By Patrick Belton
«A malaise-ridden France just elected the most pro-American president in its history. But Nicolas Sarkozy’s victory doesn’t mean the French are eager to see their socialist perks disappear in a flurry of Anglo-Saxon reforms. France’s new leader will need to be cunning, bold, and downright ruthless if he is to overcome the French resistance—and return his country to glory.
Nicolas Sarkozy may be his country’s most unabashedly pro-U.S. leader since Lafayette. France’s assertive new president has promised drastic economic reforms à la Anglo-Américain, and believes he has a mandate for change. He vowed a modernizing “rupture” with French politics during the campaign and said French politicians should emulate Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair. He speaks often of his admiration for the United States, and his rhetoric of hard work and appeals to the “France that gets up early” is pure Ronald Reagan. Accordingly, his proposals include lower corporate taxes, smaller public sector pensions, and a relaxation of the sacred 35-hour workweek. (...)»
Nicolas Sarkozy may be his country’s most unabashedly pro-U.S. leader since Lafayette. France’s assertive new president has promised drastic economic reforms à la Anglo-Américain, and believes he has a mandate for change. He vowed a modernizing “rupture” with French politics during the campaign and said French politicians should emulate Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair. He speaks often of his admiration for the United States, and his rhetoric of hard work and appeals to the “France that gets up early” is pure Ronald Reagan. Accordingly, his proposals include lower corporate taxes, smaller public sector pensions, and a relaxation of the sacred 35-hour workweek. (...)»
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Fonte: Foreign Policy
