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French President Sarkozy Asks Facebook for Feedback, Gets Read Le Riot Act

by Amar Toor on July 12, 2010 at 02:20 PM

SakrozyIn Italy, high-level political scandals involve tantalizing things like underage girls and Mediterranean sex parties. In France, they involve boring things like campaign finance and L'Oreal. Still, in a country starved for any opportunity to pounce on its diminutive president, Nicolas Sarkozy, rumors involving dirty money and the heiress of a corporate empire are enough to make headlines across newspapers and tabloids alike. In reaction to allegations that his campaign received illegal donations from L'Oreal princess Liliane Bettencourt, Sarkozy has now decided to go on national French television tonight, in an attempt to douse the media firestorm in which he has suddenly found himself. Before taking the stage, though, he not-so-wisely decided to consult his Facebook fans.

Three days ago, France's Napoleonic head of state posted a note on his profile announcing that he would be appearing on live television to discuss the country's "controversial" new retirement age policy, and asking his fans to post any questions they would like to have answered during the interview. Not surprisingly, the French Facebook public was quick to flood his Wall with comments. As France's Les Inrockuptibles reports, the Prez's page has already received over 2,400 comments -- some supportive, many derisive.

Although the Élysée Palace insists that the interview will focus primarily on policy issues, the Bettencourt affair weighed heavy on the minds of many users. A mec named Bertrand, for example, rhetorically asked, "Do you realize the problem you're creating??...You're here to serve the French and France and not to serve yourself and us like a stage for your ego." Another, more poetic user wrote, "You promised us the moon and you give us hell."

Politically, Sarko might have been better served to wait until his TV appearance before unleashing the hounds on Facebook. But he and his office should be commended for tackling the issue head-on, and, more importantly, for not heavily moderating the often vicious feedback he's received. He may very well deserve the verbal beat down he's received for making French people work -- or for accepting a few thousand euros here or there -- but at least he's willing to take it. [From: Les Inrockuptibles (French)]

Tags: controversy, facebook, france, french, LilianeBettencourt, loreal, LorealParis, NicolasSarkozy, politics, sarkozy, SocialNetworking, top, web

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