Sarkozy prepares for French presidency
Nicolas Sarkozy, back from a post-election Mediterranean holiday, was today preparing for the French presidency.
He was consulting with politicians from his conservative party to decide strategy for legislative elections next month crucial to his plans for reform.
Mr Sarkozy was to make his first public appearance since Sunday's election victory alongside outgoing President Jacques Chirac at a ceremony commemorating victims of slavery. Mr Sarkozy takes over on May 16 from Mr Chirac, who is leaving after 12 years in office.
Mr Sarkozy was meeting this morning with 500 politicians from his UMP party to prepare for parliamentary elections June 10 and 17.
The party currently has a large majority in both houses of parliament, but must keep it that way if Mr Sarkozy wants to follow through quickly on ambitious plans to cut taxes, reform labour laws and minimise the effect of France's frequent strikes.
Anti-Sarkozy protests continued for a fourth night, though post-election unrest that left more than 1,200 cars burned around the country earlier this week appeared to be ebbing.
