American relations to its depths. It is, however,
no tenable long-term strategy. The European
Union cannot afford to continue an anti-
American stand, and with its relatively weak mil-
itary forces and divisions, Chirac’s vision of
Europe as a counterbalance to the US, lies at best
decades in the future. Internationally France
decreased rather than augmented its influence.
Chirac had to begin to mend fences once more.
At home too there is a long way to go before new
policies will show results. Chirac and Rafferin are
cautious, intent on winning the necessary support
for their policies. They wish to persuade rather
than bludgeon the opposition as Margaret
Thatcher did with the British miners. A new polit-
ical star made his debut first as interior minister
and then as finance minister, the dynamic and
pragmatic Nicolas Sarcozy. The economy in 2004
began to expand. France remains a prosperous
country, with excellent welfare, but slum areas of
crime surround its cities and racial tensions mar
sections of society. Sarcozy had to give up the
Finance Ministry in 2004 to become head of the
Presidential Majority Party (UMP). He has posi-
tioned himself as a credible challenger to Chirac
as the next presidential elections in 2007.
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