[snoringbear]

“What I don’t know and I suspect the other posters are asking is is he outside the welfare state consensus in Europe. Or will he just continue the slide while being a bit less anti-American?”

I think a good litmus test may be their cherished 35 hour work-week. If the French actually rescind their 35 hour work-week law then we may conjecture that they are actually serious about rolling up their sleeves and going back to work and joining the global economy. Guess we will see...

[Cincinna]

Sarko opposes the 35 hour week. He has said it will remain in effect for all those who want it. Everyone else will be allowed to work extra hours and keep the money, free of taxes.

Rome wasn’t built in a day!