We loved Nicholas Sarkozy in the role of Prince Charming when our
gorgeous Cinderella lost her slipper on the steps of the Elysee Palace
once-upon-a-time.
- U.S.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, left, loses her shoe as she is
greeted upon her arrival by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, right, on
the steps of the Elysee palace, Paris, Friday, Jan. 29, 2010. Clinton
flew to Paris on Friday for talks with French officials and to give a
speech on European security in which she will underscore the Obama
administration's commitment to the continent's security. (AP
Photo/Christophe Ena)
Last month she clearly charmed French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe on a visit to Paris.
- French
Foreign Minister Alain Juppe (R) turns to speak to U.S. Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton during the family photo during the meeting of "The
Friends of Syria" in Paris April 19, 2012. Major international powers
meeting in Paris on Thursday called a U.N.-backed peace plan the "last
hope" to resolve the Syrian crisis and said they would do all they could
to help it succeed, according to draft conclusions obtained by Reuters.
The agenda of the "Friends of Syria" meeting, which includes France,
the United States, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, is to ensure the Arab
League-U.N. plan succeeds. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier (FRANCE - Tags:
POLITICS)
It is all history now as a new French
government prepares to step to the fore under Socialist François
Hollande. We will watch with interest as our intrepid SOS greets the
new leadership. We expect to see smart power on steroids in the coming
weeks.
Top story:
Francois Hollande beat French President Nicolas Sarkozy with just over
51 percent of the vote in a runoff election on Sunday, becoming the
first Socialist to win the presidency since Francois Mitterrand left
office in 1995. Sarkozy, the first French president since 1981 to not
win a second term, will officially transfer power to Hollande on May 15.
Read more >>>>
Meanwhile, on the Russian front. he-man superstar Vladimir Putin has reclaimed his former post as president.
By LYNN BERRY 05/07/12 07:48 AM ET
MOSCOW
-- Vladimir Putin took the oath of office in a brief but regal Kremlin
ceremony on Monday, while on the streets outside thousands of helmeted
riot police prevented hundreds of demonstrators from protesting his
return to the presidency.
Putin, 59, has ruled Russia since 2000,
first as president and then during the past four years as prime
minister. The new, now six-year term will keep him in power until 2018,
with the option of running for a fourth term.
Read more >>>>
Four
years ago, when Dmitri Medvedev stepped into the presidency, there was
speculation that he was a placeholder for Putin. Those whispers have
never died down. We see her here with Putin at a meeting at his
residence in Russia which had not been scheduled but which she
requested.
- Russian
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, left, greets U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Rodham Clinton during a meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo just
outside Moscow, Friday, March 19, 2010. Clinton said Friday that
American and Russian negotiators are "on the brink" of agreement on a
nuclear arms reduction treaty. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky,
Pool)
We can reasonably expect that aside from dealing
anew with Putin, Mme. Secretary will continue her successful working
relationship with Sergei Lavrov whom we do not expect to see replaced
and with whom she successfully hammered out the New START Treaty.
- US
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, right, and Russia's Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov smile as they exchange documents after finalizing
the New START treaty during the Conference on Security Policy in
Munich, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
So, at least as far as Russia is concerned,
plus ça change, plus c'est la meme chose.
