France’s Sarkozy under fire on handling of army and TV

PARIS – President Nicolas Sarkozy’s handling of two major French institutions, the army and the public television, faced attacks yesterday, which raised questions about his abrasive leadership style.

The controversies are unrelated but come at a delicate time for Sarkozy, who wants to clear his domestic agenda to concentrate on France’s six-month presidency of the European Union, which began on Tuesday. In an unusual outburst, the head of state television said yesterday criticism by Sarkozy of TV programming was “stupid” and hinted he might resign over the president’s push to remove advertising from the public airways.France’s army chief of staff, General Bruno Cuche, did resign on Tuesday.He took full responsibility for an incident at the weekend when a soldier fired shots at a military show, wounding 17 people, in an apparent serious lapse of procedure.The French media said that behind the general’s abrupt departure lay deep-rooted unhappiness in military ranks over Sarkozy’s handling of the armed forces.There was particular concern over the way the president had upbraided senior officers following the shooting incident.”You are a bunch of amateurs, not professionals,” he was widely quoted as saying, demanding that heads roll.Ministers and officials rushed to defend Sarkozy over his handling of both the army and television, showing how sensitive the government is to criticism in these high-profile areas.But analysts said Sarkozy’s uncompromising brand of confrontational politics might hurt his standing after a bruising first year in office, when his ratings slumped on the back of unhappiness over his celebrity lifestyle.Nampa-ReutersIn an unusual outburst, the head of state television said yesterday criticism by Sarkozy of TV programming was “stupid” and hinted he might resign over the president’s push to remove advertising from the public airways.France’s army chief of staff, General Bruno Cuche, did resign on Tuesday.He took full responsibility for an incident at the weekend when a soldier fired shots at a military show, wounding 17 people, in an apparent serious lapse of procedure.The French media said that behind the general’s abrupt departure lay deep-rooted unhappiness in military ranks over Sarkozy’s handling of the armed forces.There was particular concern over the way the president had upbraided senior officers following the shooting incident.”You are a bunch of amateurs, not professionals,” he was widely quoted as saying, demanding that heads roll.Ministers and officials rushed to defend Sarkozy over his handling of both the army and television, showing how sensitive the government is to criticism in these high-profile areas.But analysts said Sarkozy’s uncompromising brand of confrontational politics might hurt his standing after a bruising first year in office, when his ratings slumped on the back of unhappiness over his celebrity lifestyle.Nampa-Reuters