So Sarko’s In, Now What?

So, quite predictably, Nicolas Sarkozy got elected President of the French Republic last Sunday. What is different about Sarkozy? Well, a pretty rare fact in the history of the 5th Republic, Sarkozy is not a former student of the infamous National Administration School, or ENA. Nor is his probable prime minister, François Fillon. Fillon will most likely be nominated right after the official power transfer to Sarkozy from Chirac, which is to occur on May 16th. Sarkozy will then have some time for free play with a remaining right-wing majority in Parliament, until June, when legislative elections will happen to renew the National Assembly. Most commentators agree so far that it is likely that the French will send in a right-wing majority to support the change they are expecting from Sarkozy. While the centrist Bayrou’s soon-to-be-founded new party could make a dent in this majority, it is unlikely that the major player in the opposition, the Socialist party, will have any significant minority in the Assembly, especially as its leaders are already fighting over whom (of those who had already thought to be the Socialist nominee for the presidential election) should lead the party in those elections.