Sarkozy in Brussels: the UMP slap

(B2) The Commission's main press room was jam-packed. To the point that several journalists remained standing. A remark which did not escape Nicolas Sarkozy, who turning to Barroso said to him "you are lucky to have such a full room. It's like that every day". Ironic...

But if the interest of all the European press was obvious, this success also had an explanation. Several dozen "officials" and others, supporters or sympathizers, sometimes with families and children, had slipped into the ranks of journalists. Not very discreet often, commenting and approving each of the President's remarks. Better. They did not hesitate to slap at the end of the "representation".

A rather crude process which contrasts with the "ordinary" neutrality of this type of place. No head of state or visiting minister has been applauded in this way. The last applause dates back to the moment when the Commission announced that Bulgaria and Romania could join the Union, a fairly important moment for the journalists of these countries and which legitimately aroused a little emotion. There is also applause when a journalist asks a relevant question or points out to a Commission spokesperson that there is no response. Process altogether at odds with the applause of Thursday.

As for officials, if they "go down" into the press room (this one is in the basement of the building), they do so discreetly, remaining standing or at the back of the room. This was the case, for example, when a personality type Bono (U2) or Platini (FIfa).

Need it be said that to enter the Commission building, you need a special badge (Berlaymont). Not just any civil servant can enter it. You have to go through security gates. Where guards check the badges concerned (journalists only have the possibility of going to the press room or the offices of the spokespersons but not to the offices of the civil servants without being duly accompanied there by a bailiff).

Believing in chance or spontaneity in politics is possible. But isn't it better to trust Sarkozy's own sentence (on the WTO): "goodbye naivety"...

(NGV)