Pave: Will Lead France For Money

Le jour 170 de Sarko

It's an insult to poverty.

Arnaud Montebourg,
Socialist deputy and budding insult comic,
with an unintended double entendre on
increasing the presidential salary
October 31, 2007 (op. cit.)

LES DÉPUTÉS VOTENT EN FAVEUR D'UNE HAUSSE
DE 140 % DU SALAIRE DU CHEF DE L'ETAT
[DEPUTIES VOTE A 140% RISE IN PRESIDENTIAL WAGES]

30 octobre 2007 (Le Monde/Reuters/AFP) - Les députés ont adopté, mardi 30 octobre, un amendement au projet de budget 2008 prévoyant de porter le salaire du président de la République de 7 700 à 19 000 euros bruts mensuels. "Il s'agit d'un traitement exclusif de toutes pensions, retraites, primes", a précisé Roger Karoutchi, secrétaire d'Etat aux relations avec le Parlement.

[Tuesday October 30, deputies adopted an amendment to the 2008 budget bill envisioning a wage increase for the president of the Republic from €7,700 to about €19,000 monthly. "It consists of a single payment of all pensions, retirements, bonuses", elaborated Roger Karoutchi, Minister of State Responsible for Relations with Parliament .]

[Hat tip: Carine]

SARKOZY CABINET DEFENDS PRESIDENT PAY RISE

PARIS October 31, 2007 (AFP) - "Nicolas Sarkozy told us that boosting purchasing power was a priority. We hadn't understood he meant for himself," Socialist deputy Stephane Le Foll told a press conference.

... Government spokesman Laurent Wauquiez said Sarkozy's salary would be 15 to 20 percent below what Chirac used to earn.

FRENCH PARLIAMENT VOTES SARKOZY 200% PAY RISE

October 31, 2007 (Javno.com) - As head of state Sarkozy enjoys a wide range of benefits in kind that make it difficult to estimate what he really earns. ... Some members of the opposition Socialists said the huge pay rise set a bad example at a time when many people in France have been worried about falling purchasing power, but the measure passed through parliament without significant opposition.

While the opposition cracks jokes, it forgets to actually oppose the measure.

JOKES, JIBES, ANGER IN FRANCE
OVER SARKOZY PAY RISE

October 31, 2007 (Javno.com) - "The link between the increase in the pay of the president ... and the stagnation of the purchasing power of the French is especially shocking," said another Socialist MP, Jean Launay.

Sarkozy's pay rise also won him an instant ribbing on "Les Guignols" [Les guignols de l'info, i.e., The News Puppets], a popular satirical television puppet show. ... "Les Guignols" neatly encapsulated the public relations problem, having the prime minister signing Sarkozy's pay cheque but adding: "Could you hold off cashing it, things are a little tight right now."

Ex-Jack is reputed to pull down almost €19K/month in combined pensions. Then-Jack liberally availed himself of the Élysée's €82M annual budget, making any actual salary a bagatelle.

PFFT (What is this?): Worth every sou 1½ | Rayonnement français 1½