He's just what we need here, but will the unions & "le peuple" let him do it? God forbid that he goes the same way as Alain Juppé a few years ago when HE presented the country with some unpalatable but promising solutions to the country's major problems.Well done & he best of luck to him.

Sylvia Barnes, CAUSSINIOJOULS, France

Poor, poor France! The French people have no idea what they have themselves in for. Well, some of them have, anybody who voted Royal was doing so to keep the Sarkosy threat at bay. Alas it didn't work, too many people are blind. Good luck France, you're going to need it, dark times are ahead................

Nathalie, Brighton, UK

Sarkozy will meet big trouble soon. From 19th century, France is a typical country of class struggle. The right can't do too much as well as the left.

Ma, Shanghai, China

The burning of 267 cars seems to suggest that things are a lot worse in France than even in a failed state called Bihar, in India, which is mostly ruled by the bandits of one political party or the other.

R. Davar., mumbai, india

Poor, poor France! The French people have no idea what they have themselves in for. Well, some of them have, anybody who voted Royal was doing so to keep the Sarkosy threat at bay. Alas it didn't work, too many people are blind. Good luck France, you're going to need it, dark times are ahead................

Nathalie, Brighton, UK

He sounds like just the type of leader the UK needs;
Tough on crime,immigration and the minority that do
not want to work and live off the state.
Lower taxes for the workers and tax relief on Mortgages, and the virtual scrapping of Inheritance tax.
Mr Camaron take note!

andy cole, bristol, UK

'j griffiths' is spot on with his comment. I am pleased for France. They have had the courage to go for change an really really shake things up for he best. Why can't the Brits do the same?

Alex, London,

with over 8% unemployed he has a deal to work out with the unions and the people of france.
And I cannot see that happening within the next 5 years. But they do have another eloection very soon, maybe he will not have the government he wants?

marshall, Bern, Switzerland

For the generation who grew up with Mitterand & Chirac, it's the relief we were waiting for. There were less than 1 million people unemployed when Mitterand came to power and 3 millions when he died...
Chirac, it's unclear what he's done...
I sincerely hope this is the end of the nightmare for our generation, and we might think about coming back home, because, as most of you know, we had to leave the country to find jobs.
Christophe, China

Christophe, Beijing,

I don't know. Word is that he'll try to push through the EU constitution over the heads of the same voters who rejected it in a democratic referendum in 1995. When I read somehwere that Brussels was hoping for a Sarkozy win, I immediately supported Royal. In other words, whatever Brussels wants, I don't and I will wish for the exact opposite to happen.

Werner Patels, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

It may not be very important in light of the whole story, but it's the details that can make one question the overall credibility of a news report. For example, French TV stations showed Sarkozy *and his wife and son* leaving for a holiday yesterday, not "in the country" but on the island of Malta.

We here in France do not yet believe that he can accomplish as much as he promises - in 1995, Chirac said the same things.

M McKinley, Ouefs-durs, France

Well, thanks! But I am not happy at all and those lies will never succeed to cheat us. This guy has been in the government for 5 years and nobody seems to remember what he has done. Now, he is trying to have a social attitude to be stronger for the parliamentary elections. Sarko, you will never have my voice, neither my heart.

rick, hong kong,

I hope and wish that these reforms will be as painful for France as Yeltsin's reforms were for Russia. In this case when Sarcosy dies, he will be praised by "the times" as a great reformer, the pillar of democracy, etc. Good luck France!

Oleg, Toronto, Canada

I can remember when similar things were written about Jacques Chirac when he was first elected. He was a reformer who was going to shake things up. Ha ha ha. He was just another politician who wanted to get elected and Sarko will be the same. Won't be long before the truth sets in. The guy can't run his own marriage, let alone a country like France.

Christopher Holland, Canberra, Australia

I hate to admit it, but I wish we Brits had the same level of comon sense the French have just demonstrated!

j griffiths, manchester, england

I am happy for the people of France with the election of a new President. I know that Nicolas Sarkozy will do a good job. and I wish him well.

Terry Senum, Edmonton, canada