May 8, 2007

Can anything good come out of France? Apparently so. The presidential election has put a conservative, tax-cutting, do something about Muslim immigrants man in office. And a bonus: Nicolas Sarkozy likes America. He said so during his campaign and he wants better relations with us.

Following his victory, Sarkozy said he wants to “tell American friends that they can rely on our friendship. France will always be next to them when they need us.”

That’s a far cry from the trouble caused by outgoing president Jacques Chirac and his socialist friends.

Sarkozy wants to cut taxes, do something about unemployment and reform a system that does not allow employers to fire incompetent employees. He also wants to modify upward France’s 35-hour work week.

Sarkozy opposes the war in Iraq, but in this he reflects the European attitude. He may not be a Ronald Reagan or Margaret Thatcher, but he appears to be a lot better than what has gone before.

Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.