It looks as if presidential/prime ministerial relations in France may be on the mend – faute de mieux?

Towards the middle of 2008 it was widely reported that relations between President Sarkozy and Prime Minister Fillon were barely cordial. In January 2008 Fillon confided in a radio interview that it had taken some time for he and the president to find “the right way” of working together. Then, at the end of April Fillon gave a newspaper interview in which he was reported as saying that “it was normal” that there were moments of tension between the president and prime minister. According to L’Express, the president took umbrage at this remark. He summoned Fillon mid-way through a parliamentary question-and-answer session and gave him a dressing down at the Elysée Palace. There was speculation that, while the president would not sack the prime minister during France’s presidency of the EU, dismissal would follow soon afterwards

Now, though, with the French presidency just at an end, it looks as if the relationship is on the mend. In his New Year message, the president went out of his way to mention his prime minister – something that previous presidents have omitted to do. Le Figaro has taken this a sign that Sarkozy is intending to stick with Fillon for some while longer.

Fillon is popular with the ruling party, the UMP, deputies. Also, given the difficult economic situation and that Sarkozy wants to be re-elected in 2012, it might be in Sarkozy’s interests for Fillon to take any unpopular measures that may be necessary and then for a change to be made. This way the president could avoid taking the blame for the policies and hope to keep his popularity level as high as possible.