It's President Sarko

This is the face of France at least for the next five years. Despite all the warnings of imminent havoc from Ségolène Royal, his run-off opponent, and the left, the French have given a solid mandate to Sarko the Hungarian immigrant's son to apply the radical medicine that he has been prescribing for the country's ills.

Sarko has won about 53 percent of the vote and Royal 47 percent with a very high turnout of about 85 percent. 

In his victory speech Sarkozy said the vote was a clear mandate for radical change.    "Together we are going to write a new page of history," he told supporters. "The page, I am sure, will be great and it will be beautiful." 

Sarko delivered a lyrical victory speech, voicing his love for "this great and beautiful nation which has given me everything." He promised to be "the president of all the French" and fulfill his pledges of immediate  reform. "The French have chosen to break with the ideas, habits and behaviour of the past," he said. "I will restore the value of work, authority, merit and respect for the nation."  He would also rid France of its habit of "repenting" for its past historical sins. "This repentance is a form of self-hatred," he said. He offered friendship to the United States, but urged Washington to act urgently on climate change. He also warned fellow European leaders that he expected them to join him in making the Union more protective. "It must not be the Trojan horse for globalisation's ills,"  he said.

Police are out in force around Paris and the big cities in case of rioting by poor immigrant youths upset at the victory of the man they hold responsible for their ills. Bus-loads of riot police are assembled near the Place de la Concorde, at the foot of the Champs Elysées where they are staging a concert to celebrate. Johnny Hallyday, the national rock idol for over four decades has come from his Swiss tax exile to appear alongside Sarko and their mates.

[Sarkozy voting in Neuilly, his hometown on the west of Paris, without Cécilia, his wife]

Royal delivered a defeat speech that was as graceful as her recent rhetoric was spiteful. Smiling, she wished Sarko well and told her supporters: "I can understand your disappointment but I tell you, something has risen in France which will not stop."    

Without overdoing the cliches, this marks the opening of a new era in France, yet at the same time, it is an unusual act of continuity. The French have thrown out their sitting governments or presidents in every election since 1978. For the first time since 1969, they have voted in a new President from the outgoing President's party. Sarkozy of course sees himself as une rupture with the Gaullist administration of Jacques Chirac which he has served for most of the past five years as Interior Minister.  In the same way, in 1979 Margaret Thatcher had served as a minister in the previously ruling Conservative party yet she broke with the consensus of her party.  This is in many ways France's Thatcher moment.

There will be bloodletting in the Socialist party -- after next month's parliamentary elections. Royal, as Libération pointed out yesterday, made a single-handed, improvised, attempt to reform on the hop one of Europe's last remaining post war era leftwing parties. She was from outside the leadership and she never really had their support. Now they will have to confront the need to adapt. The parallels are not simple, but it took many years after Thatcher's arrival for Britain's Labour party to do the same.   

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who was beaten by Royal to the party nomination last year, diagnosed the defeat within minutes after its announcement. "This is a big defeat, he said. "For the third time in a row, we have lost a presidential election. Our party did not carry out the renovation that was needed. Now we have to do it. " He proposed his own leadership.

Another victim of the vote appears to be François Bayrou, the centrist who came third in the first round and tried to persuade his supporters to back Royal. According to exit polls, 44 perecent of Bayrou's first round voters backed Sarkozy and 38 percent Royal. Most of Bayrou's parliamentarians have also deserted to Sarko. Bayrou is launching a new party to replace his Union for French Democracy.   

Comments

[JAP]

I didn't believe he'd make it. Are the French cleverer than Matthew Parris suggested? Great Expectations!

[Atheist_Kafir]

Although this is a step in the right direction, I believe it is too little and too late. The Islamization of Europe continues...unabated.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Protected/Articles/000/000/005/565uukdg.asp

[Michel]

Mitterand and Chirac did win re-elections, but yes, no incumbent President has been succeeded by a successor from the same party before.

One question that has not been asked: if some people are drawing comparisons between Sarko and Thatcher, would the Socialist party now be reformed, New Lab-style, after three successive Presidential defeat?

[Roger Goodacre]

Congratulations on your informative and balanced coverage, Charles - your reading of the situation and predictions were more or less spot on right the way through the campaign. You've generated an impressive following.

