As the French presidential elections kick off, President Nicolas Sarkozy has launched a personal Twitter account — a sign of social media’s increasingly influential role in politics.
His first tweet was straightforward, announcing his new account and thanking those who are “following” him. His second announced a primetime television news appearance. Sarkozy is expected to officially announce his reelection campaign during the TV appearance.
Sarkozy’s new Twitter feed might also be an attempt to gain some momentum in the polls, the AP reports. The embattled politician, who many blame for France’s economic woes, trails the Socialist nominee Francois Hollande, both in the polls and in Twitter followers.
In the U.S. Republican presidential campaign, Twitter has changed the way candidates communicate with voters and even reporters. A campaign can send out quick blasts to correct misquotes or announce endorsements and events. And President Obama’s success among young voters was spurred by his campaign’s aggressive social media efforts.
As of Wednesday morning, Sarkozy had nearly 40,000 followers.
