Sarko L’Europeen?

We are endlessly surprised that people seem to be shocked that French President Sarkozy has turned out to be fundamentally anti-European. His effortless blend of Gaullism and aggressive Franco-centric protectionism is something that he has never shied away from broadcasting to all and sundry – and why should we have expected him to change any of this when he ascended to the Elysee?

 Frankly, to us, it seems that his great benefit will be to the transatlantic Alliance, though in all honesty, we would tell people to not totally hold their breaths here either. Thus far, all he has done is gone back on what Jacques Chirac’s infantile and reflexive anti-Americanism – we have yet to really see him face down any major challenges. We suspect that when that moment comes it will take more than bon mots and airbrushing to decide what to do when the United States decides that something proactive must be done about Iran.