Does Nicolas Sarkozy’s “mandate for change” include France’s relations with Europe and the world? Is his appointment of Bernard Kouchner as foreign minister the sign that ethics and human rights will prevail over realpolitik in France’s updated “mission to civilise”? Or has Mr Kouchner been appointed primarily to demobilise further the electorate of the left on the eve of the legislative elections?

In foreign affairs, Mr Sarkozy is confronted with predecessor Jacques Chirac’s dual legacy; his No to the US adventure in Iraq and the No of the French people to his referendum on Europe’s constitutional treaty. On Iraq, there is a consensus in France: Mr Chirac was right. As for Europe, there is the feeling among French elites that since the French No there is less France in Europe and that the new president must reverse this. The dual legacy means that France under Mr Sarkozy may be more preoccupied with the future of Europe than with that of the Atlantic alliance.