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    PARIS, France (CNN) -- France's new president, Nicolas Sarkozy, was sworn in, Wednesday, amid a grand ceremony at the Elysee Palace. Following his inauguration Sarkozy made a speech promising a series of reforms and initiatives he plans to put into effect in France during his tenure, but what will the country be like under this new leader? CNN asked its readers to offer their opinions on Nicolas Sarkozy, and give advice to the new French premier. Below is a selection of the responses: I would advise the new President not to make his country like the U.S. Sarkozy is noted for his admiration of America and its policies, but France is France and to fundamentally mold it to look like the U.S. is a mistake and will cost him politically. He must be careful when it comes to labor, economic and international political reforms. I think a lot of people are afraid he wants to change French values to make them more in line with American values, which will in turn have the French toe the American line, much like the British have. He really must make sure he does not take this path. I wish to tell him that he should do everything in his power to persuade the other EU heads of state to follow France in developing the nuclear power in order to cut emissions from burning of coal and oil. While they all seem to want to cut the emissions, not one of them really knows how to compensate for the loss of coal and oil generating electricity facilities. While we all appreciate a cleaner atmosphere, we don't really want to "go back" to a primitive society with shortages of electricity and other commodities. Do not let the left insinuate (via the media) to the French people that they are going to be poor victims of stone-hearted right wingers. All parties will need to contribute to the effort of pulling France out of the bog in which it is stuck after decades of living beyond its means and shunning true and much needed reforms. As a Portuguese citizen, and thus a citizen of the European Union, I know that France, along with Germany, represents the main European power in the world and what I hope is that Sarkozy is able to bring the successful development model of the Nordic EU countries to Central Europe, with a consistent economic growth, assured social services, but with a relatively low State interference on the economy and financial world and above all, a huge shortage of the criminal rant in France. If he can solve the immigration problems countries like Germany, England, Spain and Portugal will probably benefit a lot. He must create a reason for foreigners and foreign capital to want to come to France, and make the French see the need to accommodate them. Ireland and Dubai are examples. It might have been insightful if the new president had traveled the 555 miles (or 894 kilometers) from Paris to Berlin to see German Chancellor Merkel by high speed train rather than by plane, it might have set the tone for a new energy-conscious and green presidency, he certainly had enough time to plan the journey! We salute & congratulate France's new President and wish him all the best on his special day anyway! I would urge the president to appoint a person with the same strong convictions and strength as him, to "seal and heal" the deep rupture between the disadvantaged people and the privileged, which will go a very long way in restoring La Belle France -- a much respected country and always a champion of freedom and ideas -- back to its historic place in the world. I wish you "Bonne chance et Bon Courage". I think the emergence of Sarkozy in France is enough of a pointer to the fact that we ought to get things done the right way in Nigeria. Our elections here in Nigeria weren't something to boast about. I think he should strengthen ties with the African continent so as to help it achieve its developmental needs. He should tackle the issue of immigration to avoid what happened last year and I think he should accommodate the youth and the opposition which Madam Royale represents. I congratulate Mr Sarkozy on his assumption of office as president of France. I do hope his policies will be pro Africa. Nicolas Sarkozy belongs to a new generation of French politicians who have no complex regarding liberal methods. He has the ability and the legitimacy to implement all the reforms that France needs. A chapter of the French History is closing today. My words of encouragement to Nicolas are simple yet powerful, complex, demanding. He should strive to insure Truth prevails, humanity has the right to know, and he dedicate his efforts towards a Global community with one goal and focus, that being for the sake of humanity and our advancement. This is a time of change , he will require strength and courage, his World leadership ability and potential will be tested, I wish him my best. For France, for the World, for One. Nicolas Sarkozy should take the opportunity, early on, to make climate change and global warming his number one priority. This would set the tone for a new generation of world leaders and no U.S. president in 2008 could not follow suit. This is exactly the golden opportunity that France needs to spearhead efforts of utmost important and go down in history as the world leader on the moral high ground. Mr. Sarkozy can work within the European Union to put pressure on the USA to bring down their disastrous CO2 levels (if need be). I think the French are in for a ride since Mr Sarkozy is known to say and do some outrageous things. But all in all I wish the French people luck because they really need it and that this change will have some positive impact in the world. |
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