Big tent, plenty of clowns
Newly elected French president Nicolas Sarkozy apparently has decided to bring leading members of the defeated Socialist Party into his government in a big way. Reports have it that the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs may be offered to Hubert Vedrine or Bernard Kouchner. Vedrine has a decidedly anti-American track record. Kouchner, though a leftist, is a great humanitarian (he founded the organization Doctors Without Borders) and a man of principle. However, his credentials to head the foreign ministry seem thin.
A host of other prominent Socialists are rumored to be under consideration for other top posts, and François Hollande, the Socialist leader and "partner" of his party's defeated candidate Segolene Royal, is not taking it well. He has threatened to expel Vedrine and any other member who joins the Sarkozy government.
It's probably good politics for Sarkozy to bring leading members of the opposition into his government. On the merits, one can view it several ways. On the one hand, it raises further questions about the extent to which Sarkozy really intends to bring about fundamental change in France's statist government. On the other hand, if Sarkozy does intend to do this, he's going to face fierce reistance. A broad-based government and fractured opposition party could stand him in good stead. My take is a middle ground -- Sarkozy probably isn't going to do anything truly drastic, but may need this sort of "coalition" government even to get away with half measures.
On a positive note, France's talented and generally pro-American ambassador to the United States, Jean-David Levitte, has been recalled to France and is expected to receive an important post in the Sarkozy administration.