To my outsider's eyes, Ségolène Royal showed herself to be unworthy, particularly in the last few days, of the presidency, and I would guess that her transparent desperation and overblown self-righteousness swung the balance among the undecided.

Whether Sarkozy now sticks by his rather feeble reform programme, with his promises of yet more protection against free trade, or is able to push through some meaningful change remains to be seen. It should at least provide you with some interesting material for the next year or two.

[rocket]

good for you Charles!!!!

Long live tdg.ch

[trend]

I didn't believe it, I can't

[Ilya]

Congratulations! Eventually France made the right choice! I hope this victory will strengthen France and Erope in the face of extremism and fundamentalism. It is a good idea, Charles: Sarko really looks similar to Thatcher.

[Mike Nixon]

Congratulations France, my best wishes go to you. It is a tough decision that you have made and, as recognised, the real (and difficult) work starts now. An electoral program that - if Mr Sarkozy stays true to his campaign principles - will create hardships and make him few friends (and several enemies) in the short term will be difficult to implement: particularly with a highly polarised political spectrum and a divisive leader. However, I have faith that Mr Sarkozy's programme of supply-side economic reform will be beneficial for the French economy given the high productivity and ingenuity of the French people. Despite his divisive nature, it is refreshing to read of a politician who is not afraid to speak from conviction -regardless of it making him 'unpopular' with many - and I hope that he can now take France as a whole with him into the future. Bonne chance!

[Kyle Haemig]

Bonne chance, mes amis, et bien joue. The French and the Americans are more alike than either wants to admit. Maybe it's true, then, of the French like Churchill said of the yanks: "They can be counted upon to do the right thing - but only after they've exhausted all alternatives." France made the right choice today.

[KENWIT]

So it's James Cagney in charge. "Made it, Ma! Top of the world!"

[Dianne Maire]

Segolene Royal accomplished an amazing feat. Against Mr. Sarkozy’s machine and without solid support from her own party she got 46% of the vote.

I’m amazed as I read so many derogatory remarks about such an accomplished woman as this. How many of you could do as much? As a mother and grandmother I know how hard it is to raise a family. She did this and more and unlike many other public figures we have read about recently her children are solid citizens who love, respect and support their mother. She must have done something right especially in this day and time yet, all one reads is of dress and she lost her temper.

As I sit and watch Alain Juppé , convicted in 2004 for mishandling funds, on France 2 speak for Mr. Sarkozy I cannot help but smile and feel just a bit sorry even for the ignorant ones whose only compassion lies in their pocketbook. I believe he has now been assured a place in the foreign ministry.

It’s not over yet. The French are still French I believe. This is not America and Mr. Sarkozy will find De Gaulle’s ways will not be tolerated and not only by the 46%.

If the Ump is so earnest in fixing the French economy and against social programs perhaps they should consider giving up 100% free medical care, free hospitalization, SAMU free emergency paramedic services intervention (ambulances, etc), 75% coverage on medicine , free schools and universites, allocation logement (=financial help to pay your rent, the amount being based on your income and your rent),allocation familiale (=financial help to subsidize the costs of raising children, the amount being dependant on your revenues and the number of children), etc etc, the list is endless. In fact, why haven’t they been doing this? You think they have not been taking advantage of it for years? Hypocrites all but c’est la vie.

[jonnyboy71]

Sarko showed during his tenure of the Interior Ministry that he will do what he wants to reduce illegal immigration into France - including pushing immigrants on to the UK. He will be no friend of the UK where France's interests are concerned.

As an Englishman, I want to know that I have a government and a premier who is capable of and willing to put the UK first in the same way that Sarkozy will; Blair caved cravenly on farm subsidies, for example. Brown is useless; Cameron is too wet to cope, unless he's hiding his true colours. I want a Prime Minister who puts the UK and all the people who live here first, second and last, an English Sarkozy. Brown can go home.

