[R-G] Sarkozy faces down motion of no confidence over US stance

[Anthony Fenton]

Sarkozy faces down motion of no confidence over US stance
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/09/france.usa

This article appeared in the Guardian on Wednesday April 09 2008 on  
p20 of the International section. It was last updated at 00:06 on  
April 09 2008.

The French government yesterday faced down its first vote of no  
confidence since Nicolas Sarkozy's election, as Socialists accused the  
president of a dangerous "Atlanticist drift" that risked turning  
France into Washington's poodle.

Leftwing politicians tabled a motion of no confidence over Sarkozy's  
decision to send 700 more troops to Afghanistan and his proposal that  
France should rejoin Nato's integrated command, which it left in 1966  
when Charles de Gaulle rejected US dominance of the alliance.

Both issues have proved controversial among the French public, with  
two recent polls showing a majority against more French troops being  
sent to Afghanistan.

But the no-confidence motion was largely a symbolic gesture as  
Sarkozy's ruling centre-right UMP party holds a clear majority in  
parliament and was never in danger of losing the vote.

However, it allowed for a heated exchange in parliament, in which  
Socialists sought to capitalise on their recent good showing in local  
elections and the president's poor poll ratings.

François Hollande, the Socialist leader, said Sarkozy decided to send  
military reinforcements to Afghanistan "under pressure from the  
Americans" and that France risked losing its independence on the world  
stage. Other opposition politicians have warned that France's ability  
to stand apart, as demonstrated by its opposition to the Iraq war in  
2003, would be lost for ever.

The prime minister, François Fillon, countered: "The opposition  
accuses us of Atlanticism, a pleasant way of saying we are in the pay  
of George Bush. Everyone understands that their aim is to surf on one  
of our most questionable failings: basic anti-Americanism."

He said that under Sarkozy France was a friend to America, but  
"independent" and "not subordinate". They were allies who were allowed  
to disagree, but also agree.

Fillon's speech to parliament was eagerly applauded by his own centre- 
right MPs - a crucial gauge of support for his reform agenda.

He is to push through some of Sarkozy's most difficult policies in the  
coming months, on issues such as pensions, health, labour laws,  
education and public sector workers.