How did the French elect Sarkozy??.... Is it the backlash

[RethugAssKicker]

from the riots and car burnings by the French-African youth last year?

[Sneaky Sailor]

1. Just like every democratic country

The pendulum swings...

The French were tired of Chirac letting "Europe" walk all over them.

They also dont want Turkey in the EU, Sarkozy is pretty clear he wont let it happen.

The French want to be the big dogs in the EU and they need someone to counter the "Iron Lady" over in Germany.

[YOY]

2. Partially perhaps...

Scared people vote for right-wingers. We have that example right here.

[LeftishBrit]

3. Partly, but there were other bigger reasons

(1) Dissatisfaction with economic progress, and desire for someone who'd make tough and radical decisions (I think the French will have some buyer's remorse over the decisions, and probably will be less patient and tolerant over right-wing economics than the British were for too long with Thatcher).

(2) The French almost always do elect a Conservative President; Mitterand was the only exception out of 6 postwar presidents. Sarkozy is further to the right than Chirac was, but they're still members of the same party which usually gets elected.

[InternalDialogue]

4. A friend of mine who spent last year in Paris studying

told me the anti-immigrant sentiment in the city rivaled that of what's going on in the United States right now. He said the main gripe he encountered among Parisians was the number of African and Middle Eastern immigrants in the city.

It's just anecdotal, but from a neutral third party like my friend, it seems that there's a nationalistic streak pushing citizens to vote conservative for that one issue alone.

[LeftishBrit]

5. Yes - though that's sadly been a feature of French politics for a long time

E.g. LePen has been far too influential at least since the 1970s.