Conservative romps in largest turnout since 1981--
French apparently have change of heart and vote in pro U.S./bush pres vs a U.S./Bush bashing socialist--huge celebrations followed as well as the normal rioting and protesting from the left
PARIS (AFP) - Right-winger Nicolas Sarkozy trounced Socialist rival Segolene Royal in the French presidential election Sunday, to win a clear mandate for tough economic and social reforms.
Wild celebrations erupted among tens of thousands of Sarkozy supporters in Paris as soon as polls closed and projections announced the former interior minister's triumph. But police also battled a few hundred rioters in the capital and Lyon.
According to projections, Sarkozy won about 53 percent of the vote to 47 percent for Royal who quickly conceded defeat in the battle to replace President Jacques Chirac.
Despite his tough-talking image, Sarkozy said he would be the president of the whole nation.
"My thoughts go out to all those French people who did not vote for me," he said in a victory speech.
"I want to say to them that -- above and beyond the political fight, above and beyond differences of opinion -- for me there is only one France. I will be president of all the French. I will speak for all of them," he said.
The turnout of about 85 percent was the highest since 1981, officials said, and reflected the widespread interest in the election of a new generation of French leaders.
Delirious members of the ruling Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) chanted "Nicolas - President!" as champagne bottles popped at the party's campaign headquarters.
"Now is the time for me to give back to France what France has given to me," Sarkozy said. "Together we are going to write a new page of history. The page, I am sure, will be great and it will be beautiful."
At the Socialist Party headquarters, Royal supporters, many in tears, gloomily digested a third consecutive presidential defeat after 1995 and 2002.
Royal, who had hoped to be France's first woman president, conceded victory, saying: "I gave it all I had and will continue to be with you and close to you."
World leaders were quick to acknowledge Sarkozy as the new French leader.
US President George W. Bush telephoned Sarkozy to congratulate him on his victory within an hour of the projections being announced, said a White House spokesman.
Some hope for a new era in relations after the frostiness caused by Chirac's opposition to the Iraq war.
Sarkozy said the United States can count on friendship from France but urged Washington to show leadership in the struggle against global warming and that it would be a priority for his government.
Sarkozy said "a great nation like the United States has the duty to not create obstacles in the struggle against global warming."
"The United States and France are historic allies and partners. President Bush looks forward to working with president-elect Sarkozy as we continue our strong alliance," the White House spokesman said.
Chirac, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and a host of European leaders also telephoned Sarkozy, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel saying she was convinced Sarkozy would maintain the French-German axis at the heart of the European Union.
Thousands gathered on the historic Place de la Concorde in central Paris where Sarkozy again gave his unifying message before a special concert with veteran French rocker Johnny Hallyday.
Police reinforcements were deployed around the capital to head off the risk of unrest by youths from high-immigrants areas where there were riots in 2005.
Riot police fired tear gas at stone-throwing protestors gathered in central Paris to demonstrate against Sarkozy's win.
About 5,000 Royal supporters gathered in the Place de la Bastille and up to 300 rioters, some of them masked, made running attacks on riot police.
A small crowd of protestors, brandishing black and red anarchist flags, set fire to an effigy of Sarkozy in the square. There were also incidents in the second city of Lyon.
On the last day of the campaign Royal -- slipping badly in opinion polls -- had issued a stark warning that a Sarkozy victory would trigger "violence and brutality" across the country.
Sarkozy will take over from Chirac on May 16, and has promised to act quickly to enact key items of his manifesto.
His campaign was based on the theme of "la rupture" -- a clean break from past policies which he blamed for creating France's runaway debt, high unemployment and festering discontent in the high-immigration suburbs
After legislative elections in June -- in which he will seek a clear majority for the UMP and its allies -- he plans a special National Assembly session to set off his reform drive.
These include the abolition of tax on overtime, swingeing cuts in inheritance tax, a law guaranteeing minimum service in transport strikes, and rules to oblige the unemployed to take up offered work.
On the social front he has pledged minimum jail terms for serial offenders and tougher rules to make it harder for immigrants to bring extended families to France.
His right-wing programme was in sharp contrast to Royal's promise to extend state protection via the creation of 500,000 public sector jobs and an increased minimum wage.
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Wonder if Hilliary is taking notes--wonder if the sheeples continue to bite on lberals U.S. being
most hated country--after Canada-Germany-Australia and now the most liberal country on earth swith horses?? Will the media smarten up and quit promoting their bogus polls in light of the real polls--nah --but you'll see NTY-Times-Newsweek circulations continue to slide and CNN will will have hard time busting 500,000 viewer primetime.
One of his 1st agendas is supporting Euro's on putting sqeeze on Iran--
All in all a good day for democracy and free world--bad news for terrorist-socialist and liberals.
