Sarkozy regime unlikely to end mutual distrust between Britain and France

People could be forgiven for believing the centuries-old feud between Britain and France was about to be ended by the son of a Hungarian ad salesman who officially takes over as President of France today.

Business lobby groups, Thatcherite politicians and Anglo-Saxon supporters generally were issuing “end of the world” type warnings before the French presidential election.

But just days after the vote that gave Nicolas Sarkozy the job of President of France — with 6% more of the vote than his opponent, Ségolène Royal — business and Britain appeared to be not too sure.