May 07, 2007
Just one more Sarkozy post
My father had been talking about Nicolas Sarkozy for weeks. We went to a French restaurant for my brother's birthday and he was convincing waitstaff to absentee vote for Sarkozy. His enthusiasm really rubbed off on me. I know Sarkozy is not a conservative in the American sense, but he's miles better than the alternative, and I really think this is a watershed moment for France. Apparently, I'm not the only one:
Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu, too, hailed Sarkozy's victory, calling it good news for Israeli-French relations.Netanyahu asserted that "Sarkozy is a friend of Israel and a personal friend of mine. He wants to help Israel achieve true peace, and he understands our security needs well."
When was the last time Israel was happy about anything France said or did?
Also, Quin Hillyer at the Spectator wonders: "If President George W. Bush has made Europe such a hotbed of anti-Americanism, why did the pro-U.S. Sarkozy just win election to lead France's government, after the generally-pro-American Merkel won a similar victory a year or two back in Germany?"
It's curious. I'm not sure of the answer but I do like the trend.
Posted by Karol at May 7, 2007 02:10 PM | TrackBack
Technorati Tags: Nicolas+Sarkozy Election+In+France
Hi, it's your resident French here. Karol you're absolutely right to be enthusiastic about Sarkozy, he's the closest to a reasonable and realist politician the French have elected--EVER.
Sarkozy thinks our social model/welfare state is dead and values America and Israel as important partners and allies.
He supported the Iraq war (although he doesn't anymore), he supported Israel during the conflict with Lebanon which is simply astonishing for a French politician. (Sarkozy is one-fourth Jewish)
As to Quin Hillyer at the Spectator, I wish his assumption were correct. I can't analyze the Merkel situation, but as to Sarkozy being elected: foreign policy only constituted a tiny fraction of the campaign, the French elected him to reform the country and nothing else because the French are very self-involved.
So Sarkozy means hope for France. And the great thing is, he was elected because people supported him, not because they voted against another candidate. (Chirac, anyone?)
But the French being themselves, I can see Sarkozy plummeting in the polls as soon as he starts the long-needed reforms, I just wish he won't back down when millions march in the streets...
Posted by: Julien at May 7, 2007 03:28 PM
