Posted on 05/16/2007 3:53:31 AM PDT by Cincinna
NICOLAS SARKOZY BECOMES NEW FRENCH PRESIDENT
PARIS, May 16, 2007 (AFP) - Nicolas Sarkozy was officially invested as France's new president on Wednesday following a handover ceremony with outgoing head of state Jacques Chirac at the Elysee palace.
The 52-year-old right-winger was ceremonially proclaimed France's 23rd president by the head of the Constitutional Council, following a private meeting with Chirac, who leaves office after 12 years in power.
"From this day on you are the embodiment of France, you symbolise the Republic and you represent all French people," Jean-Louis Debre told Sarkozy after officially proclaiming the results of the May 6 election.
Sarkozy and Chirac exchanged a long handshake in the courtyard of the Elysee presidential palace before Chirac got into his car and was driven out of the palace for the last time.
In the symbolic handover ceremony, the 74-year-old Chirac passed on the launch codes to France's nuclear arsenal and briefed his successor on current agenda items.
Later the new president was to rekindle the flame on the tomb of the unknown soldier beneath the Arc de Triomphe and lay a wreath at a statue of General Charles de Gaulle, France's post-war leader.
He will then fly to Berlin for a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, where the future of the European Union will be the main issue for discussion.
A former interior minister and head of the ruling Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), Sarkozy was elected president on a promise of radical economic and social change, easily beating the Socialist Segolene Royal.
“Give the French credit because they were able to wake up and smell the coffee before it was too late.”
I’ll do that.
For a long time (Western) continental Europeans have suffered from a stern belief in the 6 hour work day (for instance, look at the Volkswagen workers who some time ago worked only 28.8 hours a week! Presently, changes are underway), but few Europeans are stupid (like a lot of Latin Americans are in the department of economy).
I often travel around on the European continent (for business as well as pleasure) and my impression is that, recently, a new attitude towards work has developed.
Oh, how I love that picture of Chirac waving goodbye! I’ll bet there are a lot of Frenchmen who feel the same way.
What to call this?
39% of Europeans bemoan Jews' influence in business world...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1833498/posts
Nothing about Chirac being led away in handcuffs. I guess the Presidential immunity from arrest lasts another month or so for him.
“Oh, how I love that picture of Chirac waving goodbye! I’ll bet there are a lot of Frenchmen who feel the same way.”
- While Sarkozy represents “rethinking France”, belief in law and order and belief in the future of a great nation, Chirac represented status quo.
What kind of France would have developed from a Madame Royal victory in the recent presidential elections I’m glad I’ll never find out.
Europe is beginning to wake up from a long Socialist slumber.
Look at the largest economy on earth going to work!
There is always Mona Sahlin? :-P
Or Fleksnes...
Many Europeans as well as many Americans have prejudices toward Jews.
Some comments to the survey:
“The survey of 2,714 people in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Poland found that 51 percent of respondents believed that Jews are more loyal to Israel than to the countries in which they live. In the Spanish sample, the figure was 60%. In France, only 39% agreed.”
- If I lived abroad I would be more loyal to Sweden than to that country in which I lived (although I would try and behave like a good ‘ambassador’ of my home country). In any case, I think most Jews who live in other countries than Israel are loyal to those countries as well.
“Poles were also most likely to subscribe to another long-standing belief, with 39% of respondents there saying they somewhat agree or strongly agree that the Jews “are responsible for the death of Christ.” Overall agreement with that statement was 20%.”
- According to what the Bible says, many Jews agreed to ‘punish’ Jesus for having claimed to be the King of the Jews. On the other hand, what has that got to do with Jews living today?
“An average of 44% across the countries surveyed said Jews “probably” have too much influence on international financial markets, while close to half believe that “American Jews control US policy in the Middle East,” the report said.”
- I agree this attitude is stupid. To think that Jews are influential in proportion to their numbers is nothing wrong. This means Jews are intelligent. On the other hand, believing that the Jews ‘control’ world economy or the single most influential country on earth is silly.
In both Europe and America there are lots of stupid people. Fortunately, there are lots of intelligent people as well!
“There is always Mona Sahlin? :-P
Or Fleksnes...”
- I would prefer having Fleksnes for Swedish PM than Mona Sahlin (although he’s Norwegian). At least he’s not PC..
The clip linked to below is in Swedish, but I guess a Norwegian will understand most of the basic points it is making.
Mona Sahlin is not stupid, but she is one of the most irresponsible and also most PC politicians Sweden has ever had.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE6VXnScmC4
Cheers!
Well said!
There is a difficult way ahead but I am sure that he will make it.
“There is a difficult way ahead but I am sure that he will make it.”
- As a European, I think it’s very comforting to find that newly elected, conservative leaders like Merkel and Sarkozy enjoy such a great support from Europeans at large.
Not all, but A LOT of Europeans today believe in:
- Sending the 6 hour work day to the scrap heap
- Conservatism
- Close cooperation with our brothers and sisters in the US
Hopefully, more and more Europeans will develop these kind of attitudes.
Greetings to Germany from Sweden!
The Americans have a good motto: “United we stand, divided we fall”. That is not only true in America, it is true for the whole western world.
I am quite sure that overcomed socialist attitudes will be erasured trough the hard reality in Europe. No matter if we talk about Sweden, Germany, France, Poland or whatever.
No Italians do not believe in leadership. Winning the World Cup was an act of the leaderless.
How retarded.
“The Americans have a good motto: “United we stand, divided we fall”. That is not only true in America, it is true for the whole western world.”
- Couldn’t agree more!
“I am quite sure that overcomed socialist attitudes will be erasured trough the hard reality in Europe. No matter if we talk about Sweden, Germany, France, Poland or whatever.”
- Cheers to that my fellow European, Europe deserves better than Socialism!!!!!!!
Sarkozy’s a good man. There may be hope for France after all.
There are lots of good things to be said of the Italians, but due to some reason, Italian (domestic) politics has often been a complete chaos. Italians themselves say this is because of the large regional differences and the fact that Italy is a ‘young’ nation.
This is nonsense.
The same thing could be said about Germany or the US.
However, I’m optimistic about Italy. To begin with, Prodi might be a leftist, but he’s a blessing compared to Berlusconi. A man like Berlusconi will never be able to unite Italy although some of his views (like the need of investing in new European highways/motorways and most of all his opposition to Socialism) were sensible.
If all of Italy would display the same kind of spirit and make the same team effort as the national football team of Italy, the sky is the limit!
The economic base of Italy is sound and many Italians are extremely well educated, intelligent and creative.
Just like Germany and France, Italy deserves a better fate than Socialism.
Viva la vera Italia!!
- There is always hope.
Let us, together, advance, in unity, towards a new Renaissance for Western Civilization!
To begin with, just imagine what the US and the EU, the largest economies on earth, could accomplish together.
Best of regards from Europe!
Thanks, FRiend.
I hope the US stays awake in 2008 and does NOT elect Hillary or Obama.
“I hope the US stays awake in 2008 and does NOT elect Hillary or Obama.”
- Yes, let’s hope so.
Best of regards.
Great pictures! Thanks for your continued posting of these important events!
He has to fly to Berlin to meet the German Chancellor on the day of his inauguration. Symbolically that doesn’t look so good.
Nice looking family. Girls are cute. Boys need a haircut.
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