At least this is creating a major shitstorm for Sarkozy, with many voices on the right strongly critical.

The cartoonists are having a field day:

Don't pay attention: it's a quaint local custom: we say a few words about human rights and then we move on.

let me introduce my secretary of state for human rights. Go ahead, tell him what you want. I've checked, the guy doesn't understand a word of French

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes