“Nicolas Sarkozy, born on 28 January 1955 in Paris, France, is set to become the next President of the French Republic on 16 May 2007. He was elected to this position after defeating Socialist Party candidate Royal during the 2007 election. Sarkozy is known for his conservative stance on law and order issues and his admiration for a new economic model for France, suggesting that the country should have a more liberalized economy. Critics have accused him of being an authoritarian demagogue, ready to trade away civil liberties for political gains.[1] Until 26 March 2007, he served as the Minister of the Interior of France. He is often nicknamed Sarko by both his supporters and opponents.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Sarkozy
The question is not what we can expect from him; interestingly he has been elected on a clear agenda:
- Cancel the 35 hours/work week he considers as absurd
- Review labor laws to facilitate hiring/firing processes and stimulate work place/force and economy
- Re initiate European integration process (?)
- Strengthen relation with America while making clear that friends sometimes disagree
- Enforce existing immigration laws
- “Pacify” restless mostly immigrant suburbs
- Get French to roll up their sleeves and go to work
- Fix social security and retirement system
The question is how bad France wants to fix things!
Already last night his election was met with butt-flashing rock throwing demonstrations in Paris.
People want changes and understand the needs for some tough choices, reforms, as long as they affect somebody else!
The motto for the unions and the left has always been “do not touch any social gains”.
To reform the country without changing what is broken is going to be tough; do you remember the riots by teenagers a couple of months ago, when Chirac’s administration tried to make it easier for businesses to hire and Fire employees, with a one year probation period system, the government had to back up.
Like here, everybody’s dream is to be a State employee on some invalidity pension and retired at 30 with full benefits!
Nobody wants to work!
I foresee many demonstrations, clashes with riot police, cities, and the economy high jacked by union; the right to strike has always been respected but the right to work never been enforced, minority unions often “seizing” and blocking factories and preventing the majority from disagreeing with them and going to work; democracy at work – the leftist way!
Will the government stand steady and impose its will on the rabid looting retrograde and blind crowds that will soon storm the streets of Paris and the provincial capitals?
Will it give up the hard reforms for a suicidal status quo “a la Chirac”?
Take a look in your backyard and tell me how you see your future as far as international prestige, social security, retirement, or health coverage go!
I hope France will wake up and understand some things need to change. I hope America will see the light too!
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