(Image) Portrait of energetic French President Nicolas Sarkozy, image from sarkozy2007..com. After a series of presidential and parliamentary elections, France's sixth President of the Fifth Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy, took office. With the formation of a new government and parliament, France's new political era entered a path of governance and innovation. Here we look at what public powers the French President possesses: The President is the head of state, representing the highest executive power of the nation. Internationally, he exercises public authority granted by the people on behalf of France and serves as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. He appoints the Prime Minister; in special circumstances, he may also tender his own resignation. He regularly convenes Council of Ministers meetings to review national progress and innovative policies, and appoints senior civil servants (such as the presidents of the central bank and electricity company). Generally, respecting constitutional functions, the President has the right to convene a Constitutional Congress when necessary, and decides whether certain bills are subject to referendum. Regarding judicial power: he guarantees judicial independence and has the power to grant pardons. Regarding Parliament: he promulgates laws passed by parliamentary debate and voting, and in necessary situations has the right to dissolve Parliament. As a special power of the head of state, during times of national security crisis, the President holds all powers to handle emergency affairs.

Now let us remember the 15 points of the new President Nicolas Sarkozy's campaign promise "Together, everything becomes possible," so that we can wait five years to see if these proposals fulfill their promises (otherwise, in today's amnesia syndrome, there will be no way to hold him accountable): 1. End the impotence of state politics. 2. Make democracy impeccable. 3. Defeat unemployment. 4. Restore the rights and status of work. 5. Increase purchasing power. 6. Strengthen Europe's protective role in globalization. 7. Urgently ensure sustainable development. 8. Enable every French person to become an owner of their home. 9. Transmit the foundations of authority, respect, and achievement. 10. Build an education system that guarantees success for all students. 11. Bring higher education and research to world-leading levels. 12. Free troubled neighborhoods from the vicious cycle of violence and abandonment. 13. Control immigration. 14. Implement major policies of solidarity, fraternity, and responsibility. 15. Pride in being French.

Attached original text for reference: Mon projet : ensemble tout devient possible (les 15 points de mon projet en 16 pages). 1. Mettre fin à l'impuissance publique. 2. Une démocratie irréprochable. 3. Vaincre le chômage. 4. Réhabiliter le travail. 5. Augmenter le pouvoir d'achat. 6. L'Europe doit protéger dans la mondialisation. 7. Répondre à l'urgence du développement durable. 8. Permettre à tous les Français d'être propriétaires de leur logement. 9. Transmettre les repères de l'autorité, du respect et du mérite. 10. Une école qui garantit la réussite de tous les élèves. 11. Mettre l'enseignement supérieur et la recherche au niveau des meilleurs mondiaux. 12. Sortir les quartiers difficiles de l'engrenage de la violence et de la relégation. 13. Maîtriser l'immigration. 14. De grandes politiques de solidarité, fraternelles et responsables. 15. Fiers d'être français.