Videos: Zapatero, Sarkozy, Berlusconi and Aznar get their tongues out
It’s pure logic - EU politicians should be able to speak several languages without problems, right? The truth is a bit worse
multimedia
By Eduardo S. Garcés, Leeds. Translation Jonathan D Mellor.
- English
05/03/08
Shoemaker – sorry – Zapatero (that's what it translates to in Spanish) – embroiders his English and then teaches the French a thing or two
Well-constructed phrases, total fluency, an accent that is neither Brown nor Sarkozy, ZP gives us his reflections on bonsais. Then he permits us to enjoy his Français marveilleu in the Gallic parliament. Priceless
Sarko invites us to invest in ‘Frencs’
Can’t be a bad life, being Nicolas Sarkozy: president of France, new darling of the tabloid press, married to an Italian ex-supermodel and singer … Nothing to complain about, for sure! So he decides to give something back to the good life, and invites us to invest in a place called ‘Frencs’ so that we do money and so that he does money with us. Watch out for that final smirk and pose for camera
Aznar, Georgetown and los Moors
Masterclass from Spanish ex-prez Aznar. Pay attention kids! Hope you all got the simultaneous translation Assnar-Inngleesh, Inngleesh-Assnar
Poland’s got rhythm
Our Polish friends take videos on the dialectical skills of politicians to a new level. The president of the Polish Social-democratic Party, Wojciech Olejniczakn, gives us a warm welcome
Italy: the democracy for flag
We’ve already shown a video parodying former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi. Today we bring you the inimitable Itanglish of the real Macoy. And just in case there were any doubts, G. Dubya makes it clear that Silvio speaks English real good! Mamma Mia (that’s 'Oh Mother of mine to you')
In the end, we’ll all be speaking Chinese
Or for that matter, Japanese. You can’t help wanting to vote for this Mini-Me in the making: he presented himself –unsuccessfully– for the elections for governor of Tokyo with a simple programme: ‘I do not have one single constructive proposal, let's destroy this country now’
(Photo homepage: nunocardoso/ Flickr)

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