Yes, I do think the newly elected French president is a chance for Europe. Maybe he is even going to be a stroke of luck. I am writing this, even though I know, that he is not going to be easy on Europe’s politicians, especially the German ones. Because he is going to represent French interests emphatically and he is going to straighten up the many illusions of dreamers in the cause of Europe. But this is the reason why I am evaluating the choice of the French people very highly and welcome the fact that Sarkozy has won against the socialist party candidate. Whether their political orientation is left or right does not really play a role for me here. Nowadays this is not very important anymore, because all those who classify themselves as either left or right, usually end up taking a seat in the middle anyway. If I may say this with a grain of salt, we do have a German chancellor now who likes to wear a black blazer and a red t-shirt underneath. All those law-and-order speeches given during the election period always sound a lot more moderate after the election. And in a democratic political system we do well to keep a sense of proportion.

That Europe is going to become more French with and through Sarkozy, I find good, because for me this means that the culture and history of the European peoples are not suppressed. It is their value without Europe cannot thrive, the breeding ground for cohabitation of the people and the strength we need to successfully deal with the competition with the emerging new superpowers in the East and the Americans in the West. We should not place emphasis on the wrong Europe-zealots who like to point out to us that Europe can only thrive if we are willing to unconditionally give up our identity. I think we Bavarians did a good job in Germany, we have joined together with Prussians, natives of Baden, Westphalians, Holsteiners, Saxons and Thuringians and so on to one Germany, yet we have kept our identity as Bavarians for good.

Sarkozy is going to show us that it is possible to be French and European at the same time and when I say that Europe is going to become more French through Sarkozy, I mean that he is going to teach us to connect origin and future with each other, everybody in his or her own way.

Economically this means we are allowed to label accordingly that which we produce, no matter if it is German, Italian, Greek, Slowenian or, of course, French and whatever else is offered and produced in the European Union, without allegations of not being Europe-minded or Europe-friendly. We do not need “Made in Europe” in order to give consideration to our tasks as Europeans. Sarkozys attitude reassures us. As such, Sarkozy is going to be a chance for Europe and maybe even a stroke of luck.