From: George Sherwood 

Phil Payne wrote:
>> For France, its the socialist policies that give them their problems.
>
> France has a history of electing conservative presidents - this is actually
> the third in a row.  Expecting a radical shift in policies is a little
> far-fetched.
>
> Within Europe, he's the most outspoken critic there is of the USA's
> head-in-the-sand attitude to pollution and global warming.  He's fiercely
> anti-Iraq and anti-oil lobby.
>

Interesting that Der Spiegel doesn't take this as business as usual as you.

George

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,481349,00.html

Perhaps it wasn't exactly a landslide, but it was certainly an unambiguous
result: France's 44 million voters have chosen Nicolas Sarkozy, the strong
man of the governing UMP, with a resounding majority and a record turnout.
They have chosen his vision of a radical revitalization of the Republic and
a return to the nation's patriotic foundations. Sarkozy's convincing win is
the triumph of political individualism over the rival worldview of the
Socialist candidate S‚g•lene Royal and her vision of a "participatory
democracy" -- which too often got lost in vague affirmations.

What's clear about Sunday's vote is that it marks a turning point for
France. After the gray era of 12 years of "Chiraquie," the
citizens of France have backed the candidate who spoke of change and even a
"break" with established tradition. With an eye to chronic
unemployment, spiraling state debt, globalization and the disappearance of
entire industry sectors to lower-wage countries, the French have put their
money on a politician who has always vowed to radically and swiftly
liquidate France's historic mortgage -- the civil servant apparatus, the
privileges of teachers and social workers, the influence of the unions.

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