Greetings from gay Paris my friends. And I am doing my absolute best to make that phrase a paradox! I’m here undercover parting with the Sarkozy crew since the man just won the French presidency yesterday…and like’em or not, these Frenchies know how to party! Dudes, they are the biggest wine producers on the planet, plus they do the Cognac thing, as well as Grand Marnier.  And partiers! You must try a snifter of the Grand if you are among the uninitiated! Orange liqueur heaven! But I digress…. let’s get back to the fry-makers…

France looks to new Sarkozy era

Sarkozy prepares battle plan

Sarkozy Wastes No Time After Win

Nicolas Sarkozy is the new French President-elect…and he is taking over control of one of the biggest and most troubled European nations by May 16^th. Man, the freakin honeymoon is over for this guy before the post-election party buzz even wears off! Nicolas is taking over control from President Jacques Chirac: the 74 year old political bedrock of France for the last dozen years, the face of France for over a decade. But this is no ordinary transfer of power. Oh no my friends! This is a big deal…and here’s why:

President Chirac is on the left side of the political spectrum: more of a socialist when it comes to individual rights and liberties and benefits, as well as being more liberal with social programs and individual choice. Jacques has also played spoiler to US international policies for a decade. In fact, he was openly hostile to the latest US war in Iraq, and became a whipping post for hawkish politicians to taunt—remember when the Congressional cafeteria changed the name of French fries to Freedom fries? Hahahaha what a fucking joke! But to be sure, many Americans still hate the French for their liberal ways and refusal to blindly support US tactics. Many Americans refuse to even drink French wine as part of their protest. Mmmmm…more for me to drink! But once again, I digress…

President-elect Sarkozy is the anti-Chirac. He is conservative…not rabidly conservative mind you, but certainly center-right. And as such he is more pro-money, pro-business, pro-small government, pro-police, pro-tax cut, and probably will be ‘pro-cracking down on civil liberties when shit hits the fan after his policies take effect’. There have already been two days of small-scale rioting simply because he was elected, so watch for some big-time rioting when he gets some of his pro-business laws passed (things like increasing the work week from 35 to 40 hours—a lot of French cream puffs are going to be pissed!) He will probably also reign in the civil liberties when/if ethnic and cultural clashes rear their head again, which is inevitable. But here is the biggest change between these administrations that I want you to know: Sarkozy will also be pro-US!

Watch for big changes coming on the international power politics stage my plaid friends. Cause it is coming! While Chirac used to be the spoiler, Sarkozy will be the supporter! If it makes it easier for you to understand, consider Sarkozy a more educated, smarter, more eloquent version of George W. Bush. The French Bush. Buisson or touffe? Hmmm…not sure of the usage.

So know this: big changes coming as France now more solidly supports the US/UK led War on Terror world wide. Europe in general is much more pro-US today than it was 5 years ago, so look for even greater cooperation of the EU with US on a host of issues, but certainly the military ones. As a side note, it was Chirac of France and Gerhard Schröder of Germany who were the twin towers of protest against the US war in Iraq. Both are more center-left guys on social policy and international relations who never saw eye to eye with the Bush administration in the US…and now BOTH are GONE! Schröder was replaced by the conservative Angela Merkel last year, and she is now joined by her conservative buddy Nicolas. Man, things are getting shaken up in Europe!

So Nicolas Sarkozy is the new face of France, hoping to make a huge break with the past politics of the great French way—he will be freeing up labor markets, changing the work week to gain competitiveness, and pushing for tougher measures on crime and immigration. And joining the War on Terror. And strengthening the Franco-German alliance with his conservative fraulien friend Angela Merkel. And probably visiting the White House real soon. And, and, and…

Damn! This guy has his dance card full already! France is a’changin’ for sure! We shall be keeping a close eye on Nicolas to see how things work out.

-PA