George Parker Brussels bureau chief of the Financial Times, writing
for The House Magazine
Gordon Brown and Nicolas
Sarkozy both face the same political conundrum. Both
have been senior figures in the ruling party's governments
for many years, but both must convince their electorate that
they can embody and bring the change that both countries require
following the departures from office of Tony Blair and Jacques
Chirac later this year.
On the face of it, the hyperactive Sarkozy should be the
preferred candidate of most British politicians. He thinks
big countries like Britain and France should run the EU, not
the European Commission, and has called for a slimline "mini-treaty"
to replace the moribund EU constitution. He embraces work
and wealth and expresses admiration for American society.
