Paris – Nicolas Sarkozy’s ascent to the French presidency exemplifies the France that he envisions: a land of opportunity for those – even immigrants’ children like himself – who work hard and abide by the rules.
Critics call Sarkozy, 52, a dangerous neoconservative. He heaps praise on America and strongly backs Israel. He often sees society in terms of black and white, right and wrong.
Sarkozy got to the presidential Elysée Palace through grit, huge ambition and opportunism, and by promising a fresh start for France after 12 lackluster years under his predecessor and former mentor, Jacques Chirac.
Although Chirac and Sarkozy are both political conservatives, they were often rivals, not allies. For all his guile and experience, even Chirac could not thwart Sarkozy’s rise to the top – even though he is thought to have had other successors in mind.
“I don’t want to be president; I must be president,” Sarkozy told biographer Catherine Nay.
Pugnacious and dynamic, Sarkozy has upset many. He fanned anger in poor neighborhoods where many blacks and Arabs live by calling delinquents there “scum.” The neighborhoods were swept up by a three-week wave of rioting in late 2005.
He has refused to apologize.
For many, this election was a referendum on Sarkozy. Many voters backed his challenger, Segolene Royal, in hopes of keeping him out.
As president, his main jobs will be defense and foreign policy.
His frankness could clash with France’s reputation for cool-headed diplomacy.
A fervent supporter of Israel and its security, he also supports a Palestinian state. He says his first big overseas trip will be to Africa, a longtime French sphere of influence that has been a growing source of illegal immigrants to Europe.
Sarkozy has embraced the nickname “Sarko the American” affixed by critics, saying France and the United States have a democratic kinship that transcends disagreements like one over the Iraq war.
Sarkozy has repeatedly plucked policy ideas from the United States. As interior minister, he led a “zero tolerance” policy on crime similar to that of former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. He favors a form of affirmative action – to hoist marginalized blacks and Arabs into mainstream society.
He is a fierce critic of France’s 35-hour work week, a Socialist reform of the 1990s, and promises to get around it by encouraging more overtime with tax breaks.
