While Minister of the Interior, he proposed amending a 1905 separation of church and state law that would affect the construction of mosques and this member of the Union for a Popular Movement defeated Segolene Royale to obtain his highest position.
This man made a somewhat controversial visit with the Dalai Lama in December 2008 in Poland, having earlier angered his critics by stating that his country is the "eldest daughter of the church". A speech in Senegal drew controversy when he noted that "the African has not fully entered into history" and came up with the idea of a "Mediterranean Union". While Minister of the Interior, he proposed amending a 1905 separation of church and state law that would affect the construction of mosques and this member of the Union for a Popular Movement defeated Segolene Royale to obtain his highest position. FTP, identify this man who succeeded Jacques Chirac as the President of France. 
This man made a somewhat controversial visit with the Dalai Lama in December 2008 in Poland, having earlier angered his critics by stating that his country is the "eldest daughter of the church".
Nicolas {Sarkozy}