MEDIA REACTION: EUROPE: FRANCE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION; SAO

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000387 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD DEPT PASS USTR USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD BR SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: EUROPE: FRANCE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION; SAO PAULO ¶1. "Elected To Change" Liberal, largest national circulation daily Folha de S. Paulo (5/8) editorialized: "Conservative candidate Nicolas Sarkozy obtained a clear victory in the French presidential elections. As a result, the Socialist Party had its third consecutive defeat in presidential elections. The 6 percent difference, however, shows that France continues to be a nation deeply divided between the left and the right wings. Sarkozy brings the winds of change.... What remains to be seen is whether these changes will really occur or if they will be no more than simply media effects produced by the campaign. There is no reason to doubt Sarkozy's intention to modernize France.... Part of the problem is that a significant number of French citizens - including Sarkozy's voters - oppose changes in the nation's generous system of social benefits." ¶2. "Sarkozy's Victory" Center-right national circulation daily O Estado de S. Paulo (5/8) commented: "The 38 million French who voted Sunday divided the nation into two parts - one left, another right.... No other French president believed, as Sarkozy does, in the qualities of modern capitalism.... There cannot be any doubt of what Sarkozy thinks about an open economy - except for the agribusiness sector.... One may question, however, if the new president will be able to start a profound reform in the French model - i.e., if an excessively supported society will accept changes that will alter its way of life." McMullen