French Foreign Policy will Change after Election

[Heibges]

Change but remain the same it seems. President Bush won't be getting any new friends either way.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...pe/6611547.stm

World will see new French attitude
By Oana Lungescu
BBC European Affairs correspondent

The world has been watching the French election closely, but world affairs have been largely absent from the campaign.

She wants Europe to ask President Bush to respect a calendar for troop withdrawal from Iraq and to resume a dialogue with the Arab world. Mr Sarkozy is urging Washington not to repeat the "historic mistake" made in Iraq by launching an attack on Iran.

Getting tough

But while Segolene Royal has raised the possibility of a boycott against the Beijing Olympics because of Chinese support for Sudan, Mr Sarkozy argues that the games would bring openness to China.

Brussels backs Sarkozy

They blame many of France's economic ills on the strong euro and call for greater protectionism. But they also claim they want a strong Europe, with France at centre stage.

What EU leaders are hoping for is a French president that can help the bloc out of its crisis

Chancellor Angela Merkel urgently needs to hear the views of the next French leader to see how she can relaunch work on a new EU treaty by June.

Turkey split

Turkey's eventual membership of the EU also divides the candidates.

While Ms Royal backs Turkish accession in the long run - if the country enacts democratic reforms and gains the approval of the French voters in a referendum - Mr Sarkozy is openly hostile, in line with French public opinion.

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