French President Nicolas Sarkozy wants shareholders — not corporate boards — to decide the salaries of company executives, and is vowing to crack down on “golden parachutes” for corporate chiefs.
Nicolas Sarkozy greets residents of Les Boucholeurs in western France. AP
The conservative leader, who faces a possibly tough re-election bid, presented the worker-friendly proposals on national TV Wednesday in the face of claims by critics that he is to close to the rich and big business.
Sarkozy said on France-2 TV that shareholder assemblies should decide the pay of top executives. He also called for ending payroll taxes on low-wage workers and high-pay retirement packages for top executives.
Socialist nominee Francois Hollande has held a consistent lead in polls that predict he will face Sarkozy in the finale of the two-round election on April 19 and May 6.
AP