Sarkozy In Seclusion
AFP is reporting that Nicolas Sarkozy has gone into isolation – as he promised he would do is he won the election – to prepare for taking over as president of France. He also has to focus on the upcoming parliamentary elections, since all of his promised reforms need a parliamentary majority to enact.
After a night of triumphant celebrations to mark his convincing win over Socialist Segolene Royal, the 52-year-old president-elect was seen leaving a luxury Paris hotel accompanied by his wife Cecilia and their son Louis.
His entourage refused to say where he was going, but Sarkozy said last week that if he won he would go into retreat "in order to immerse myself in the office, take the measure of the heavy responsibilities that will weigh on my shoulders, and rest after the clamour of the campaign."
Some rumours said Sarkozy would go to the island of Corsica before assuming the presidency on May 16.
Sarkozy scored an emphatic 53-47 percent victory over Royal, winning an unambiguous mandate for his programme of tax cuts, work incentives and curbs on union powers.
Sarkozy will take over as president from his former mentor, Jacques Chirac, on May 16.
Tens of thousands of supporters celebrated into the early hours in the Place de la Concorde in Paris, where Sarkozy issued a ringing appeal for unity.
"I want to say to everyone: I will not betray you, I will not lie to you, I will not disappoint you," Sarkozy declared.
"I have seen victories before in my career. But victory is only beautiful if it is generous. Victory is not vengeance – it is being open in spirit. Victory only has meaning if it is victory for the country in its entirety," he said.
Leaders from major western powers were quick to congratulate Sarkozy, who is expected to forge closer ties with the United States and work to raise Europe's global standing.
US President George W. Bush was among the first world leaders to telephone Sarkozy. "The United States and France are historic allies and partners. President Bush looks forward to working with president-elect Sarkozy as we continue our strong alliance," said a White House spokesman.
It remains to be seen how much change Sarkozy will actually be able to implement in France, of course. There is a really high aversion to change in France as was evident when the government tried to give employers the right to fire newly hired workers last year. The unions and the students went bonkers over that one. Couple that with "youths" in the Paris suburbs who practically form a country within a country and there will be a really tough row to hoe for Sarkozy. France desperately needs to change, but it is not yet evident that it is really ready for it.
World news | Gaius May 7, 2007
