Bling Bling!
So. Six hundred MPs, peers and journalists trooped into the Royal Gallery in the Palace of Westminster on Wednesday to get a good look at Carla Bruni. Apparently she is exceptionally beautiful, but I could not tell, as I was sitting behind the Labour MP Jimmy Hood, so I couldn’t see anything. Once we had finished looking at Carla, we listened to her husband, who is apparently the President of France, deliver a speech.
The President got a very warm reception from the assembled gathering, including prolonged applause when he came in and a standing ovation at the end. It surprised me, not because he necessarily didn;t deserve it, but because I hadn’t really known what the British thought of him. Anyway, judging by Wednesday, we like him (and her). His speech ticked all the right boxes - fulsome praise for Britain, including thanks for our role in saving France in the war (which will have annoyed the French); a passionate defence of the European Union (which annoyed the Tories); and a call to work together on nuclear power (which will have annoyed Labour).
The President’s visit also showed the importance of glamour in politics. It is often said that politics is show business for ugly people, and his speech had the feel of a political “gig”, as various MPs put their mobile phones in the air to take photos. If the speech had been in the evening I think some might have waved cigarette lighters in the air. But I think that one of the reasons he is popular here (and why MPs liek programmes like the West Wing), is that they like the glamour that comes with strong executive office, as well, of course, as a glamorous consort. MArrying Carla may have damaged the President’s popularity in the short term, but given their reception over here, I think it will be to his long-term gain.
canvas said on March 29th, 2008 at 11:37 am:
Carla is very chic and completely gorgeous. I doubt Sarko would have had that positive response without her by his side. He’s all talk and little action. However, I believe Carla will influence his ideas greatly and you will, in the future, see a more ‘lefty’ Sarko emerging. Hope so anyway!
PS> Isn’t it time for Hillary Clinton to quit the race? Let’s face it - she can’t win. Obama is the next President of the USA! Can’t wait.
gervaise said on April 1st, 2008 at 5:51 pm:
Did you notice Dave Cameron rocking back and forth unsure about whether to get up and waiting for a lead from Gordon Brown during the after applause? It was classic.