French decide on Sarkozy's mandate
POSTED: 3:39 p.m. EDT, June 10, 2007

PARIS, France (AP) -- President Nicolas Sarkozy's plans to revive France's economy and its identity appeared poised for victory on Sunday in parliamentary elections, with voters widely expected to give allies of their new conservative leader a mandate for change.

Some left-leaning voters were already sensing defeat -- and cast ballots more to block Sarkozy's faithful out of fear they will strip away workplace protections, the ability for unions to mount crippling strikes and generous state-provided health care benefits.

With 66 percent of the vote counted, Sarkozy's UMP party had 40 percent of the vote, while the opposition Socialists had 26 percent, the Interior Ministry said. Turnout was a record low 60 to 61 percent.

Since his election May 6, Sarkozy has cast himself as a man of action -- certainly compared to former President Jacques Chirac's slower pace -- and has drawn plaudits for getting straight to work to revive a country down on its economic fortunes and adrift in its identity.

The new president's "strategy has been impeccable," political analyst Dominique Moisi said. "He's done the popular things first, and is saving the unpopular ones for later."

"There is a sense of optimism in the air -- a sense that we are on top of things," Moisi said.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe...eref=rss_world

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"This is a time for a national imperative not to fail in Iraq." Condoleeza Rice, January 11, 2007

Talk about baited breath You just keen on teasing people today

Thats good ..France needs to get out from the crap its been stuck under since the late 60's...with a mandate that wil be easier.
Of all the Major powers France has come closest to losing that status and becoming a minor nation do to its idiotic domestic policies adn ho hum foreign policies.




The left Here is even more depressed though..
In the past few years they have lost Germany, France, and Canaa..the three nations they used to be able to point to as the "alternative" to the EVIL USA.
..and none of their predictions about those nations(the majority) that support he USA have come true.

careful what you wish for.

None of those 3 nations are like the USA, nor will they ever be. you'ere just talking rubbish, as always.