Presidential hopeful Nicolas Sarkozy today proposed making France's next head of state more accountable and limiting the office to two five-year terms.
In a swipe at President Jacques Chirac ahead of his expected presidential election campaign, Mr Sarkozy said the next president must not remain aloof but be a hands-on leader who takes responsibility and produces results.
Political commentators criticised Mr Chirac as being sluggish and remote during three weeks of riots in poor urban areas across France late last year that left Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and Mr Sarkozy, the interior minister, to bear the brunt of the crisis.
Mr Sarkozy (50), who makes no secret of his ambition to run for president in 2007, said a reduction in the presidential term from seven years to five for the last election exploded the myth that the president could be aloof from day-to-day concerns.
"The next president can only be different from the previous ones", Mr Sarkozy told said, heralding a fresh round of skirmishing with likely presidential rival Mr de Villepin for leadership of the right.
"He [the president] will have to give undertakings, not just on major policy outlines, but also that which touches the daily lives of the French people, their suffering and their aspirations."
He called for both the ruling party and the opposition to have a say in parliament in deciding who fills key posts now assigned by the government or president.
Mr Sarkozy also said the next head of state should regularly address parliament which often complains of being a mere rubber stamp.