French President Nicolas Sarkozy Yells At Staff Before TV Appearance (VIDEO)

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has become an internet sensation in France after this video of him snapping angrily at his staff while preparing for a television appearance went viral (from The Guardian):

Within 24 hours, almost 400,000 people had tuned in to watch the film of the French President as he snapped at staff at public TV channel France 3 before explaining how he intended to save the EU from implosion during his six-month presidency.

Clearly ruffled after just driving past staff protesting his plan to personally nominate public television's head, Mr Sarkozy hit out at a technician who failed to reply when he said "hello" when placing his microphone.

"It's a matter of upbringing," he told the man. "When you're a guest you have the right to expect a hello... Or we're not in the public service here, we are at a demonstration ... incredible... and serious..."

...Full of nervous ticks, the impatient president tapped his fingers and played with his Patek Philippe watch - a present from his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy - asking whether the studio clock is working.

The unedited pictures of Mr Sarkozy were clearly released by irate France 3 staff, although unions denied this.

Sarkozy en off sur France 3
by rue89

Comments

[LynndaMaree]

What in the world is going on? I didn't see any yelling, meltdown or anything else. I can't speak French, but I had enough sense to understand there was no meltdown of any kind. What's with these bogus headlines.

[MissingAmerica]

I watched the full 8 minutes. Where was the meltdown? When Bush gets on camera, he calls us traitors, Fascists and terrorist enablers. NOW THAT'S A MELTDOWN! Meanwhile, the only thing apparent to me was that Sarkozy doesn't take kindly to sitting around doing nothing. Love the French! What a difference -- an educated French man in Europe, and an ignorant Connectexan leading the free world. It's a world gone mad!

[motu]

lame again huff

[JudyMillerDubyaAgent]

A total non-story. Where's the meltdown? At least Sarkozy's skin looks great. Who does his makeup? :D

[Bluedog12]

Hey Sarkozy Romney wants his hair back.

[laborgrunt]

I love French unions, they know who the boss is, they don't become awestruck by the celebrity of the presidency.
If it were some of our union members here in the United States they would practically nut in their pants with joy if they got to meet president Bush. Never mind that he has watched over the unprecedented up tick in outsourcing.

[Marlyn]

I love the way the French yell at each other. They are so genteel they can yell without raising their voice. Très bon.

[Jules1]

Did I blink and miss something?

[imsosure]

No news is better than that video clip!

[functor]

babe on the back was hot!!

[yellowdogminnesotan]

You call that a blow up. He should come over here and watch Bill-o. And why wouldn't he feel like his time is being wasted; he's the president of France. He's got work to do. What a non-story. At least bush flicked the bird to the T.V. camera.

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

Hey, I'll bet that make up brush really tickles.

[SEQUOIABISON]

Misleading headline, but in essence you have to be a little crazy to support the Iraq policies of Bush as he did when he first took office.

[marymansour]

What a silly misrepresentation of a non-event. The guy did absolutely nothing. Where's the melt down?

[MiraMcB]

I'm sorry I gave in to my baser instincts and even looked at this. There was no melt down. So the guy fidgeted a little bit. What are you supposed to do with yourself sitting there feeling like a lump in front of a camera for ten minutes?