By Martin Arnold in Paris

Published: February 1 2007 02:00 | Last updated: February 1 2007 02:00
Nicolas Sarkozy, France's Gaullist presidential candidate, sought to shed his pro-US image last night, telling Americans they needed to broaden their horizons and "get interested in the world" if they wanted to be loved.

"This is a problem in the US and I want to say this to my American friends. The world does not come to a halt at the borders of your country," said Mr Sarkozy in a frank 90-minute talk with Charlie Rose of PBS, the US public television network.

"Beyond the Pacific and beyond the Atlantic, there are men and women like you. Get interested in the world and the world will learn to love you," said Mr Sarkozy in response to a question on why he opposed Turkey's membership of the European Union. "The world is not just the American empire. There's more to it than that."

The interview, conducted in French and translated into English, seemed designed to appeal to the clichéd image many people in France have of Americans as arrogant and imperialist, with little understanding of foreign -cultures.

Mr Sarkozy, candidate for the centre-right UMP party, is a vocal admirer of US society's core values of work, liberty and risk-taking. But he sees himself as the inheritor of France's Gaullist tradition of combining conservative principles with a social conscience and assertive foreign policy that is often at odds with the US.

His socialist opponents have branded him "an American neo-conservative with a French passport" in an attempt to undermine his bid to replace Jacques Chirac as president in April's elections.

The attacks have intensified since Mr Sarkozy was photographed with George W. Bush, US president, in September.

He also gave a speech in Washington last year criticising Mr Chirac's opposition to a US-led invasion of Iraq and France's "arrogance" in its relations with the US.

Last night he appeared to back-pedal, saying: "Jacques Chirac's international policy, particularly on Iraq, was the right one. He made the right choice at the right time." He even paid homage to Mr Chirac, his great rival, adding: "I admire him. I admire his energy, for his extraordinary career."

Mr Sarkozy appeared on US television a day after visiting the UK, where he hailed the policies of Tony Blair, prime minister, and gave a speech to thousands of French expatriates in London, appealing for their return to France to build a society of "work, merit and success".

The Gaullist candidate seems to be trying to capitalise on the difficulties of Ségolène Royal, his Socialist presidential rival, who has made a series of gaffes over foreign policy.

Mr Sarkozy has retaken the lead in opinion polls, with Ipsos yesterday showing him ahead by 8 percentage points.

In yesterday's Le Figaro newspaper, Mr Sarkozy promised to cut the tax burden by €68bn ($88bn) over 10 years and to dilute the 35-hour working week by scrapping social charges on overtime. "The Socialists are proposing to work less. I propose to let people earn more," he said.

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