French President Nicolas Sarkozy's anniversary press conference. Image from www.20minutes.fr. Marking one year in office, his bombastic private conduct as a "president-star" and unapologetic display of personal ambition have been laid bare before the public. Lacking the courage to reform the issues most concerning citizens, all sought-after innovations have hit a snag. The entire society is mired in low-pressure stagnation, and President Nicolas Sarkozy’s approval ratings have plummeted to rock bottom. Polls by the left-wing Libération show 59% of citizens consider Sarkozy’s first-year performance a complete failure, while Paris Match indicates 72% are highly dissatisfied with his first year. He has become the most disappointing head of state for the French people since the Fifth Republic began fifty years ago, prompting doubts about his capacity for innovation. Conversely, Prime Minister François Fillon’s prudent and grounded approach has won public praise (with poll numbers differing by over twenty percentage points). His style, exactly opposite to the president’s, has shaken presidential authority and created discord. The contradictory policies between the president and prime minister have hampered all current reforms and administrative procedures.