Sarkozy Ascendant
The Washington Post editorializes on the tough stance Nicolas Sarkozy has taken in France. Despite a history of labor unrest causing the fall of previous governments, Sarkozy is acting aggressively to change the system in France. He shows no sign of weakening.
The French president, having promised a "rupture" from France's years of stagnation, faces the specter of street demonstrations of the sort that brought down French governments twice in the past 12 years. Rather than buckling, he is stiffening his spine. Declaring the other day that "we will not retreat" in the face of the protests, he looks ready to fight for his sensible program of downsizing the national bureaucracy, trimming unaffordable sweetheart pension benefits for some public-sector workers, scrapping taxes on overtime and weaning the French from a mind-set that disdains and devalues work.
Since taking power, Mr. Sarkozy, dubbed "the Omnipresident," has launched a whirlwind of policy initiatives amid a dizzying schedule of travel, speeches and diplomacy. Overseas, he has staked out a bold agenda, the main elements of which are warmer ties with Washington, a possible reinsertion of France into NATO's military command, a fresh emphasis on human rights and environmental concerns, and a tough stance against the specter of Iranian nuclear weapons. By defining French national interests not simply, and simplistically, in opposition to America's, he is making Paris a more relevant player in international diplomacy.
From the wording in this editorial, I presume it was written before the huge news that the French transportation union had caved in and voted to abandon their strike. Sarkozy stood fast in the face of raging street protests and appears to have broken the first union that tried to protect a sweetheart retirement deal better than virtually anyone else in the country has. Having won this round, he looks even stronger going into his next battles. He has a chance to at least make the first steps in bringing France into better economic health.
By martian, Friday, 23 November , 2007 @ 11:06 am
If Sarkozy continues with his reform programs at his present rate and continues to succeed with the strength he showed in the face of the transportation strike, he may well turn out to be the best president the French have had since WWII. With his warm feelings towards the USA, this could be a very good thing for both nations.