he was one of the rare French politicians who spoke out in favour of military intervention in Iraq in 2003, saying he was against war but also against Saddam Hussein's regime.

<speechless>...

Is this Sarko policy a death kiss for the Socialists? Splitting away the centrists from the party, and killing any campaign strategy they could have had (had they not engaged in infighting instead) for the assembly elections?

_{*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

Dreux, France -- NICOLAS SARKOZY, who will take over the presidency from Jacques Chirac tomorrow, has often been dubbed by the left in France as "Sarkozy the American." His victory has also been greeted in American conservative circles as an unprecedented break with the "French disease" (welfare state, 35-hour workweek, national arrogance, anti-Americanism, etc.).

Certainly, Mr. Sarkozy is pro-American and anti-bureaucracy and has no problem with hobnobbing with the rich, as shown by his luxury (and very short) vacation on a billionaire's yacht in Malta after his election. He also repeatedly claims that he will make a clear break with Mr. Chirac's policies.

But feelings and gestures don't make a policy. And there is no neoconservative or Thatcherist revolution in sight for France.