French President-elect Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday described Malta as “fantastique” (fantastic) when he was stopped by Maltese journalists while out jogging in Delimara.
Mr Sarkozy left Malta last night after his impromptu whirlwind visit to the Maltese islands. Security was finally relaxed yesterday after it had been stringently imposed during the first day of his visit.
Mr Sarkozy said that Malta was beautiful for its sun and the sea and, as he walked away, he patted one of the local journalists on the back and half-jokingly added that there were, however, “too many journalists”.
He also stopped to talk to French journalists who milled around the Delimara area – where the yacht used for the French President-elect’s short holiday after he won last Sunday’s presidential election, was anchored.
Mr Sarkozy spoke to local journalists in English, but reverted to French when speaking to French journalists about the current political situation in France.
There was also speculation that Mr Sarkozy was to have a meeting with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, but this did not materialise. He did, however, call Dr Gonzi by telephone and had a short conversation with him.
During the course of their
conversation, Mr Sarkozy thanked Dr Gonzi for the hospitality of the Maltese people and the beauty of the scenery he had managed to enjoy. Dr Gonzi personally congratulated Mr Sarkozy on his election win and told him that he was looking forward to their first official meeting during the Brussels summit in June. Dr Gonzi’s government had already sent official written congratulations on Mr Sarkozy’s victory.
Mr Sarkozy takes office from outgoing President Jacques Chirac on 16 May after a 53-47 per cent electoral victory over Socialist rival Segolene Royal last Sunday. Mr Sarkozy arrived at Malta International Airport on Monday at about 2.30pm from where he was taken to Ta’ Xbiex to board the British-flagged 60-metre yacht, La Paloma.
The yacht, luxuriously fitted after a complete rebuild in Malta in 2004, had spent Monday afternoon cruising along Malta’s southern coast, and anchored overnight at Xrobb l-Ghagin, Delimara. On Tuesday the boat cruised around Comino before heading off to what was presumed to be Sicily. All in all, Mr Sarkozy and his family seem to have had a good time holidaying in Malta, mostly away from the media spotlight. His visit came after a gruelling five-month election campaign in France.
He will be thrust in at the deep end when he returns, needing to form a cabinet, while at the same time having to deal with the rioting that followed the election result.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry denied yesterday that the head of protocol had been contacted by French President-elect Nicolas Sarkozy, as reported by l-orizzont, which said it was quoting the French newspaper Le Figaro.
According to the newspaper’s report, Mr Sarkozy had told the head of protocol in Malta that he had come here honorably to make good a gaffe he had committed.
The head of protocol had never received any telephone calls from Mr Sarkozy, said the ministry, much less had he been told what was reported by l-orizzont, as reported by Le Figaro.