08/05/2007 11:37:50 pm
Opposite Roles? I just landed in a slightly rainy and calm Paris. Only a few signs that a new President was just elected, only some old posters and new headlines.

Nicolas Sarkozy said the other day that "I will not act fast, I will act very fast". He promises a 100 day-program of reforms to revive the economy. It remains to be seen what will be done, though quite a few free-market steps are considered to be likely.

In recent years, it has been common among free-market economists to joke that Europe′s problems can be described in one word: "France". That has always been a provocative exaggeration, but not without substance. Now, the decisive win of Sarkozy might well reverse the roles. France might take the lead in reforms.

Roger Cohen had a column in today′s IHT with 10 conclusions from the French election, which was very interesting. It can be read here, though only for subscribers.