h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Today I saw and heard live at BBC-world the speech of the president op France to the English politicians at his first state visit to GB.

As the public was, also I was very surprised about what he said and how strong he believes in the change of international policy of France, as it had been before for decades and decades.

This was far more than just polite talking. A couple of times he was interrupted by law applause.

Thank you for your soldiers you send to liberate France in the past.
France needs BG also now and we need cooperation with GB in all kinds op issues, like Europ.Union, climate change, terrorism (We cannot leave Afghanistan as long as it is unstable), etc.

Yes, it was impressive, because one felt the emotions he used from himself.
He also spoke bluntly about China and Tibet and that there should be a dialogue and that he will not attend the openings ceremonial of the Olympics.

Really impressive.
Of course there's more to say, but I still believe this was a very different president/policy than even before.
French German relation will not flourish as before.

And this was my posting ten hours later;
Quote;
Well about Germany, I just expect that the attention they received will be less than Mitterrand gave. It is a solid relation so it's just a result of paying attention to GB by France.

Although Mitterrand once said the same and was the first one, the words of gratitude for all those English soldiers in the first and Second World War was welcomed and one could feel tee emotion in the hall. ("Where you there, Alfredo,"- no, but I saw it live at BBC)

I think he really stands for what he Sais/says and it was a pleasing moment for me (born in 1951) to see this happening as we live at a continent with outrageous continental and world wars and even a holocaust of seven million people, besides the "blessings" of the Soviet Union.

Yes, I am very skeptical normally and now also, but I believe that he stands for what he says, personally and as president of the French republic.

It will feel uneasy if the relations in Europe would become closer, causer any change causes some unease.

But,
Yes but, I have my doubts about his ambivalent character. Being drunk on stage a week after the inauguration trying to answer questions,
Then his glamour marriage after a quick divorce, using the word "war" after Bush did, about Iran.

Well, I doubt if most French peoples feel represented by his behavior at the stage of world politics.
Goes on holiday at the Bush family, wants better relations with USA and GB, easily reacts in very sensitive (and therefore difficult) issues, especially for the minor "superpowers" in the world, like Japan, France, Germany, Italy. Countries that are rich and powerful, but don't have the military power to impress.

I think most French feel embarrassed and disappointed or even angry about his goal to become far closer to the USA than any president was before.
In the local elections last week his party lost a lot of votes. I think they are related to what I just wrote.

It's a pity, because once France should faze that it's not a superpower any longer and sits on the same bench with Germany, Italy, Brazil, etc.
Their attitude was understandable, but so outdated and they behave so far very opportunistic. For every deal in the European Union France always wants something in return. Always, all the time, everywhere.

You had Thatcher as a pit-bull, but we all know GB always joins ten years later.

I'm tired and it's in the dead of night.

Most important is the question that will rise in world politics; how far does he represent the French and will he be able to run a second term in office.

To say the least, it would feel rather uneasy to fall in love for four years and then being confronted by the old attitude that the president interrogates young voters why they prefer to go to Mac Donald is French food.

Maybe it will all end in the middle.
Why?
Because now all parties may cry about the loss of French political culture, while realizing it is more than urgent, and when they govern their country they can pull some French sentiment again in world politics.
What I'm saying is; he does the difficult job, that's needed and those who come after him can easily blame Sarkozy for it and continue the new balances of power in Europe.

And there's a last thing; I think he also has populist aspects in his behavior and he keeps the press from a distance by doing every new day something unexpected. That may hold for six months, but not longer. How stable is his mind.
He may be a hard-luck pilot.

The populist behavior was clear to me when he was confronted with the suburbs of Paris etc, where social life is very poor and overcrowded by Moroccan and Algerian families.
I could not see more than just populist racism at a lower profile level than Le Pen.

But my main conviction remains the same and that is that what he said needed to be said twenty years earlier, but at least he made a meaningful step forewords.