VIDEO Public criticism as Nicolas Sarkozy insults French citizen

Marţi, 26 februarie 2008, 16:07 English | Regional Europe

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has become the target of political opposition and public outcry since last Saturday when he insulted a French citizen at an agriculture fair in paris. Angered by the man, who refused to shake hands with the President saying "You make me dirty", Sarkozy told him "Casse-toi alors, pauvre con!" ("Get away, you stupid!"). The incident was caught on camera and was first posted on the website of Le Parisien, then on YouTube.

The French media took stand with newspapers from Le Monde to Le Republicain Lorrain harshly criticizing his attitude, for the delight of Sarkozy political opponents.

While members of the French Government tried to tone down criticism by speaking of a public over-reaction, the French President has not yet spoken of the incident.

See the Sarkozy video: