Message To America: 'you Can Count On France As A Friend'...

[Logan13]

MESSAGE TO AMERICA: 'YOU CAN COUNT ON FRANCE AS A FRIEND'...
05/06/07

PARIS, France (CNN) -- Conservative Nicolas Sarkozy greeted news of his election Sunday to a five-year term as France's president with a vow to serve as a leader for all people of France.

"The president of the republic must love and respect all the French," he told cheering supporters at his campaign headquarters. "I will be the president of all the French people.

Sarkozy won with 53 percent of the vote in Sunday's presidential runoff, according to preliminary results issued by the French Interior Ministry. Socialist Segolene Royal took 47 percent of the vote.

"The French people have called for change. I will carry out that change, because that's the mandate I have received from the French people."

Sarkozy added that he wanted to tell his "American friends that they can rely on our friendship ... France will always be next to them when they need us."

But, he added, "Friends can think differently."

He then called on the United States "not to impede" in the fight against global warming. "On the contrary, they must lead this fight because humanity's fate is at stake here." (Watch Sarkozy's victory speech )

U.S. President George W. Bush called Sarkozy to congratulate him on his victory, a White House spokesman said in a written statement.

Sarkozy said he would also work to form a link between Europe and Africa. "We have to overcome hatred to give way to the great dreams of peace and civilization," he said. "It's time to build a great Mediterranean union."

Sarkozy said he would put in place an immigration policy "that is going to be controlled" and a development policy "that is going to be ambitious."

But he said that France would "stand next to" those who are persecuted by tyrants, dictatorships."

"We are going to write together a new page of our history. This page, my dear fellow citizens, I am sure it will be great."

Socialist Segolene Royal, a 53-year-old mother of four, acknowledged her defeat -- with 47 percent of the vote -- in a speech to supporters moments after the polls closed at 8 p.m. (2 p.m. ET).

"Keep the faith, keep intact your enthusiasm," she said at her party's headquarters. "I will keep on fighting the fight that we have started today." (Watch Royal's speech )

Sarkozy, a former interior minister, and Royal were in a run-off after emerging as the top candidates from the first round of voting on April 22.

Sarkozy will replace Jacques Chirac, a conservative who has been France's president since 1995. His election makes him the first French president born after World War II.

Voting was brisk. According to official figures, more than 75 percent of registered voters had been to the polls by 5 p.m. (11 a.m. ET).

Sarkozy voted in the affluent Paris suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine where he lives, while Royal cast her vote in the western Poitou Charentes region, where she is regional president.

The campaign has been dominated by a debate over how to improve economic growth and reduce unemployment among the young, but its most explosive moments focused on immigration.

Appealing to right-wing voters, Sarkozy said France could not provide "a home for all the world's miseries."

On Friday, Royal said a Sarkozy presidency could trigger violence and brutalities in suburbs with high immigrant populations, prompting Sarkozy to condemn her "threatening comments."

CNN correspondent Hala Gorani reported extra security in some areas around Paris where police have previously clashed with youths of North African origin. There are no official figures on the number of North African immigrants and their French-born descendants in France. Unofficially, the number is estimated at between 3 and 6 million.

Prior to the election results being made public, Sen. Richard Lugar, an Indiana Republican, said a Sarkozy victory would be favorable to the United States.

"Clearly, his views are more in line with ours," Lugar told CNN's "Late Edition With Wolf Blitzer."

Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, concurred: "I do. I do," he told CNN. "I mean, it would be nice to have someone who is head of France who doesn't almost have a knee-jerk reaction against the United States.

[spywizard]

yep, now who are the Chinese, and the Russians going to buy their oil from??

[Prada]

I think alot of people are wary of Sarkozy. He seems somewhat more power hungry and tougher then Chirac and definitly more then Segolene Royal. He is a right wing conservative afterall and somewhat praises America. So people have their doubts but he went on the platform of change to progress and that is what I believe captivated people attention. That and the fact that he was already well know in recent French politics

[Logan13]

I think alot of people are wary of Sarkozy. He seems somewhat more power hungry and tougher then Chirac and definitly more then Segolene Royal. He is a right wing conservative afterall and somewhat praises America. So people have their doubts but he went on the platform of change to progress and that is what I believe captivated people attention. That and the fact that he was already well know in recent French politics

From what I understand, part of his platform was based on the promise of ***orting illegal immigrants.

