Jean Sarkozy: I'm doing it my way, not Papa's (News Feature)

By Siegfried Mortkowitz Oct 13, 2009, 11:00 GMT

Paris - Roundly criticized for his ambition and what some call unfair benefit from his family ties, the 23-year-old son of French President Nicolas Sarkozy Tuesday defended himself and his father against charges of nepotism.

Taking a page from Frank Sinatra's songbook, Jean Sarkozy told a French daily that he was building his political career 'my way' and that his meteoric rise had little to do with his father.

Discussing his controversial candidacy for an influential post, the young man often derisively referred to as 'Prince Sarkozy' told Le Parisien, 'Obviously I informed those who are close to me; that's only normal. But I follow my own way.'

Sarkozy gave the interview as the outcry grew over his candidacy to head the board of EPAD, the governmental agency that manages the La Defense financial district in the western suburbs of Paris.

Critics decried his youth, inexperience and his lack of a college degree, and charged that he was getting the job only because he was the son of the president.

'If he did not have the name he does, would he be where he is today?' said Socialist Segolene Royal, the losing candidate in the 2007 presidential elections.

'He dares to do whatever he wants,' complained the head of the Green Party, Cecile Duflot. 'Afterwards, everyone gives in because he has the name he has.'

The EPAD board of directors consist of volunteers who make the final decision on building permits and other administrative issues in La Defense.

The area is Europe's largest purpose-built business district and home to some 20,000 residents. It houses the headquarters of some 2,500 companies. More than 150,000 work there every day.

Its budget for 2009 was 115 million euros (170 million dollars). But it also manages millions more that come from the sale of construction permits.

According to Le Parisien, an expansion plan foresees the construction of a number of new high-rises, which will add 100,000 square metres of residences and bring in about 1 billion euros.

There is only one prerequisite for the post Jean Sarkozy would like to assume: being a member of the federal or local government. He is currently regional councillor in the Paris suburb of Neuilly- South, one of the richest communities in the country.

His wanting to assume such an influential post was also sharply criticized by Sarkozy's fellow law students at the Sorbonne.

'Do I think he has the ability to direct a public enterprise after two years of law school? No, I don't,' one student told France Info radio. 'We're not talking about a training stage, but about directing a large district which handles a great deal of money.'

'It's only by being the son of the president that he can have such a prestigious position so quickly,' another student said. 'He was well-born. Good for him. But it's not very fair.'

For Jean Sarkozy, the protests over his latest job promotion were based purely on personal rancour.

'No matter what I say, what I do, I am criticized,' he told Le Parisien. 'I ask to be judged, not on my civil status, but on my acts.'