Cacophony is the day within the ruling center-right UMP party, as they determine exactly how to handle outspoken French Secretary of State for Sport Rama Yade. The drama is making national headlines in Franch. The French are even calling Secretary Yade, who is a former human rights minister, "La Rebelle" (The Rebel). Some days ago, there was a row over Secretary Yade's dissent from the party line regarding tax breaks for elite athletes (most in her party favored overturning the breaks; she opposes the move). Nadine Morano, Secretary of State for Family & Solidarity, opened fire on Sunday, quoting some other French political figure, "Either shut your mouth, or resign." Secretary Yade came back with a scathing reply that she would "not stoop to this very low level", which had observers responding whether she believes that she is better than Secretary Morano. Then came an open rebuke of Secretary Yade from Prime Minister Francois Fillon, who basically said that Ms. Yade's political days are numbered. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has barely spoken to Ms. Yade for months and who responded to Secretary Yade's criticism of a nepotism scandal involving his son with a demand that she run as a candidate in a district where she has no ties or political base, yesterday took advantage of a Ministers' Council meeting to stress the "need for solidarity." The Socialist Party put out a trial balloon joke claiming that it wanted Ms. Yade to flip to their side.
Prime Minister Fillon (pictured left, with Ms. Yade) has come back though. He told Le Monde about Secretary Yade; "One can't be part of government and part of the opposition to the government line (article in French).
Cabinet ministers have branded Secretary Yade, 32, a "spoiled child" and she now faces being ousted in a reshuffle after the March 2010 elections. However, President Sarkozy can ill-afford to lose his most popular government figure: on Tuesday, a poll suggested he had a 39% approval rating – the lowest since he took office. His core conservative electorate are appalled at a string of scandals while he faced a mini-party revolt this week when two dozen UMP senators refused to vote for plans to scrap a local business tax.
Jean-Pierre Grand, a conservative parliamentarian, said Ms. Yade's "days are indeed numbered" but that President Sarkozy was in a bind: "They've made Rama Yade an icon; it's an incredible political blunder. Now they can't get around her."
Roselyne Bachelot, the Minister for Health and Sport, has offered to become Ms. Yade's "big sister" (article in French). "I consider myself more as a big sister...and I am here to help, not to create difficulties. In a government, one must be a team player. I told her with great friendship, kindness and with me acting like a big sister. "Meanwhile, Secretary Yade's popularity has gained five points with the French public, according to a political poll (pictured left). It was the biggest jump of any politician on the poll. Meanwhile, President Sarkozy - in a separate poll - has 39% approval, the lowest in his tenure.
Booker Rising response: I'm only semi-literate in French, and the condescension of Secretary Yade's party colleagues jumps out at me (yes, I'm side-eyeing you Ms. Bachelot, with your 27% approval rating). No wonder she's being defiant LOL. While there's something to be said about party unity, I wonder if the party even consulted her before making its move on the athletes & taxes issue? And why would you have your most popular member running in the number two slot on a candidate ballot in her home district, and then push her to another area where she has no ties simply because the folks who live there are African (Arab and black) immigrants?
0 comments:
Post a Comment