You are in:
- Contents » Heroes and Villains
Renault To Build Sarkomobile
It's somewhat gratifying to know that no matter how much time one spends in France, some aspects of the national culture can still appear mysterious. Did you know, for example, that left-wingers are said to favour Renault motors? Your correspondent certainly didn't, not until it was explained in an article in today's Guardian as one of the possible reasons behind Nicolas Sarkozy choosing the venerable car maker to construct his presidential transport.
As the newspaper reports, the Presidential vehicle is traditionally a showcase for the French motor industry. Charles de Gaulle had his Citroën DS, Jacques Chirac and Georges Pompidou a Citroën SM (so, we can assume then that Citroën is traditionally the wheels of choice for those on the right?). François Mitterand was ferried around in a Renault R25.
Sarkozy is getting a Renault Vel Satis (Jeremy Clarkson's review of the model is here). Unlike the comfy, beige "softie" Clarkson tootled around England in, the Sarkomobile is going to be bullet proof and kitted out with the techie standards of an executive jet.
Even though the President himself is pocket-sized, the Vel Satis is reported to be unusually high for a saloon car: Perhaps to ensure that any former supermodels travelling with the Head of State have enough room to stretch their legs.
Other left-right symbols which may seem opaque to outsiders include cigarettes. Traditionally, left-wing left-bankers smoked Gitanes, with their romantic image of a dancing gypsy on the packet; those on the right puffed on the rather less immigrant-friendly Gauloises, whose packet was adorned with a Gaullish warrior's helmet.
Can any French readers help EURSOC with other codes we may have missed?
