|
Hollande has unsettled investors with his criticism of theausterity policies central to European bailout deals for troubledeconomies like Greece and Ireland. As the leader of the euro zone's second-largest economy afterGermany, his opinion matters. And analysts are waiting to see whatkind of relationship he and the German chancellor, Angela Merkel,are able to establish. In an indication of the urgency of the challenges Europe faces,Hollande will travel to Berlin to meet with Merkel shortly afterhis inauguration. Greeted by flag-waving crowds on the street, a steady stream ofprominent French figures arrived at the Elysee on Tuesday ahead ofthe ceremony and walked on a red carpet through the palace'ssun-filled courtyard. They included the Socialist Party leader Martine Aubry and BertandDelanoe, the mayor of Paris. Inside the palace, they gathered underornate chandeliers to witness the transfer of power to Hollande. The president elect's car traveled along the tree-lined streets andavenues of Paris, bringing him over the River Seine and past theGrand Palais before pulling up inside the courtyard. Hollande made his way up the carpet to be met by Sarkozy. The twomen, who had fought an at times bitter campaign, shook hands beforeentering the palace for a meeting behind closed doors. After they emerged, Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni, left thepalace, waving from the car as they were driven away. Hollande,meanwhile, undertook the swearing-in ceremony to become the seventhpresident of France's Fifth Republic. Sarkozy's partnership with Merkel -- dubbed "Merkozy" by someobservers -- was considered crucial in steering Europe's currencyunion away from collapse during the first two years of the debtcrisis. But Hollande's professed doubts about the fiscal restraintadvocated by Merkel, whose party suffered defeat in a vote Sundayin Germany's largest state, have raised questions about whetherParis and Berlin will continue to read from the same script as thedebt crisis continues to unfold. His election coincided with the vote in Greece that spawned thecurrent political chaos in Athens. That instability has movedGreece closer to the possibility of abandoning the euro, thecurrency used by it and 16 other European Union countries. While bracing for the potential tumult from that situation,Hollande will plunge straight into a string of engagements withworld leaders. Major events in the coming days and weeks include a Group of Eightmeeting and NATO summit this month followed by a G-20 gathering anda European Council meeting in June. His approach is expected to make an impact in Afghanistan as wellas Turkey and the Middle East. With Sarkozy, the United States enjoyed support in its positions onSyria, Iran and Afghanistan. Sarkozy was a proponent of the NATOair campaign in Libya. Hollande, meanwhile, is yet to clearly stake out all of his foreignpolicy positions. During the election campaign, he pledged to withdraw all Frenchcombat troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year. He can expect NATO leaders to urge him to change or soften hisposition when he attends a summit in Chicago this month, the focusof which will be on Afghanistan. Relations between Turkey and France have been tense because ofSarkozy's apparent opposition to Turkey's becoming a member of theEuropean Union. Legislation passed during his presidency that madethe denial of the Armenian genocide a crime also raised hackles inAnkara. Some observers expect Hollande to show slightly more flexibility onTurkey. Domestically, Hollande has to prove to the French public that he iscapable of acting on his promise to bring people together afterSarkozy's presidency, which often polarized opinion. Voting in the first round of the presidential election showed largeswathes of the population turning to parties on the far left andright of the political spectrum. That scenario could be repeated in legislative elections to be heldnext month, where Hollande will hope his Socialist Party can securea majority in parliament that would allow him to push through hisagenda more effectively. I am an expert from jsczhy.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Height Riser Manufacturer , China Manual Recliner, Sliding Seat,and more.
Related Articles -
Height Riser Manufacturer, China Manual Recliner,
|
