Eva Dadrian reviews the most pressing issues in the global French language press In light of the recent energy crisis between Russia and Ukraine, Europe has realised that "energy is the key instrument to economic growth and symbol par excellence of suzerainty." If this applies to Russia, Ukraine, France or Germany, asks Le Monde (12 January, 2006) shouldn't it be the same for Chad and other less developed countries? The Chadian oil saga with the World Bank, which began last October, reached its peak at the beginning of 2006 when the World Bank decided to suspend all its loans to Chad -- including the one that has helped finance the $4.2 billion Cameroon-Chad oil pipeline -- on the grounds that the Chadian government had broken its agreement to largely dedicate oil revenues to alleviating the country's extreme poverty. The agreement stipulates that all payments from the consortium that built the pipeline would go into an "escrow" bank account for "future generations" while taxes earned from the oil profits would go into the Chadian national treasury. If energy is the "key instrument to economic growth", then the funds are vital for the development of Chad's economy. An article entitled "Idriss Deby is not in the wrong after all" in Le Quotidien in Yaoundé (11 January 2006) asks "who are the future generations, if not today's children?" pointing out that Chad is in urgent need of schools, houses, hospitals and roads. By investing in the country's infrastructure, the Chadian government would be in a position "to alleviate poverty by 2015". As Canadians are preparing to go to the polls on 23 January, 2006, tax revenues from gas are drawing much attention and could be a decisive winning card for Paul Martin, the Liberal leader. Having promised to make gas tax revenues a permanent fixture for cities, Martin has also promised to create a $350 million-fund for building local sports facilities. Martin is also banking heavily on the French Canadian vote. On the issue of national unity and the French language, says La Presse (15 January 2006), Stephen Harper, the Conservative Party candidate lacks, according to Martin, the making of a prime minister. When "a prime minister talks about national unity, here in Montreal or elsewhere, he should do it in the two official languages of Canada" jibes Martin. With more than one million French-speaking Canadians outside the Quebec province, by "refusing to speak about national unity in French [Harper] is already failing as a future prime minister". La Tribune, another French language newspaper, opens the debate on the gender issue. Elections typically expose differences between the voting intentions of men and women and Canada's 23 January elections will be no different. A recent poll conducted between 10 and 12 January found that 34 per cent of women will vote for the Liberals, compared to 25 per cent of men and that 31 per cent of women intend to vote Conservative, compared to 42 per cent of men. In the French-speaking Canadian province of Quebec, the gender issue will be decisive -- women are rallying behind the Fédération des Femmes du Québec (FFQ). Under the title "Justice differed is justice refused" La Tribune raises the issue of "equal salaries for equal competence" arguing that Canadian women are not "asking for a gift, but their rights". The article reminds political parties and candidates alike that despite the law on equal salaries -- passed some 30 years ago -- "women are still waiting to be equally remunerated". Meanwhile, the French have to hold their breath for another a year before they can choose their next president. But thanks to the flamboyant and charismatic French minister of interior, Nicolas Sarkozy the tone of the political debate is already getting more intense. With a 30-year political career under his belt, Sarko, as his friends and foes like to call him, is muscling up and readying himself to contend for the top job in the country. Whether or not he will succeed, Sarkozy is resolute to enter the presidential race with his usual panache and fracas. But, still wanting to present himself as a likeable presidential candidate "who controls himself and stays calm" Sarkosky "has changed gear" says Libération. In fact, as reflected in his recent declaration on the issue of illegal immigrants, Sarkozy has evidently altered his tone. Taking on board Jacques Chirac's proposition to offer "an entry visa to the best brains" made in Bamako during the 23rd FrançAfrique summit (December 2005), Sarkozy declared that "in all the world's great democracies, immigration presents the possibility of bringing in new skills, new talents, new blood" and suggested that newcomers should only be granted residence permits if their presence in the country would benefit France. But, the article warns, people should not be fooled, and Sarkozy, who would "see most illegal immigrants escorted to the nearest port or airport and deported", remains as focused as ever on his former approach to immigration.