[Prada]

From what I understand, part of his platform was based on the promise of ***orting illegal immigrants.

Part of the instigators of social unrest was due to illegal/legal immigrants. The situation has become more of an issue due to the recent anarchic behaviour. Many french want it to be dealt with, with a heavy hand. Who else then a right wing "authoritarian". It may be empiricist but in America many illegals are actually somewhat needed versus in France many are just hooligans, vagabonds and henceforth a public nuissance.

[RA]

Part of the instigators of social unrest was due to illegal/legal immigrants. The situation has become more of an issue due to the recent anarchic behaviour. Many french want it to be dealt with, with a heavy hand. Who else then a right wing "authoritarian". It may be empiricist but in America many illegals are actually somewhat needed versus in France many are just hooligans, vagabonds and henceforth a public nuissance.

Its true that the heavy lifting has always been left to conservatives.

[Prada]

Its true that the heavy lifting has always been left to conservatives.

The final round of the french presidential race was amongst two candidates.
You have the choice, left leaning socialist in Selogene Royal or the rightwing conservative Nicolas Sarkozy who has explicitly stated he will deal with the issue. The same cannot be said about Royal.

[Kärnfysikern]

I hope Sarkozy will be able to convince the french to accept the EU constitution. I also hope he will be able to influence other EU leaders to look for nuclear power as a means to reach the EU emission cuts.

Royal simply suckes in debates, completely worthless.

[Prada]

I hope Sarkozy will be able to convince the french to accept the EU constitution. I also hope he will be able to influence other EU leaders to look for nuclear power as a means to reach the EU emission cuts.

Royal simply suckes in debates, completely worthless.

Karn,I actually think most of the French were looking for somewhat in between Sarkozy and Royal they had to choose amongst the two and it was a tight race.

Sarkozy doesnt seem to necessarily like to reason with people, if he believes in something he will do it.

[Kärnfysikern]

Karn,I actually think most of the French were looking for somewhat in between Sarkozy and Royal they had to choose amongst the two and it was a tight race.

Sarkozy doesnt seem to necessarily like to reason with people, if he believes in something he will do it.

I can see why they choose Sarkozy over Royal. Royal is so bad at debating.
But I know hardly anything about the two. Royal seems a bit to left for my taste though.

Is Sarkozy realy hostile towards imigrants or is that just something the lefts want to claim he is? Seems to me he has a genuine care for those in need but also will not accept people taking advantage of france?

[kfrost06]

Is Sarkozy realy hostile towards imigrants or is that just something the lefts want to claim he is? Seems to me he has a genuine care for those in need but also will not accept people taking advantage of france?

Sarkozy is an immigrant. He just believes that the immigrants don't have the right to come to France to cause trouble and riots. They should come to better their lives not destroy others.

[Prada]

I can see why they choose Sarkozy over Royal. Royal is so bad at debating.
But I know hardly anything about the two. Royal seems a bit to left for my taste though.

Is Sarkozy realy hostile towards imigrants or is that just something the lefts want to claim he is? Seems to me he has a genuine care for those in need but also will not accept people taking advantage of france?

His position seems to be less tolerant of immigrants that are basically hooligans and the left just seems to distort his image with it.

[Benches505]

Sounds like a leader to me!

Actions speak much louder than word ,we will have to see what he does over the next year.

[bigboy003]

Through out the history of the U.S. the french have screwed us (except one time), we bail their ass out of every war and they hate us... the world makes no sense to me!

[LawMan018]

Through out the history of the U.S. the french have screwed us (except one time), we bail their ass out of every war and they hate us... the world makes no sense to me!

If it wasn't for The "French," America wouldn't be what it is... The French hae helped us and supported us through quite a lot, even though they decided to withdrawal from Iraq doesn't mean they do not support us... They're a shining example (in some aspects) of actions America should take sooner!

[bigboy003]

They would have been under nazi control if it wasnt for us....like i said they have helped us one time but that was only bc they hated england so much...

[Carlos_E]

They would have been under nazi control if it wasnt for us....like i said they have helped us one time but that was only bc they hated england so much...

