Nicolas Sarkozy: France

Sarkozy Dept: PARIS - When Nicolas Sarkozy bounded up the steps of France's presidential palace in jogging shorts and shoes on his first day in office five years ago, many French instantly sensed they were in for something new, according to Winnipeg Free Press. His idea of change wasn't exactly what many French had in mind and this combination of two photos shows on the left, in a May 17, 2007 file photo, French President Nicolas Sarkozy running up the steps of the Elysee Palace, coming back from jogging in Paris; and on the right, Sarkozy in a Sunday May 6, 2012 photo waving from his car as he leaves after addressing supporters at his Union for a Popular Movement UMP party headquarters following the announcement of the preliminary results of the second round of the presidential elections in Paris. AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere, Thibault Camus In a country where King Louis XIV's phrase "L'Etat, c'est moi" "I am the state" resonated for later heads of state, the message from Sarkozy was clear: Tradition-bound France needed a self-image makeover. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.