France looked ahead to an era of economic and political reform today after electing conservative Nicolas Sarkozy president on a platform of change after the stagnation that marked Jacques Chirac's presidency.
Newly-elected French President Nicholas Sarkozy
Mr Sarkozy received 53.06 per cent of the votes in yesterday's run-off against 46.94 for Socialist Segolene Royal, winning a mandate for his vision of a hardworking France despite leftist accusations he would prove a divisive and dangerous leader.
He also needs to secure a majority in the election for the National Assembly on June 10th and 17th to make good on his vows to loosen rigid labour laws, trim fat from the public service, cut taxes and restore full employment.
Mr Sarkozy (52) held talks with senior aides just hours after his election triumph although he plans to take a few days off to recharge his batteries after a hard-fought campaign.
"We are going to see how we can give him the biggest parliamentary majority possible so he can put into effect his undertakings," Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie told reporters outside Mr Sarkozy's campaign headquarters.
"As he said again last night, he wants to carry out all the commitments he made during the campaign," she said.
Sporadic violence flared in a number of French cities after his decisive victory, but a conciliatory Mr Sarkozy immediately reached out to his beaten foes, promising to be president of the entire nation.
Mr Sarkozy's campaign chief of staff Claude Gueant said the president-elect would take a few days off to recharge his batteries and put together a compact cabinet of 15 ministers before starting his five-year term on May 16th.
"We have to act, the French people expect it. They have given him a real mandate -- it's not just an authorisation to implement his programme," Mr Gueant told RTL radio. He said campaign director Francois Fillon, favourite to be named prime minister, was "among the very few who could be given that task."
Markets reacted calmly to the result. The CAC-40 share index opened up 0.1 per cent having already factored in a Sarkozy win, which French media said showed voters were hungry for change.
"By putting Nicolas Sarkozy in the Elysee Palace, the French have made a powerful and conscious choice for France to change profoundly," the business daily La Tribunewrote. "The voters were fully aware of the policies, the intentions and the personalities of the candidates," it said.
The left-wing daily Liberationsummed up the losing camp's mood: "It's tough, but that's the people's will. A Thatcher without petticoats? Get ready for it."
Turnout was almost 84 per cent, the highest since 1988, giving his victory a strong legitimacy and extending the right's 12-year grip on power after Mr Chirac's two successive terms.