[marie]

I'm french and I don't think Sarkozy choice is so great. He's the guy who's going to divide France in two. Maybe Royal had no change to propose but sarkozy is a beat of Berlusconi. He knows people from the press, the tv and doesn't hesitate to fire a man who publish some photos of Celia with her lover. If you do think that's a great thing to elect a guy who help the rich then I can't do anything for you. You might think I'm a left wing voter but no. I just can bear that someone thinks all that was made in the past is not good.I just believed that in France we have some values that Mr Sarkozy doesn't respect. What did Magaret tatcher bring to Great Britain? Employement but also precarity and I don't want France to look like Great Britain. What about the friendship with the US and his position in middle east. We'll but he didn' persuade me.

[Michel]

@jonnyboy:
"Sarko showed during his tenure of the Interior Ministry that he will do what he wants to reduce illegal immigration into France - including pushing immigrants on to the UK"

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Sarko actually closed down the Sangatte asylum centre soon after he became Interior Minister, at UK's request?

The camp's location near the Chunnel entrance made it too convenient for asylum seekers to sneak out and make a run for Dover.

[Marco]

Jolly good news for everyone in Europe.

I'm really impressed by Sarkozy's rhetorical style anyway...He really has a touch of Richard of Gloucester, I should say... Did you know that he is going to spend the fifteen days or so before his official investiture as President in a monestery, reflecting about his future responsibility? :)

[Frank Schnittger]

Congratulations to the French for the very high turnout - you put many other democracies to shame! There seems to have been a very high level of engagement with the electoral process in general which can only bode well for the legitimacy of the Government which emerges. Whether one agrees with Sarkozy, or not, it is important that the democratic process is respected. Those that wish for or incite civil unrest may find that it is they who are pushed to the margins of society. The romantics may love "revolution" as a pretext for shoring up their own position and their own mythologies. But the French people have spoken - and in the harsh light of reality that is the only thing which matters.

[Romain]

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Sarko actually closed down the Sangatte asylum centre soon after he became Interior Minister, at UK's request?

The camp's location near the Chunnel entrance made it too convenient for asylum seekers to sneak out and make a run for Dover."

They had help, from Non governmental Organisations and now thanks to Sarkozy, they are as much as before in Sangatte, but they have no help at all, and are dying.
The victory of Sarkozy is not a victory for France. The country will be divided into 2, whealthy people against poor, bosses against workers, and guess what ?? France won't win anything by electing such a man

[Christophe Denizot]

Cher Charles,
I enjoyed reading your comments during these last weeks. This election was too focused on domestic issues but when you are at peace I guess it's normal. Reading the international press is a good way to remember that France is not on a isolated planet even though too many Frenchmen don't think so. I've been listening and following Sarko's career for 10 years now even if I vote for the left normally. Left-wing voters must admit that he had a clear platform for reform and that he renovated the conservative ideology in the past 5 years while the Socialist party was only following the protest movements against the governments of Raffarin and Villepin without offering new ideas. Tonight the left pays the price for its lack of imagination, its lack of leadership and its refusal to see he world as it is. How could we give power to a party who wasn't even capable to give a clear choice in 2005 when we had to vote for a European constitution. The lies of Fabius (the former Prime minister, disciple of Mitterrand and nevertheless leader of the "no" within the PS) were not forgotten tonight. The centrist voters, very favourable to this constitution, surely didn't want to see Fabius as a minister. France is the only developped country to regard market and free-trade as something "dangerous" and "negative". As long as the socialist party isn't capable to accept the basic ideas of capitalism it will spend a long time time in the opposition I'm afraid. Segolène Royal tried her best but despite her efforts she lacked the charisma and, in many ways, the competence necessary to be "Présidente". She has now 5 years to improve and work harder on the issues she doesn't know too well yet (nuclear energy for example). Dominique Strauss-Kahn shoud be given a chance now to rule the party and reform it. He is by far the most competent socialist on economy. I voted for Royal but I say good chance to M. Sarkozy and I wish him success in the interest of France. I disagree with him on many points but I don't believe he is dangerous for France. De Gaulle was portrayed as a fascist in 1958 by the some on the Left (not only the communist). The right governed France for 23 years after that date. I wish the Left won't repeat the same mistakes now ! (sorry for my mistakes)
Christophe Denizot

[David Michon]

Hello I am French and I would however like to say something positive.

