When A Fwenchman Speaks

Sarkozy jibes leave Czechs furious
French President Nicolas Sarkozy angered the Czech Republic, which holds the EU presidency, and drew a frosty response from Britain on Friday over disparaging comments about two key European partners.

Sarkozy, who already ruffled feathers last month by conducting a rival Middle East mission to a Czech-led EU one, caused offence this time by telling French car firms to locate plants at home rather than countries like the Czech Republic.

And his jibe about British tax measures to combat the financial crisis achieving "absolutely nothing" struck a nerve that has had British officials privately fuming.

The Czech Chamber of Commerce accused Sarkozy of encouraging protectionism and undermining the European Union's foundations with his call on Thursday for French car firms to return home.

"By this statement, the French president gave an indirect signal for the deconstruction of the European Union," the organisation said in a statement.

Sarkozy, seeking to reassure French workers about the government's response to the economic crisis, had said he expected French carmakers benefiting from state aid to keep production at home.

"Setting up a Renault factory in India to sell Renaults to Indians is justified," he said. "But when a manufacturer, I won't say any names, sets up a factory in the Czech Republic to sell cars to French people, that's unjustified."

Maybe those manufacturers consider impromptu strikes whenever some Fwenchie feels offended as something that's unjustifed and have moved to where there's a workforce that's dependable.

Sarkozy gave no details, but PSA Peugeot-Citroen has a joint plant with Toyota in the Czech Republic, making small passenger cars.

Read it all at Reuters