Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Sarkozy Wins - Now Gay Marriage Off France's Agenda

LGBT activists were coming to terms with the defeat of Segolene Royal in Sunday's final election for the President of France.

Nicolas Sarkozy won a solid 53% of the vote on Sunday to Ms Royal's to 47%. There was another huge turnout of 85%.

The victory of right-wing Mr Sarkozy means that the chances of gay marriage becoming legal in France are greatly reduced.

The President-elect has spoken out against gay marriage throughout the campaign.

His victory was greeted with sporadic street violence.

He is expected to try to radically reform French industrial and business practice as well as cut taxes in an attempt to jump-start the stagnant French economy.

(Nicolas Sarkozy, France's newly-elected President, leaves the Fouquet's Hotel in Paris, May 7, 2007.)

"France has given me everything, and now it is my turn to give back to France what France has given me," Mr Sarkozy said.

His Socialist opponent Segolene Royal supports opening up marriage to same-sex couples.

During the campaign Mr Sarkozy made some positive references to gay rights, though in February he reiterated his opposition to gay marriage.
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