For me, the election of Sarkozy is a hope for a return of a France at ease with itself, positive, cartesian, realistic and dynamic.

A hope for the end of a France blocked with stereotypes, defeatism, hypocrisy ,where any new idea is seen as an agression.

I spent one year in Wales, and I was amazed and seduce to see how much peoples were at ease with themselves, and happy. I was seduced by so much hapiness, simpleness and positivism compared to France.

France is so exigeant with itself, and involved in the principle of equalitym mixed with an excess of rethoric, that it got used to classify everything, any idea,any behaviour to such a degree that it has become impossible to make a move without being put in a box.

The diabolisation of Sarkozy is an expression of it.

VIVE SARKOZY !!!

[Thomas-USA]

Amazing, truly amazing. I did not think France could do it, but they did! The thought of a vital, vibrant, and resurgent France should give everyone a reason to smile.

[Robert Marchenoir]

At last. Job done.

Now let's proceed and get moving. The real hard work is yet to come.

Now France has a real chance to step into the 21st century.

[Tara_Lane]

This has been fascinating to follow; thank you, Mr. Bremner, for your coverage that far supercedes the coverage on this here in America (as one might expect; I'm not trying to be negative about American journalism - - at least, not now.) I'm very curious to see what this means for Franco-American relations...if anything.

Tara Lane

[Andrew Chalk]

Sarko is not Margaret Thatcher. Expect less. When he leaves office their will still be laughable and lamentable 'natonal champions' like Airbus, French taxes will still be uncompetitive with alternative investment locales, and French labor law wil still be anti-enterprise.

[WCR]

Seems like a step in the right direction, but Thatcherlike? I'm doubtful this so-called "right-wing" leader will even try to do anything as bold as she - let alone succeed. France is not the UK. People there more than just accept a paternalistic government, they need it to maintain their puckish adolescence. Only cosmetic political changes are in store as the earth slowly shifts beneath them.

[Little Big Horn]

Ami entends-tu
le vol noir des corbeaux
sur nos plaines...

[jorg Andersen]

Bravo, Charles. Superb reporting and analysis. I don't know France very well, but you have opened my eyes. Let's hope Sarko does what he says.

[Ian Varey]

I would like to congratulate France for making a decision which is a very difficult decision to make. I only hope now that they will understand just what Britain went through in the eighties......and if they think we liked the medicine....think again....Of course, I hope that the social revolution will happen quicker than it has done in Britain because no matter how rich the economy is, it is the revolution of mentality, of population, of delequents and the social divide which actually counts. Thus far, it has not materialised in Britain, but we are the fourth richest economy in the world, so that must count for something, mustn't it?

[taxhaven]

This is truly amazing! Although not a supporter of every item on his agenda, I voted for Sarkozy because he appeared to me the most likely to reform France - and we need it badly! - but I was far from realizing so many people abroad (at least 'Times' readers) felt the same... As one of them puts it, this is also an opportunity for the French Socialists to reform (and they need it badly too). Let's just hope sensible economic measures will be taken rapidly and that the most overtly populist / counter-productive / protectionist proposals will be washed down the drain!

[trend]

Who said that people were always right? (CQFD)

[trend]

Ami, entends-tu
les cris sourds du pays
qu'on enchaîne ?

[Dominique]

to Romain,

"The victory of Sarkozy is not a victory for France. The country will be divided into 2, whealthy people against poor, bosses against workers"

I think your wrong. Your sentence should rather be :

"The victory of Sarkozy is not a victory for France. The country will be divided into 2, lefties people against righties"

That is quite different. If you look at detailed results, it is actually the innercities "bobos" who voted for Royal.

Unfortunatly

[Julie S]

A sad day for France! Sarkozy, the master of illusion, has bedazzled everyone into thinking he is the champion of a break with the past government. He represents more of the same - if not worse!

[Leo]

To AtheistKafir, I suppose that the fact the report you quote was published in 2003 has not escaped you. Since then action was taken, a law banning visible religious signs in schools was passed. Techers who had been left to their own devices now knew their reactions would be supported and since then islamist religious activity in French schools has abated. Cheer up, maybe one day you will have to find another subject of paranoia.