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Sarko Wins!
BBC: Sarkozy ‘wins French presidency’
Conservative Nicolas Sarkozy wins France’s election, early results say, and his rival concedes defeat.
20 Responses to “Sarko Wins!”
Excellent. I am watching his speech now, and am cautiously impressed. He is speaking to the greatness of France, calling to “bring back the pride of France” and instituting “change” with a feeling of “fraternity,” of a republic where there is a “place for everybody.”
He also talked of his respect for Royal and his love of being French.
He speaks of new ideas, no matter from where they come. He says that “today, France is back in Europe.” (So much for his so-called anti-EU stance).
He speaks to the US, respect for the great nation, while saying that friends do not always agree.
He sticks in global warming for some reason….
And speaks to the Mediterranean states…
Not so bad.
The speech ends with an impromptu (maybe) singing of La Marseillaise. Just like Casablanca…
Four years after strenuously objecting to invading Iraq, the French, like the Germans, have chosen the more pro-American candidate to head their government. C’est tres interresant, n’est-ce pas?
C’est vrais, Marc.
It’s also interesting how he addressed Algiers putting to rest some rather odd speculation in that area.
The turnout looks like in excess of 85%. This is real participatory democracy, no?
Daniel,
Can you provide a link to or, better yet, a translation of Sarko’s speech?
Marc,
I don’t find any translations, yet, or full texts at any of the French sites, but they should be up soon. If I find one, I’ll put it here.
There’s likely to be text at Sakozy’s site here, but I wouldn’t count on a translation. The site is quite sluggish right now.
There is hope for France yet. Let’s hope he’s actually serious re: reform which France so desperately needs and which the Socialists would have never addressed.
A good speech too. He actually got some good applause when he mentioned America without any hint of the typical rabid anti-Americanism.
Also, from a larger perspective, I think that this should give conservatives in America some hope, especially in the mid to long term, despite their present, mostly self-induced, political difficulties. In Europe, in my native Canada (even in my province of Quebec; the socialist “paradise” of North America), and other countries, there is a growing trend towards the right, economically, politically, even socially. I think as the boomers start to retire, these trends will accelerate and become even more pronounced especially as the left, for the most part, has been either unable and/or unwilling to address most of the issues that affect today’s voters. The cradle-to-grave welfare system is failing or will fail, but the left clings to it religiously.
It’s 2007, but it seems that they seem determined to continue fighting the battles of a generation ago. They keep applying or trying to apply the “solutions” that seemed to work back then, under a completely different political, social, demographic and economic environment, to the problems of today. The solutions of the right may not be perfect, but at least most of them realize the enormous problems and challenges that confront todays voters.
So again, kudos to the common sense of the French, which prevailed in this election.
Four years after strenuously objecting to invading Iraq, the French, like the Germans, have chosen the more pro-American candidate to head their government. C’est tres interresant, n’est-ce pas?
Especially in light of Spain and Italy, our supporters, seeming to go in the other direction, and Tony Blair about to go as well. Do you feel that in some way the people of Germany and France have voted as they have because they now approve of the War in Iraq or do you just find it interesting irony? Is this a predominantly a pro-American vote or an Anti-socialist, law and order vote, an economic vote or a foreign policy vote?
And before Lynx jumps on me, let me say, I am asking because I don’t know and would like informed opinions.
outofcontext,
It’s an interesting irony that in no way represents approval of the Iraq War. It does hold promise, however, as it shows that being against all things American isn’t the path to electoral success. It also stands in sharp contrast to Schroeder’s successful use of anti-Americanism in 2002.
I doubt very much this was a vote about America. At best, Ameria was a subtext in the economy debate.
domajot is correct re: that the vote was definitely not about America. However, one of Royal’s campaigning points was that Sarko was pushing France toward an Anglo-American type of economy, so there the choice was rather stark between the two.
Sarko is much more market-friendly and after decades of socialist-light policies, French voters probably wanted to have another revolution of sorts.
