Sarkozy Wins!

In a huge victory for conservatives, Sarkozy won the Presidency of France with a 6% margin. Slightly more than 75% of the French turned out to vote. He will take over for Chirac on May 16th.

This is also a victory for America: Sarkozy is pro-America and hopes to improve the relationship between America and France that has deteriorated under Chirac.

Not surprisingly, the Taliban, currently holding a French foreign aid worker and several other afghans hostage, has threatened to kill the hostages if Sarkozy doesn't announce a timetable to withdraw French troops from Afghanistan. (click here to read article)

While time will tell how Sarkozy plans to deal, or hot deal, with terrorists, we do know several things about his plan for France. Sarkozy supports a longer work week and less vacation time. He seems willing to confront issues of social unrest.

Sarkozy stated: "France is undergoing an unprecedented identity crisis. Her model of integration has broken down, her social model is failing, her cohesion withers. A terrible doubt overcomes her. She has doubts about her values, her future, her identity, her vocation."

Let's all hope Sarkozy helps France embrace a value system that appreciates capitalism, individual freedom and personal responsibility.