Sarkozy in Malta

The decision by French President- elect Nicolas Sarkozy to spend a few days of reflection in Malta, is reported widely by the international press:

French President-elect Nicolas Sarkozy leaves the Fouquet's restaurant on the Champs Elyses, in Paris. Sarkozy headed to Malta Monday for a few days of seclusion with his family a day after his election triumph that promises to usher in radical economic reforms. France's next president Nicolas Sarkozy headed to Malta Monday for a few days of seclusion with his family a day after his election triumph that promises to usher in radical economic reforms.

The 52-year-old president-elect boarded a yacht on the Mediterranean island with wife Cecilia and their 10-year-old son Louis at the start of a three-day break far from the hectic post-election atmosphere in Paris, Maltese and French officials said on condition of anonymity. The family arrived in Malta on a private plane after spending the night in a Champs-Elysees hotel following Sarkozy's convincing electoral win Sunday with 53 percent of the votes to 47 percent for his Socialist rival Segolene Royal.

"He has not had a day off -- including weekends -- in more than five months and he just wants a break..., Today he is the top man. I think he deserves three days to reflect on running the world's fifth-biggest power," said Francois de la Brosse, a close friend of the Sarkozys. Sarkozy, a hyperactive rightwinger who relentlessly manouevred his way to power over the past five years, had pre-planned his post-electoral break to recover from his gruelling campaigning and to mentally ready himself for France's highest office. Ahead of him is an ambitious programme to overhaul France's economy. He has vowed to cut taxes for the wealthy, trim unemployment and curb the power of the country's powerful unions. He will take over from Jacques Chirac as president on May 17...