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Sarkozy 'very energetic'
12/01/2008 19:46 - (SA)
Paris - Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, special guest at a meeting on Saturday of France's governing conservative party, praised the "very energetic" French president in an allusion to Nicolas Sarkozy's non-stop schedule, and his headline-making love life.
Blair, of Britain's Labour Party, received a standing ovation as he entered with Sarkozy, an odd couple bringing together the political left and right.
The invitation to Blair was another attempt by Sarkozy to symbolise the political openness that marks his own government - the conservative Sarkozy's Cabinet includes rival Socialists.
"In France, I would probably be in the government," Blair said, quickly adding, "No. I was kidding. I would be in the Socialist Party, but beside those who seek to transform it."
Blair, speaking French during his address before some 2 000 people, drew laughs in his description of Sarkozy, who divorced in October and quickly struck up a relationship with former model Carla Bruni, now a popular singer. Sarkozy has suggested the two plan to marry.
"Your president is very energetic," Blair said, "and in all domains".
Sarkozy called Blair one of Europe's "great men".
"He is intelligent, courageous. ... He modernised (an ally) like the United Kingdom."
Sarkozy also praised Blair's "leading role" in the adoption in June of the simplified European Union treaty designed to replace a failed draft constitution for the EU.
Blair is currently the Middle East envoy for the so-called Quartet of peacemakers - the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia.
He was invited to join the national council of France's governing Union for a Popular Movement which, was launching its campaign for municipal elections on March 9 and 16.
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