Sarko Threatens to Walk Out of G20 Summit

French prez seeks tough financial regulations—or else
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 31, 2009 2:11 AM CDT
Sarko Threatens to Walk Out of G20 Summit
PARIS - MARCH 19: A Demonstrator holds a banner with an image of Nicolas Sarkozy on it during a protest on March 19, 2009 in Paris, France.Thousands of demonstrators have gathered on the streets of Paris today to bring to the attention of the French government the need for more support for workers...   (Getty Images)

Nicolas Sarkozy may walk out on the G20 summit if things don't go his way, the Times of London reports. The French president—who blames "Anglo-Saxons" for the financial crisis—is pushing for tougher global financial regulation and has told his ministers that he will abandon the talks if France's demands are not met.

France will not accept a G20 with "language that sounds good but contains no commitments," said a Sarkozy adviser. The French president is also seeking a global financial regulator instead of beefed-up national regulators favored by some leaders, a demand strongly opposed by Britain and the US. British officials claimed the French president is looking for a fight he can present as a victory to the French public. (More G20 stories.)

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