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In French election, a cowboy and a swan
The top two candidates have captured the public's imagination, and are nearly tied in polls with two months to go.
By Robert Marquand | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitorfrom the February 15, 2007 edition
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PARIS - He's a kind of French cowboy with a Hungarian background. She's like an elegant swan whose last name is Royal. He's nature, a tough political operator par excellence. She's nurture, a mother of France unknown a year ago who catapulted into the apex of politics wearing white dresses.
He's on the right, urging the country to face arduous changes of habit. She's on the left, arguing that it must renew its generous socialist traditions and sense of humanity.
So at the starting gate, it's a French election season made in French media heaven – Nicolas Sarkozy vs. Ségolène Royal.
If elected, Ms. Royal would be France's first female president, replacing Jacques Chirac, whose 12-year era is ending amid an extremely strong popular desire to change the elite-driven politics here.
Some call it a turning point to determine how France will reform the fabled but fraying and unaffordable "social model" that has for decades provided state support for every aspect of life.
For Europe, the French elections, which end in May after two rounds, are also seen as crucial. The outcome will begin to clarify the how – and extent of – Europe's political integration in common foreign policy and security, energy and the environment – including relations with the US.
"The discussion about 'Europe' is locked up until the French elections are finished," argues Pierre Haski, former editor of the daily Liberation newspaper who is starting a transatlantic foreign affairs web site.
Royal's 100-point pact this week
Royal of the Socialist party gave shape to the race this week, and stabilized a campaign that had started to slip, by issuing a 100-point "presidential pact" that guarantees job security, minimum income, and social benefits. It puts her firmly on the left. Her two-hour discourse in front of 15,000 without notes also indicates the race is not over France's position in the world, but nitty-gritty local French issues. Le Monde, a leading daily newspaper, describes this as a "social crisis" over jobs, health care, education, housing, and law and order.
Mr. Sarkozy, interior minister and candidate for the center-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), first elected mayor of a Paris suburb at the tender age of 28. He is running on a "republican pact." Despite heading a ministry which includes police, justice, and intelligence and the most publicly intrusive ministry in France, he advocates free-market individualism.
Sarkozy is seen as a formidable candidate. He's wooed many leftists. He's a fountain of pithy aphorisms like "work more, earn more," considered code for major change.
He also appeals to the French right with comments like, "Those who don't love France are free to leave." That's code for a harder line on law and order in restive, immigrant-crowded suburbs.
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