The latest French revolutionaryan immigrant's son and free market crusader with a decidedly Gallic private lifechallenged his fellow citoyens to work harder, become more innovative and in general act like Americans. Burdened by a sluggish economy and lack of opportunity, the public made him president. But a series of strikes and riots late in the year reminded Sarko that, "la plus ça change..."
His final year as Russia's President has been his most successful yet. At home, he secured his political future. Abroad, he expanded his outsizeif not always benigninfluence on global affairs