Incidentally, with the huge turnout, and Sarko’s margin, he has about as close to a mandate as he could have hoped for. And he knows it.
outofcontext hehehe, I’m that predictable eh? Not to worry, I took it in the spirit of an honest question, no barbs implied.
If I am to answer assuming that France, despite many differences is much like Spain, I will tell you that the US has exactly nothing to do with the vote. The voters aren’t voting for Sarko because he’s more anti-American, in fact they are more likely to think that a slightly unfortunate side effect. No, anti-Americanism (some justified, far more deeply irrational and silly) is alive and well. Sarko is, as you said, the law and order candidate. Socialists have become associated with the “let’s all be great FRIENDS! All those rioters need is a biiiiig hug! Kumbayaaaaaaaa!!”
It gets old real fast.
Europe is much more lefty than the US as a whole, but it is yearning to have someone put the house in order, to tell them that it’s OK to be PROUD of your nation, that patriotism isn’t a four letter word. We don’t wish to be without our social benefits (like universal health care) but would like to make clear that with privileges come obligations, and laws need to be ENFORCED and disobedience should make for punishment, not therapy. The conservatives have figured this out sooner than the liberals, and they will continue to grow in the EU until the left can get it’s shit together, if you’ll pardon my French
I’ve received 2 E-mails from France from my very pro-Sarkozy friends. Both expressed fear of a round of strikes from public sector employees of services like the railroad the minute Sarkozy starts acting on his reform plans. Striking is a way of life in France, and everyone is held hostage to them.
The message I got: we hope it won’t be too bad and that Sarkozy will be able to avoid the worst of possible outcomes.
doma, in the Mediterranean countries (and I include my own) complaining, not soccer, is the national sport. For having some of the best qualities of life in the world, you ask any Frenchman, Spaniard or Italian how the country is going and they will always say “Awful, it’s pathetic. What I would do is…” It’ll likely blow over, and will only strengthen Sarkozy politically, as most people will look down on violent protests against a clear democratic result. He will gain respect from many because he pisses off the people many French citizens are becoming very tired of.
There are four directions for Sarko, as I see it:
1) He becomes France’s Thatcher and is beloved among American conservatives for hawkishness, pro-Americanism and free market reforms.
2) He finds himself completely undermined by the very law and order issues he was voted in to control. Strikes, riots, etc. tear the country apart and Sarko finds himself unable to do anything about it.
3) He becomes another Chirac, promising sweeping reforms and delivering nothing. He continues to stand up to the US on major international issues.
4) He becomes like a Blair but without the Iraq war. More pro-US than Chirac but certainly no Thatcher. And he institutes significant but reasonably popular reforms with a coalition of supporters.
It’s one of the four. I pick number 3 but I hope it’s 4. His first major US-directed comment was a demand that the US take the lead on global warming and that global warming is Sarko’s top foreign policy issue. American conservatives will wish he didn’t mean it – or downplay it as Daniel Berczik does above – but I suspect Sarko really does believe global warming is a deadly serious international issue. Unfortunately, I have a suspicion that Sarko is like Chirac in that he is more interested in becoming President than anything else.
Lynx said: “It’ll likely blow over, and will only strengthen Sarkozy politically, as most people will look down on violent protests against a clear democratic result. He will gain respect from many because he pisses off the people many French citizens are becoming very tired of.”
The example of Thatcher suggests otherwise, Lynx. She had a much stronger mandate, but in the struggle with the Miners’ Union the intellectual class and much of the media were vehemently against her…and she got brutal press.
Sarko faces immense opposition from entrenched elites, unions, students, intellectuals…people who can not only do the barricades in the streets, but who command media power to “frame” the story as themselves representing the “true France” against the arrogant “Sun King” quasi-foreigner (read: Jew) Sarko.
If President Sarkozy does intend real reforms, he’d better have Thatcher’s courage, because it won’t be pretty.
I just realized that we may be overanalyzing and doing it too soon. The Parliament is yet to have its elections, and a lot of what Sarkozy can and can not do depends on those outcomes.
When does Sarko take office?
Holly-
I’ve read that Sarkozy will be sworn in May16.
Another newspaper says May 16-19.