Sarkozy runs into trouble

President Sarkozy's "right-wing" jogging habits provoke the anger of French intellectuals.

Jogging - innocent, healthy exercise or a capitalist pastime designed to undermine democracy? That's the debate that's gripping France - where else?

Prominent intellectuals claim President Nicolas Sarkozy's love of jogging is un-French. They say it could even be a right wing plot to undermine French society.

Celebrated philosopher Alain Finkelkraut has said: "Western civilisation, in its best sense, was born with the promenade. Walking is a sensitive, spiritual act. Jogging is management of the body."

Sports editor Odile Baudrier agreed, saying: "Jogging is, of course, about performance and individualism, values that are traditionally ascribed to the right."

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