Yesterday, Nicolas Sarkozy was elected President of France. Hungarian born Sarkozy is the leader of the main center-right political party in France, Union for a Popular Movement. In round two of voting (France has a similar voting method to Louisiana, where there is a second round for runoffs), with 53% of the vote, he defeated Socialist candidate Segolene Royal, who had 47%. Turnout in this French election was remarkably high, around 87%.
President Bush promptly offered his congratulations to Sarkozy just minutes after the official results. Sarkozy’s victory is a definitely a good thing for the US and it’s relations with France. Under Chiraq, US-France relations have been somewhat shaky throughout the course of the Iraq War. Chiraq was vocal in his opposition to the war and refused to provide military support (though he later sent French military to Afghanistan), causing the Capitol Building cafeteria to famously renamed its French fries to “freedom fries.” Sarkozy, though opposed to the Iraq war, is considered more pro American than any other candidate.
Sarkozy promised economic growth, cutting taxes, revising labor laws (unions are much more influential in France), and strong immigration reform. He also vowed to bring global warming to the forefront of international politics.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/06/AR2007050600216.html
President Bush promptly offered his congratulations to Sarkozy just minutes after the official results. Sarkozy’s victory is a definitely a good thing for the US and it’s relations with France. Under Chiraq, US-France relations have been somewhat shaky throughout the course of the Iraq War. Chiraq was vocal in his opposition to the war and refused to provide military support (though he later sent French military to Afghanistan), causing the Capitol Building cafeteria to famously renamed its French fries to “freedom fries.” Sarkozy, though opposed to the Iraq war, is considered more pro American than any other candidate.
Sarkozy promised economic growth, cutting taxes, revising labor laws (unions are much more influential in France), and strong immigration reform. He also vowed to bring global warming to the forefront of international politics.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/06/AR2007050600216.html
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