In Germany, for the better.
In France, for the worse (as hard as it is to believe).
Chirac is the "Conservative" in France.
But like De Gaul he's a "nationalist". Their idea of conservative and liberal is different than ours, as is the case in near all of Europe. The French "socialists" are more malleable and easier to work with than their conservative counterparts who are still socialist in their market/economic views. The nationalists are more about preserving French culture, tighter security, military might, neo-colonialist in foreign policy, and so on…… Economically both can be regarded as socialists just one is a more nationalistic minded socialist (France first and screw the rest!).
The nationalists are harder to work with than the socialists. The nationalists see NATO in opposition to their interests. No NATO and Europe leans on France for security issues. The nationalists see power in opposing us. By going against us on most UN resolutions they gain power and influence in many places. They tend to be bigger bottom feeders when it comes to arms sales as witnessed with their lobbying to drop EU arms restrictions against China. Neither will bring real economic reforms to France, but the nationalists see themselves in competition and at times in opposition to us.
Germany and France are in the same boat in one respect: Conservative and liberal governments both have a "socialist" view on economics and market activities. But in Germany it's the political left that is harder to work with. In their case it's an ideology (We embody the opposite of what they preach) and inferiority complexes that is driving the train. Schroeder pounded the hate America, Bush Cowboy, no blood for oil all the way to a near reelection.
It’s a strange twist!
Red6