Sarkozy urges courage, calm and unity after downgrade

French president Nicolas Sarkozy has called for courage, calm and unity to overcome the financial crisis, as well as promising new reforms – without mentioning the loss of France’s prized AAA credit rating.

The Standard & Poor’s decision to lower France’s rating to AA+ was a blow to the country’s self-image and to Mr Sarkozy’s prospects of re-election, just three months before the first round of voting in the presidential poll.