Our friends the French - Sarkozy

Very cool news -- conservative and definite friend of America Nicolas Sarkozy has walked away with the presidency of France in yesterday's runoff election with 53% of the vote. From BBC:

Sarkozy takes French presidency
Conservative Nicolas Sarkozy has won the hotly-contested French presidential election, according to projections made from partial results.

Mr Sarkozy is estimated to have won 53% of the vote, compared with 47% for socialist Segolene Royal.

The turnout was the highest for more than two decades, at about 85%.

Mr Sarkozy, 52, the son of a Hungarian immigrant, takes over from the 74-year-old Jacques Chirac, who has been in power for 12 years.

Friendship for US
Thousands of his supporters in the Place de la Concorde burst into applause and wild cheering as the result came through.

In his victory speech, Mr Sarkozy said he would be the president of all the French.

"I love France. I love France, just as one loves someone who is very close to one," he told crowds of cheering supporters.

"France has given me everything, and now it is my turn to render to France what France has given me."

Mr Sarkozy said the US could count on France's friendship, but called on Washington to take a lead in the fight against climate change.

He also said he believed deeply in European integration, but appealed to France's European partners to understand the importance of social protection.

After he finished speaking at his party headquarters, jubilant supporters sang a rousing rendition of the French national anthem.

Very cool -- a breath of fresh air for France and Europe.