France was the first country to offer the US aid to help the hurricane katrina victims.

[Logan13]

France was the first country to offer the US aid to help the hurricane katrina victims.

Not to be an ass, but so what?

[bigboy003]

I'm not going to start a fued about the US and French relationship.... your right, if they woulnt have helped us out we wouldnt be here now so im done ragging on France...

[RamyGras]

Carlos was proving a point that although the French haven't been supportive in our war in Iraq, they are not our enemy, and they are more than willing to help us when in need. He was trying to change the mentality of bigboy, and was very successful, it seems.

[Logan13]

Carlos was proving a point that although the French haven't been supportive in our war in Iraq, they are not our enemy, and they are more than willing to help us when in need. He was trying to change the mentality of bigboy, and was very successful, it seems.

I'm sorry, but I view their intentions with the same skepticism that many of you use towards our own gov't..........

[RamyGras]

I'm sorry, but I view their intentions with the same skepticism that many of you use towards our own gov't..........

Agreed. No governement in the world is rainbows and gumdrops.

[Kärnfysikern]

If he can make the french accept the EU constitution Il love the dude. Its time for the european people to realise we will achieve alot more through EU than we will ever do nation by nation. His critisism towards a Turkey membership also seems reasonable. I have no problem with Turkey becoming member in the future though, but they have things they need to fix first.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5327488.stm

I like that he wants to push for the EU to be as self reliant as possible. Energy security needs to be ensured, especialy with Russia behaving as they are. EU can not go on beeing ***endent on Russian gas.

[Lexed]

do the french even have a army

[BigLittleTim]

Sarkozy supports the United States as a friend, but he has also said that it is the duty of a true friend to offer criticism and to disagree when you see your friend heading down the path to disaster.

The French were in Vietnam before we were. They have half a century's worth more experience than the United States does in fighting an unpopular and loosing battle of occupation half-way round the globe.

Remeber; the French were fighting the Nazis when many conservatives in isolationist America (conservatives who hated F.D.R. as a "Jew-loving commie") thought that we should ally ourseves with Hitler in a common war against Communist Russia.

The French, for all their indifference to America's imperial hegemony, have always been great lovers of Liberty. What perhaps angers many right-leaning Americans is that in France we are confronted with a successful, prosperous, and, well, pretty damned fun country that "doesn't speak English, and doesn't want to, neither."

-BigLittleTim

[BigLittleTim]

AMERICAN CORPORATION
- You have two cows.
- You sell one, lease it back to yourself and do an IPO on the 2nd one.
- You force the two cows to produce the milk of four cows. You are surprised when one cow drops dead.
- You spin an announcement to the analysts stating you have downsized and are reducing expenses.
- Your stock goes up.

FRENCH CORPORATION
- You have two cows.
- You go on strike because you want three cows.
- You go to lunch and drink wine.
- Life is good.

[kfrost06]

Remeber; the French were fighting the Nazis when many conservatives in isolationist America (conservatives who hated F.D.R. as a "Jew-loving commie") thought that we should ally ourseves with Hitler in a common war against Communist Russia.-BigLittleTim

^^^Your kidding right?

[BigLittleTim]

^^^Your kidding right?

Do you know ANY American history?

The United States was NOT eager to get into WWII. We had the experience of WWI fresh in our minds; a war which we watched for years before joining, and a war in which the United States got nothing in compensation during the division of spoils. Americans saw no gain in "pulling England's chestnuts out of the fire" for a second time in less than twenty years.

Hard to believe today, but America was once fiercely isolationist. The Monroe Doctrine stated our beliefs clearly: the powers of Europe had no business meddling in the affairs of the American Hemisphere, and in turn the United States didn't meddle in the affairs of the European empires.

The Republicans of the thirties HATED President Franklin Delano Roosevelt! His New Deal, Social Security, Workmen's Compensation, Minimum Wage, support of Labor Unions, etc. were regarded by American businessman as Communist plots which would drive a stake through the heart of America's laissez-faire Capitalist system. Many capitalists and industrialists saw fascist Germany as our natural ally in a war against world-wide Communism

On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, causing France and the United Kingdom to declare war. The United States remained NEUTRAL until the Japanese attacked us at Pearl Harbor in December of 1941.

