In the past couple of years, I have written a number of articles about France.  Most have been critical of President Chirac's policies, particularly on foreign affairs.  Predictably, those generated angry e-mail responses.  I was accused of "French bashing," of "Franco phobia," and plain old French bias.  Those characterizations are unjustified.  What I have been objecting to are the governmental policies of French President Jacques Chirac who has occupied that office for twelve years and should have departed long ago.

Chirac's foreign and domestic policies were in a single word "bankrupt."  In the foreign area, his guiding principle was to oppose the United States at every opportunity.  At the same time, he had the totally unrealistic goal of restoring France to its former grandeur from the colonial period.  An era long gone.  Chirac was engaged in the futile effort to turn back the clock, rather than adapt to new realities in the world, given France's size and influence.

In domestic affairs, his policy was stagnation.  The French economy was continually declining relative to that of England.  Many of the brightest French young people were leaving the country to work in London, particularly in the financial community.  Meantime in France, taxes were huge, regulatory requirements stiff and the greatest passion in the workplace was to minimize the time at work with the 35 hour work week having become a fixture.

With the election on Sunday of Nicolas Sarkozy as President, there is a possibility for change.  Sarkozy ran an unabashedly pro-American campaign.  He made it clear that he has great respect and fondness for the United States and would work with Washington in a cooperative approach.  He also favors a tough line on Iran as opposed to Chirac's waffling.  He favors renewing strong French ties with Israel, which may make the Palestinians behave more reasonably now that they can't depend on blind support from Paris for some of their outrageous actions.  Sarkozy favors a cooperative approach with others in Europe, particularly England and Germany as opposed to Chirac's effort to dominate.

I don't expect Sarkozy to become a puppet for Washington.  He is too strong willed and fiercely independent for that.  However, he is likely to be objective, willing to listen to American positions and unafraid to back them if he believes they are correct.

On domestic policies, Sarkozy has repeatedly said that the French economy needs a huge boost.  Economic growth and employment must be increased.  This means cutting taxes, reducing deficits, shrinking the government and liberalizing labor laws.  In short, he sees a movement toward the type of free market policies which the United States and Britain have pursued successfully.

There is a huge question as to whether Sarkozy will be able to implement these changes in France's foreign and domestic policies.  While his margin of victory, 53% to 47% is significant, it is not overwhelming.  He will enter office with the avowed hatred of many in France's Muslim community, for his tough policies in quelling the riots last spring and for his characterization of the rioters as "scum."  The Socialists may have lost the election, but it is certain they will fight tooth and nail against the implementation of programs which reduce benefits.  Then there is Sarkozy's own personality.  He is not a consensus builder.  The son of a Hungarian immigrant to France, he is pugnacious, feisty and will utter publicly what is on his mind.  All of this may make it difficult to rule in a democracy like France where consensus is critical.

Hopefully, Sarkozy will succeed in implementing his policies.  The United States has a huge stake in this outcome.  We enjoy tremendous support from England and particularly the Blair government.  In the past, the loose Franco Germanic alliance served as a counterpoint to that British support.  If we can gain support from France, then Germany will come into line.

Cooperation with Western Europe is critically important in the days ahead.  Combating terrorism from extreme Muslims is a challenge that both the United States and Western Europe face.  If we can coordinate, we will have a greater chance of prevailing in this war...and it is a war.  Likewise, the red star is rising again in Putin's Russia.  A coordinated approach with Western Europe is critical as the new Russia flexes its muscles.  Finally, in the age of globalization, we need economic partners, not adversaries.  The dollar has been taking a pounding and hopefully with more cooperative economic policies coming from Western Europe it will recover.  All of his is up for grabs, however, it is springtime in Paris and change is in the air.