(7 May 2007)
1. Front page of the Financial Times newspaper featuring picture of French President-elect Nicolas Sarkozy, headline reading: (English) "Sarkozy sweeps to power in France"
2. Close-up of front page of Wall Street Journal, headline reading: (English) "Sarkozy elected French President by solid margin"
3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Proctor Reid, Vox pop:
"My understanding is that he is very strong on markets and I mean that's a very useful thing for the French."
4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rochelle Smith, Vox pop:
"I don't really know that much about the new French President, all I know is that he wants to be friends with the United States."
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Corina Manasseh, Vox pop:
"Well I think its good, I think France realised it was time for a change. I don't think it's just about foreign politics, I think they have a lot of domestic issues that they have to handle. And their choice for Sarkozy seems to be pointing in that direction."
6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Joanna Schraffa, Vox pop:
"I'm surprised actually because I was thinking that they would go for a woman candidate but I think the French know what they're doing so I believe they are right."
7. Front page of the Metro Express newspaper featuring picture of Sarkozy and article
8. Front page of the Washington Post newspaper with picture of Sarkozy and article, headline reading: (English) "Sarkozy wins, vows to restore pride in France"
STORYLINE:
Commuters heading to work in Washington DC on Monday reacted with cautious optimism to the success of conservative candidate Nicolas Sarkozy in the decisive second round of French presidential elections, the day before.
Sarkozy defeated Socialist Segolene Royal by 53.06 per cent to 46.94 per cent with an 84 per cent voter turnout, according to final results released early on Monday.
Headlines on the front pages of US newspapers rang out his success on Monday as the Bush administration welcomed the election of a pro-American conservative, as an opportunity to strengthen relations with France.
"My understanding is that he is very strong on markets and I mean that's a very useful thing for the French," one Washington DC resident commented.
Another DC local, Corina Manasseh, believed it reflected a desire in France for change.
"I don't think it's just about foreign politics, I think they have a lot of domestic issues that they have to handle. And their choice for Sarkozy seems to be pointing in that direction," she said.
Sarkozy, an immigrant's son, was elected president of France on Sunday with a mandate to chart a new course for an economically sluggish nation struggling to incorporate immigrants.
He reached out to the United States in his victory speech, a sign of his desire to break the tension of US-French relations that took hold under the outgoing leader, Jacques Chirac, particularly over the war in Iraq.
For his part, Sarkozy also made it clear in his victory speech that France would remain an independent voice.
The United States, he declared, can "count on our friendship," but he added that "friendship means accepting that friends can have different opinions."
And it was this gesture of friendship which was remembered by some in the US.
"I don't really know that much about the new French President, all I know is that he wants to be friends with the United States," one Washington DC resident said.
According to sources close to Sarkozy, the French President-elect plans to stay out of the public eye for a few days.
Sarkozy plans to waste no time making France a friendlier place for business - and a less inviting place for criminals and would-be immigrants.
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