Of course you don't know this. Like all good (and bad) Americans, you know almost no history. "The United States of Amnesia", Gore Vidal calls us.

"Those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it."
-George Santayana

[kfrost06]

Do you know ANY American history?

The United States was NOT eager to get into WWII. We had the experience of WWI fresh in our minds; a war which we watched for years before joining, and a war in which the United States got nothing in compensation during the division of spoils. Americans saw no gain in "pulling England's chestnuts out of the fire" for a second time in less than twenty years.

Hard to believe today, but America was once fiercely isolationist. The Monroe Doctrine stated our beliefs clearly: the powers of Europe had no business meddling in the affairs of the American Hemisphere, and in turn the United States didn't meddle in the affairs of the European empires.

The Republicans of the thirties HATED President Franklin Delano Roosevelt! His New Deal, Social Security, Workmen's Compensation, Minimum Wage, support of Labor Unions, etc. were regarded by American businessman as Communist plots which would drive a stake through the heart of America's laissez-faire Capitalist system. Many capitalists and industrialists saw fascist Germany as our natural ally in a war against world-wide Communism

On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, causing France and the United Kingdom to declare war. The United States remained NEUTRAL until the Japanese attacked us at Pearl Harbor in December of 1941.

Of course you don't know this. Like all good (and bad) Americans, you know almost no history. "The United States of Amnesia", Gore Vidal calls us.

"Those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it."
-George Santayana

O.K. I do not see why you are calling me names? or how you can tell how much history I know or do not know. Since you are the history buff Please tell me about the French fighting the Nazi's. From my knowledge of WWII history the "Phoney War" [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoney_War] as it's referred too in history is where the French did declare war on Germany on paper only. The French never committed to launching a significant attack against Germany

Now, you claimed

"Remeber; the French were fighting the Nazis when many conservatives in isolationist America (conservatives who hated F.D.R. as a "Jew-loving commie") thought that we should ally ourseves with Hitler in a common war against Communist Russia.-BigLittleTim"

I thought that to be a ridiculous statement and still do, so please explain what battles the French launched against the Nazi's. Or name a battle that the French even put up resistance against the Nazi's.

[RA]

Do you know ANY American history?

The United States was NOT eager to get into WWII. We had the experience of WWI fresh in our minds; a war which we watched for years before joining, and a war in which the United States got nothing in compensation during the division of spoils. Americans saw no gain in "pulling England's chestnuts out of the fire" for a second time in less than twenty years.

Hard to believe today, but America was once fiercely isolationist. The Monroe Doctrine stated our beliefs clearly: the powers of Europe had no business meddling in the affairs of the American Hemisphere, and in turn the United States didn't meddle in the affairs of the European empires.

The Republicans of the thirties HATED President Franklin Delano Roosevelt! His New Deal, Social Security, Workmen's Compensation, Minimum Wage, support of Labor Unions, etc. were regarded by American businessman as Communist plots which would drive a stake through the heart of America's laissez-faire Capitalist system. Many capitalists and industrialists saw fascist Germany as our natural ally in a war against world-wide Communism

On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, causing France and the United Kingdom to declare war. The United States remained NEUTRAL until the Japanese attacked us at Pearl Harbor in December of 1941.

Of course you don't know this. Like all good (and bad) Americans, you know almost no history. "The United States of Amnesia", Gore Vidal calls us.

"Those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it."
-George Santayana

I cant figure why all of your posts contain anti-american rhetoric

[Logan13]

Remeber; the French were fighting the Nazis when many conservatives in isolationist America (conservatives who hated F.D.R. as a "Jew-loving commie") thought that we should ally ourseves with Hitler in a common war against Communist Russia.

The French, for all their indifference to America's imperial hegemony, have always been great lovers of Liberty. What perhaps angers many right-leaning Americans is that in France we are confronted with a successful, prosperous, and, well, pretty damned fun country that "doesn't speak English, and doesn't want to, neither."

-BigLittleTim

I have no idea how you call what the French did with the Nazi's "fighting". They lost Paris in less than a month.
Catch up on your history here:
http://www.answers.com/topic/battle-of-france

[RA]

do the french even have a army

Yeah but they always run in the same direction as the attackers.