Sarkozy vows to heal French election wounds after triumph

06/05/2007 23h47

PARIS (AFP) - Right-winger Nicolas Sarkozy, who had sought a mandate for radical reform, emphatically won France's presidential election on Sunday, but promised to heal the wounds of the bitterly fought campaign.

"I will not betray you, I will not lie to you, I will not disappoint you," Sarkozy told tens of thousands of supporters packed into a Paris square as news spread of his triumph over the Socialist Segolene Royal.

But riot police also fought hundreds of anti-Sarkozy rioters in Paris and others cities with tear gas and water cannon.

Sarkozy won the battle to be France's new generation leader in place of President Jacques Chirac with 53 percent of the vote against 47 percent for Royal, according to official results. The estimated turnout of 85 percent was the highest in three decades.

Amid wild celebrations in the capital, Sarkozy, 52, who has fought to soften his tough-talking image, said he would be the president of the whole nation.

"My thoughts go out to all those French people who did not vote for me," he said in a victory speech at the party headquarters of his Union for a Popular Movement (UMP).

"I want to say to them that -- above and beyond the political fight, above and beyond differences of opinion -- for me there is only one France. I will be president of all the French. I will speak for all of them," he said.

Sarkozy gave the same unifying message to more than 30,000 followers in the Place de la Concorde where he promised to "turn a new page" in French history.

"I recognise the immense responsibilities that weigh on my shoulders," he declared. "I want to say to everyone: I will not betray you, I will not lie to you, I will not disappoint you."

At the Socialist Party headquarters, Royal supporters, many in tears, gloomily digested a third consecutive presidential defeat after 1995 and 2002.

"I gave it all I had and will continue to be with you and close to you," Royal said. But many experts now expect bitter recriminations within the left wing party over its new humiliation.

World leaders were quick to acknowledge Sarkozy as the new French leader.

US President George W. Bush telephoned to congratulate him on his victory within an hour of polls closing, said a White House spokesman.

Some hope for a new era in US-France relations after the frostiness caused by Chirac's opposition to the Iraq war.

Sarkozy said the United States can count on friendship from France but urged Washington to show leadership in the struggle against global warming and that it would be a priority for his government.

Sarkozy said "a great nation like the United States has the duty to not create obstacles in the struggle against global warming."

Chirac, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and a host of European leaders also telephoned Sarkozy. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was convinced Sarkozy would maintain the French-German axis at the heart of the European Union.

Thousands of police reinforcements were deployed around the capital to head off the risk of unrest by youths from high-immigrant suburbs where there were riots in 2005.

Riot police fired tear gas and water canon at up to 300 stone-throwing protestors in the Place de la Bastille in central Paris, where about 5,000 Royal supporters had gathered.

"Police everywhere, justice nowhere," shouted some rioters, while others screamed "Sarko-fascist."

Youths also burned several dozen vehicles in Paris suburbs where troubles erupted two years ago and disturbances were reported in the provincial cities of Lille, Toulouse, Lyon, Nancy and Metz. In Marseille, police dispersed around 300 protestors with tear gas.

On the last day of the campaign Royal had warned that a Sarkozy victory would trigger "violence and brutality" across the country.

Sarkozy will take over from Chirac on May 16, and has promised to act quickly to enact key items of his manifesto.

His campaign was based on the theme of "la rupture" -- a clean break from past policies which he blamed for creating France's runaway debt, high unemployment and festering discontent in the high-immigration suburbs.

After legislative elections in June -- in which he will seek a clear majority for the UMP and its allies -- he plans a special National Assembly session to set off his reform drive.

These include the abolition of tax on overtime, big cuts in inheritance tax, a law guaranteeing minimum service in transport strikes, and rules to oblige the unemployed to take up offered work.

On the social front he has pledged minimum jail terms for serial offenders and tougher rules to make it harder for immigrants to bring extended families to France.

His right-wing programme was in sharp contrast to Royal's promise to extend state protection, create 500,000 jobs, and increase the minimum wage.