Cal  Thomas

C'etait genial! When applied to the French presidential election in which Conservative Nicolas Sarkozy beat the Socialist candidate Segolene Royal by a comfortable margin, it means: that is fantastic!

After decades of socialist influence in France, could the French election be a precursor to a Margaret Thatcher-like comeback for conservatives? Perhaps. Though, on foreign policy, Sarkozy is more pro-American than his predecessor, Jacques Chirac, he is still opposed to the Iraq War and doesn't want to seem too pro-American since most of the French remain firmly anti-American. But let's not look a gift horse - French or otherwise - in the mouth. Any turn away from policies that have hurt the French economy and threatened its culture with a flood of immigrants who refuse to assimilate is bound to be an improvement.



Sarkozy also sounded a little like Thatcher and Reagan when, during his campaign, he promised to crackdown on criminals and curb the power of unions. Unions have been a driving force behind guaranteed jobs that have kept employers from firing incompetent workers.



Sarkozy may not be the easiest person to get along with. He's been called impulsive and authoritarian. His political opponents claim he could exacerbate government relations with the poor and France's many ethnic groups. But it will be his policies, not his personality - and whether those policies are embraced by a majority of French people - that will determine his success. If personality were the determining factor in the success of a leader, Margaret Thatcher would have been a failure, as would countless American presidents, military leaders and CEOs.

Sarkozy's work isn't finished. While he is expected to take office next week, Sarkozy must also campaign for his party's victory in next month's parliamentary election. He will need a clear majority of seats in order to implement his reform plan.

Socialism has had a firm grip on France since 1981 with Francois Mitterand's victory in that year's presidential election. With the defeat of Socialist candidate Segolene Royal, the Conservatives have a unique opportunity to show France and the world that they can not only solve their economic problems, but also do something about the immigration invasion that has put their nation - and all of Europe - in jeopardy. American conservatives (though probably not President Bush, who is not highly regarded in France) should cultivate this rare opportunity to help a once-strong ally to become one once again.

Vive la (conservative) France!

Cal Thomas
