A year ago, Nicolas Sarkozy came to power, billing himself as the only person brave enough to reform France. He was the French change candidate, flamboyant and sure of himself. Now he is fighting for his political life. A year since he took office, polls show his support at 28% and falling.

In a 90 minute interview the once once flamboyant President was replaced by a more modest personae, which took responsibility for the mistakes and failures of the past year, ranging from turmoil in his own personal life (i.e. courtship and marriage to Carla Bruni) to in fighting within his administration and policy setbacks, beginning with the announcement of reforms, only to later shelve them, causing confusion and leading many to question his ability to manage his office.

Despite his more humble tone, however, Sarkozy made clear that he would continue to attempt to reform France on many fronts at once, including defending his loosening of the 35 hr week and his cutting of public sector jobs despite growing street protests from high school students and education staff. He also reiterated his hard stance on illegal immigration and even promised to hold a referendum on Turkey's ascension into the EU, something for which there is strong opposition in France.