Today, we are all Ségolène!

Today, the French people elected Mr. Nicolas Sarcozy, a conservative, to be a new French president, for the next five years. He got about 53% of the votes, and Ms. Ségolène Royal, a socialist candidate, got 47% of the votes.

Whenever a new elections bring some change in the world’s key countries, which France undoubtedly is, for the last several years, I have an impression that no good results are to be expected for the world. Looks like the new generation of conservative politicians are reviving national sentiments, which they like to call “traditional values”. In Europe, conservatives usually bring closing of the country for the immigrants, decline in European integration, neoconservative policies with a bit of racial flavour.

Nicolas Sarcozy says he is bringing the “radical change” to France; he already announced revival of a good relations with the USA, and specifically president Bush, neo-liberal concept of economy, hostility towards immigrants, and establishment of the “ministry” for national identity. Such ideas always make me wondering how human brain needs to function in order to figure out this. How can someone propose establishment of the ministry for national identity? What does it mean, and how the results of this ministry will be measured? Probably by the quality of “frenchness” in the blood of the average French. Maybe they even manage to establish a good balance in blood, which will measure the perfect French.

Every time some conservative wins the elections, I get this strange feeling the world is moving in the wrong direction. This direction emphasizes some metaphysical entities like nation, ethnicity, “traditional values”, traditional family (where, of course, men should do business and bring money, while women should probably stick their noses in the kitchen and next to the children). This set of policies is always about some “values” which several people define for the good of millions. With due respect to these “concerned-for-national-survival” politicians, I think that an individual is capable enough to determine what is in his/hers best interest. No state policy should have anything to do with that. If you ask me, I think this approach is offensive for an individual, outrageous for the responsible policy, and bottom line, dangerous for human rights. The mere fact that someone thinks that he got the mandate from the people in order to “preserve” national identity, and even to establish a ministry for that, means that something is really put upside-down, because the state is put above the interest of an individual. This is an approach that really underestimates the intelligence of the voters. I am always sad when I see that voters accept this, but it is now becoming a tendency, and we all need to think about how to reverse it.

What did Sarcozy said about his priorities: “I would endeavour, if the French put their confidence in me, to be a president of the republic who is committed first of all to results. I want results. No more talk, no more declarations of virtual rights but promises to the French of rights that will become the reality: Results.” So, he wants results, no matter what. This is an original recipe from Machiavilli’s cuisine. And he is against, as he calls them, virtual rights. How nice. To me, this basically means that he is prepared to violate individual’s rights, if this will lead to his results. Results, of course, he will define. All means are legitimate, if the ends are achieved. Ends, of course, he will define.

I will not hide that I am truly sad that that Ms. Ségolène Royal lost the elections. Because she promoted human values and the society oriented towards individuals, and their true life: “I want to be the president of the republic who’s going to make a France where aggression and violence are in retreat, who’s going to make a France that will win the battle against unemployment and a high cost of living, who will also enable inequalities to recede, because I believe all these kinds of insecurity in daily life – social insecurity – call for new rules of the game, call for a new political system, call basically for more effective politicians than those of the last five years and, no doubt, beyond.” In my opinion, this is something that reflects proper people’s needs, in difference with  some uncertain chat about identity and results no one understands. No one, but Sarcozy.

Today, we are all Ségolène, and we all lost a battle.

All in all, a true celebration will take place in White House tonight. Mr. Bush, open the champagne, looks like you got a new puppy.

Nicolas, please make me eat these words!