Sarkozy, blunt, reformist and pro-American, was frightening to many French. Royal presented a smiling, feminist mother-figure. Scholarly farmer's son Francois Bayrou could pull off a surprise win, and the anti-immigrant nationalist Jean-Marie Le Pen was still counting on big support. Turnout was likely to be high, with voter registration numbers up nationwide -- especially in rundown immigrant neighborhoods wracked by rioting in 2005. The successor to Chirac must steer a nuclear power in an insecure world, revive a large and listless economy, invigorate a downbeat work force, incorporate alienated young Muslims. Sarkozy is ready to build a new pro-American French foreign policy and proudly shook U.S. President George W. Bush's hand last year. Royal said she would never shake Bush's hand without letting him know what she thought of his policies first. Sarkozy talks of a "rupture" with the past, including painful reforms of worker-friendly labor laws to make France more competitive. He has toned down his rhetoric in the campaign, but many predict he will revive it if elected. Royal says her France would be different because she would be its first woman president. She has tilted away from some of her party's policies, but her economic plan would lean left and reverse some reforms of the Chirac era.
Turnout was likely to be high, with voter registration numbers up nationwide -- especially in rundown immigrant neighborhoods wracked by rioting in 2005.
The successor to Chirac must steer a nuclear power in an insecure world, revive a large and listless economy, invigorate a downbeat work force, incorporate alienated young Muslims.
Sarkozy is ready to build a new pro-American French foreign policy and proudly shook U.S. President George W. Bush's hand last year. Royal said she would never shake Bush's hand without letting him know what she thought of his policies first.
Sarkozy talks of a "rupture" with the past, including painful reforms of worker-friendly labor laws to make France more competitive. He has toned down his rhetoric in the campaign, but many predict he will revive it if elected.
Royal says her France would be different because she would be its first woman president. She has tilted away from some of her party's policies, but her economic plan would lean left and reverse some reforms of the Chirac era.
Reform and left wing are so obviously uncompatible...
The French are worried about losing jobs to China, India and Brazil -- and losing their influence on the world stage. French entreaties against the Iraq war, while celebrated by many, ultimately went ignored.
And that's a sign of France's decline rather than of Bush's pigheadedness, of course.
The health of the euro depends in part on whether the next French president can stimulate growth. Sarkozy offers the bolder plan, by getting the French to work more and cutting taxes. Royal would raise the minimum wage and subsidize youth jobs. New jobs are the only solution for the rundown housing projects plagued by discrimination, poverty, illiteracy and dependence on state handouts. The landscape remains little changed since the 2005 riots forced France and its leaders to acknowledge their problems.
Sarkozy offers the bolder plan, by getting the French to work more and cutting taxes. Royal would raise the minimum wage and subsidize youth jobs.
New jobs are the only solution for the rundown housing projects plagued by discrimination, poverty, illiteracy and dependence on state handouts. The landscape remains little changed since the 2005 riots forced France and its leaders to acknowledge their problems.
The health of the euro depends in part on whether the next French president can stimulate growth.
Things could be worse. It could be tied to the dollar.
Do you think Sunday's French presidential election will bring greater harmony to the country?
!!! In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
