Francoise Hollande’s defeat of Americain Nicolas Sarkozy does matter when it comes to foreign policy because Sarkozy has arguably been the most alliance-friendly French leader in decades—perhaps ever. 

Sunday’s elections results in six European countries, particularly France, Greece and Germany, bode poorly for satisfactorily resolving the European Union’s ongoing financial and political crisis.

Drudge is leading with Obama’s revealing open mike chat with outgoing Russian President Medvedev. Here’s the whole convo, courtesy of abcnews.

Attempts at austerity and deleveraging in Europe have converted an economic problem into a political dilemma, with leftist governments rising against Germany's austerity-laced rescue packages. Germany now faces a tough economic decision that will involve choosing between a breakup of the current euro system and a movement toward a common fiscal policy in Europe.

Sarkozy disregards his critics and sometimes seems to thrive on criticism.

While markets are again correctly obsessing over Italy and Spain’s poor economic growth prospects, as reflected in markedly higher government bond yields for those two countries, they seem to have taken their eye off two upcoming political events that could usher in a new and more serious phase of the...

Those who compare Nicolas Sarkozy unfavorably to Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher should remember that free-market reform is incremental and depends on cultural shifts.

With a shift in French public opinion, landmark pension reforms may finally be possible.