(Top) Portrait of France's new President Nicolas Sarkozy from UMP www.u-m-p.org. (Bottom) Vote results broadcast on TV. The 23rd President was revealed last night in the second round of voting; traditional right-wing Union for a Popular Movement (Union pour un Mouvement Populaire) candidate Nicolas Sarkozy defeated Socialist Party's Ségolène Royal with 53% of the vote to her nearly 47%. After images of the new president appeared on television at 8 PM last night, he officially became the sixth president of the Fifth Republic, opening a new page and new challenges in French history. Nicolas Sarkozy’s campaign headquarters was packed with people shouting joyfully, "Nicolas, we won!" In contrast to the usual scene of some rejoicing and others grieving, the crowd at Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal’s headquarters did not shed tears but instead cheered enthusiastically, chanting that they stood with Ségolène Royal. She gracefully accepted the democratic choice, acknowledging that victory and defeat are common in politics, and immediately began preparing for the upcoming parliamentary elections. Upon learning of her defeat, Ségolène Royal accepted reality with her usual charming smile, publicly thanking her supporters and party members. Demonstrating excellent democratic spirit, she congratulated the new president first: "The voters have made a clear choice. I hope the next president will fulfill his duties to serve all French people. I deeply thank the nearly 47% of voters for their love and support... A new force will not cease rising; I will give my all to continue fighting alongside you and those close to you... Under your trust, I will deeply reform the left wing and seek new convergence beyond current margins, which is the condition for our future victory." Although the left lost the presidential election, it gained a strong and decisive female leader—Ségolène Royal. To win a majority in parliament, the Socialist Party must rely on internal unity, alliance policies, and grand vision to gain widespread public support.

Nicolas Sarkozy’s victory was bathed in an atmosphere of triumph. Amid thunderous applause, he thanked voters and party members for their strong support in his speech: "Tonight, I want to thank the millions of French people who trusted me. I want to tell them that, in my view, they have given me the greatest honor of my life by judging me capable of leading France's destiny. The French people called for change, and I will bring about this change because it is the power granted to me by the French people. Since childhood, I have experienced this indescribable pride of belonging to a great, ancient, and beautiful country—France. I love it as if it were my closest kin; it has given me everything unconditionally, and now it is my turn to give everything to it... I hold respect for Mrs. Ségolène Royal and her ideas, whom so many compatriots approve of. Respecting Mrs. Ségolène Royal is respecting the millions who voted for her... This is not a victory of one part of France against the other; tonight, for me, there is only one victory: the victory of democracy... I will restore work, prestige, morality, respect, and merit. I will safeguard national honor and identity. I will make French people feel proud to be French... I call upon all French people, above all parties, regardless of faith or ethnicity, to unite so that France can start up again... I sincerely and deeply believe in Europeans; tonight, France returns to Europe... I want to tell our American friends that they can trust our friendship... Of course, friends can have different opinions... The time has come to establish relations between Europe and Africa, uniting as a whole to form the 'Mediterranean Alliance.' Let us jointly resolve immigration issues and pursue ambitious development policies... I call upon the world to believe in the values of tolerance, freedom, democracy, and humanism. To all those persecuted by totalitarianism and dictatorship, and to all victims among children and women, I say: France stands with you and trusts France." After finishing, the new president embraced his heart, moved by emotion. Amid continuous applause and cheers, he responded to supporters with blowing kisses, savoring the sweetest taste of triumphant victory.

A brilliant and eloquent speech, filled with passionate tones and touching words, embodied the supreme ideal of French humanism. He thanked voters, promised to transform France, and outlined social practice paths to repair relations with the United States, build the EU, extend hands to Africa, signal the establishment of European-African relations, and construct a future prospect for the Mediterranean. The perfect future national prospects of France and international political blueprints unfolded in this discourse. That night, the Union for a Popular Movement held a large outdoor concert at the Place de la Concorde in central Paris to celebrate Nicolas Sarkozy’s electoral triumph. Over 30,000 audience members participated in this unique spectacle, singing and dancing. These were primarily Union for a Popular Movement members and Nicolas Sarkozy supporters, celebrating joyfully until late at night. In another corner of Paris, however, a completely different scene unfolded. At Bastille Square and other locations, dissatisfied young people gathered to cause trouble. Anti-Nicolas Sarkozy protesters clashed with police, resulting in riots. Sporadic disturbances occurred on the streets, including arson. Worried about the new regime's hardline stance and far-right views, they shouted "Nicolas Sarkozy fascist." A dramatic street battle ensued, with protesters throwing stones and bottles at riot police, who finally dispersed them with water cannons and tear gas. Similar sporadic conflicts occurred in Lyon and Marseille, France's second and third largest cities, though fortunately not as severe as imagined. This highly popular presidential runoff reinvigorated political enthusiasm, with an overall voter turnout of 85%, setting a new high since 1981. The French Minister of the Interior stated: "High voter turnout symbolizes the stability of French democracy and our shared French values." Experts believe that besides the super popularity of the two candidates reinvigorating political passion, France's economic performance lagging behind other EU countries, declining international influence, and serious immigration problems were also reasons for the high voter participation by French citizens. However, these are also major issues that the new president must address promptly after taking office.