President Nicolas Sarkozy is poised to pick a surprising Socialist as France's foreign minister

[gravity]

An inclusive government
May 17th 2007 | PARIS
From The Economist print edition

...

Mr Sarkozy’s coup de théâtre was his expected choice as foreign minister: Bernard Kouchner, a man of the left. This will not only upset the Socialists, who are muttering about treason, but also secure one of France’s most popular political personalities, as well as showing Mr Sarkozy’s inclusiveness. Mr Kouchner’s humanitarian background, as co-founder of Médecins sans Frontières and UN boss in Kosovo, dovetails neatly with Mr Sarkozy’s keenness on a human-rights element in his foreign policy. A pro-European, Mr Kouchner was one of the few Frenchmen to support the invasion of Iraq—though he fiercely criticised American management of the aftermath. He will be complemented by the expected return of Jean-David Levitte, France’s ambassador in Washington, DC, to be Mr Sarkozy’s American-style national security adviser.

...

Mr Sarkozy’s biggest challenge has been trying to meet his own pledge—made when he faced off with a female rival in Ségolène Royal—to fill half his streamlined cabinet of 15 with women. Christine Lagarde, the outgoing trade minister, and Michèle Alliot-Marie, the departing defence minister, were expected to get top posts, as might Christiane Taubira, a black left-wing deputy. A few centrists are also expected to land jobs. But some of the new president’s old (male) friends are set for disappointment. “Loyalty is a matter of sentiment,” said Mr Sarkozy a few days before his investiture. “Efficiency is for government.”

http://economist.com/daily/news/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9196332&top_story=1

[pretzel4gore]

1. the antics of rightwing boors...

when they dance at the end of a rope, then it will be interestring. until then, same old same old....Genghis Khan- bin there, done that....
btw if someone supports criminal occupation of little Iraq, then he aint a socialist, unless the national kind(?)

[Bronyraurus]

2. Do you really

want to see Sarkozy hanged? Already?!

[pretzel4gore]

5. you think too precipitous?

shees...never thought that much about it...
but better safe then sorry, surely :)

[Bronyraurus]

7. I like Sarkozy so far.

Is that fucked up?

[pretzel4gore]

8. no. maybe the guy surprise us...

but just remember, regan was selected 27 years ago- 12 years after RFK was murdered....will it never end?

[ccpup]

3. I'm not sure

that a Conservative in France is akin to a Conservative (usually Christian) in the States. The man is hiring people from the Enemy Party and wants to legalize gay unions, for Christ's sake! :-)

[gravity]

4. Our politics are too polarized

especially with the introduction of the Christian right.

I believe the last Republican who was able to work with members of the opposing party was Lincoln

[DFW]

6. Sarkozy has already been full of surprises

Within HOURS of taking office, he flew off to Berlin
to meet with the German leadership. He promised to
be a new inclusive kind of leader and is not backing
off on that, either. Plus, the positions that his party
will be backing include the safeguard of social benefits
that any so-called American conservative would label
"KOMMANIST!" and scream it from the highest mountain top.

I'm sure there will be plenty to fault him on in the future,
but as long as he is trying to be sensible, I'll give him the
chance to follow through.