An American friend in France?
May 8, 2007| By Nathaniel Ward
On Sunday, reformer Nicolas Sarkozy decisively defeated his socialist rival to become the next president of France. Campaigning on a platform of reviving his nation’s anemic economy and clamping down on recent violence in the immigrant population, he went so far as to declare in his victory speech that America “can count on France as a friend.”
“Sarkozy’s electoral victory is a favorable change of leadership for the United States,” Heritage expert Sally McNamara writes in a post-election analysis. “With huge foreign policy questions such as Iran and Darfur taking center stage, America will undoubtedly benefit from a more cooperative approach from the Élysée Palace.”
At the same time, McNamara worries that Sarkozy shares his nation’s long-time affinity for greater Continental centralization under the European Union. What’s more, his pro-American stance, while “brave and refreshing,” is likely to face stiff opposition from his country’s political establishment.
Sarkozy has embraced a bold vision for change, she concludes, but she cautioned that “he has a very tough job ahead of him.”
Nathaniel Ward is the Editor of MyHeritage.org—a website for members and supporters of The Heritage Foundation.
