platform of pro-market reforms, tax cuts for high earners and labor market reforms. Sarkozy has also continued the process of privatizing formerly state-owned companies begun by Chirac, although the state retains ownership of France’s extensive welfare, healthcare and transport systems.

While Sarkozy’s approval ratings have suffered due to a number of high-profile gaffes and the weight of the global recession on reforms, the decisive UMP presidential victory seemed to signal a sea change in French political priorities, indicating that the French are willing to accept significant changes to the pensions, taxes, labor laws and other long-standing pillars of the French economic system. However large strikes across the country

France has a strong history of active political participation, which manifests itself in comparatively high levels of voter turn-out, powerful trade unions and frequent strikes and protests. French government power is traditionally highly centralized. However, in recent years, efforts have been made to devolve some of this power to local and regional government.