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Hollande, Long Seen as Soft, Shifts Image With Firm Stance Hollande, Long Seen as Soft, Shifts Image With Firm Stance
(35 minutes later)
PARIS — President François Hollande of France has regularly been criticized as indecisive, even complacent. But the events of the last few days will go some way toward changing his image, as Mr. Hollande has moved swiftly to use the French military in Mali and Somalia after pulling off an important compromise with domestic unions over job creation.PARIS — President François Hollande of France has regularly been criticized as indecisive, even complacent. But the events of the last few days will go some way toward changing his image, as Mr. Hollande has moved swiftly to use the French military in Mali and Somalia after pulling off an important compromise with domestic unions over job creation.
The sudden French military intervention in Mali, which took only half a day to set in motion, together with a bold, if failed, hostage rescue mission in Somalia, have displayed Mr. Hollande in a more somber, decisive light that could represent a turning point for his presidency. The French, like the Americans, judge presidents on their ability to make tough decisions, and there are few tougher ones than to send young soldiers into battle.The sudden French military intervention in Mali, which took only half a day to set in motion, together with a bold, if failed, hostage rescue mission in Somalia, have displayed Mr. Hollande in a more somber, decisive light that could represent a turning point for his presidency. The French, like the Americans, judge presidents on their ability to make tough decisions, and there are few tougher ones than to send young soldiers into battle.
While the future of the Mali intervention is unclear, it has begun well, with French forces hitting two columns of Islamist rebels with jet fighters and attack helicopters and appearing to halt a rebel march south toward the capital, Bamako. Mr. Hollande’s actions have garnered widespread political support in France and abroad, from African countries, the United States and Britain, all of which have promised to move more quickly to help Mali recover a vast piece of land lost months ago to the rebels.While the future of the Mali intervention is unclear, it has begun well, with French forces hitting two columns of Islamist rebels with jet fighters and attack helicopters and appearing to halt a rebel march south toward the capital, Bamako. Mr. Hollande’s actions have garnered widespread political support in France and abroad, from African countries, the United States and Britain, all of which have promised to move more quickly to help Mali recover a vast piece of land lost months ago to the rebels.
Even the failure of the raid in Somalia, in which two French commandos died and the hostage is believed to have been killed by his captors, does not seem to have hurt Mr. Hollande. Many of his countrymen do not expect warfare to be risk-free, and France is seized by both worries about the rise of radical Islam and the plight of several French hostages in North Africa believed to be held by religious extremists. “This is the first occasion Hollande had or seized upon to act decisively, without the sort of the waffling that had appeared to be his trademark,” said François Heisbourg, a defense expert at the Foundation for Strategic Research in Paris. “So in that sense, it changes his image instantaneously.” Even the failure of the raid in Somalia, in which two French commandos died and the hostage is believed to have been killed by his captors, does not seem to have hurt Mr. Hollande. Many of his countrymen do not expect warfare to be risk-free, and France is seized by both worries about the rise of radical Islam and the plight of several French hostages in North Africa believed to be held by religious extremists. “This is the first occasion Hollande had or seized upon to act decisively, without the sort of waffling that had appeared to be his trademark,” said François Heisbourg, a defense expert at the Foundation for Strategic Research in Paris. “So in that sense, it changes his image instantaneously.”
Throughout his career in the Socialist Party, Mr. Hollande has been criticized and even ridiculed for being soft and compromising, likened in the early days to a wobbly custard dessert called “Flanby.” But he has always said that his critics underestimate him, and his victory last May over the energetic incumbent, Nicolas Sarkozy, surprised many.Throughout his career in the Socialist Party, Mr. Hollande has been criticized and even ridiculed for being soft and compromising, likened in the early days to a wobbly custard dessert called “Flanby.” But he has always said that his critics underestimate him, and his victory last May over the energetic incumbent, Nicolas Sarkozy, surprised many.
Now Mr. Hollande has “demonstrated that he can decide on matters of war and peace, which in the French system, as in the U.S., is very important,” Mr. Heisbourg said.Now Mr. Hollande has “demonstrated that he can decide on matters of war and peace, which in the French system, as in the U.S., is very important,” Mr. Heisbourg said.
“Until you prove that, you haven’t proved much,” he said, comparing the impact of Mr. Hollande’s actions with that of President Obama’s decision to approve the raid on Osama bin Laden.“Until you prove that, you haven’t proved much,” he said, comparing the impact of Mr. Hollande’s actions with that of President Obama’s decision to approve the raid on Osama bin Laden.
A cartoon on Saturday in the centrist newspaper Le Parisien showed Mr. Hollande as commander in chief, with a bystander saying, “Must admit that sometimes he surprises.”A cartoon on Saturday in the centrist newspaper Le Parisien showed Mr. Hollande as commander in chief, with a bystander saying, “Must admit that sometimes he surprises.”
On Sunday, Bruno Jeudy, an editor at the newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche, wrote: “Finally president! Finished, the hesitant and nonchalant François Hollande of the first months of his mandate.” Like many, Mr. Jeudy noted that once begun, the operation in Mali — to help dismantle a safe haven for radicals linked to terrorist groups — will be long and difficult. (In the same newspaper, Dominique de Villepin, a former foreign minister, warned that the operation in Mali was likely to fail because it had too many ambitious goals.)On Sunday, Bruno Jeudy, an editor at the newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche, wrote: “Finally president! Finished, the hesitant and nonchalant François Hollande of the first months of his mandate.” Like many, Mr. Jeudy noted that once begun, the operation in Mali — to help dismantle a safe haven for radicals linked to terrorist groups — will be long and difficult. (In the same newspaper, Dominique de Villepin, a former foreign minister, warned that the operation in Mali was likely to fail because it had too many ambitious goals.)
“Wars are rarely popular,” Mr. Jeudy said. “But by putting on the uniform of a war leader, he rose to the rank of his predecessors.” He also lowered the domestic pressure on him to back off his proposal to legalize same-sex marriage, turning the national conversation more toward foreign policy.“Wars are rarely popular,” Mr. Jeudy said. “But by putting on the uniform of a war leader, he rose to the rank of his predecessors.” He also lowered the domestic pressure on him to back off his proposal to legalize same-sex marriage, turning the national conversation more toward foreign policy.
A week ago, all the talk in France was of the large demonstration called for Sunday against same-sex marriage. The proposed law has created significant opposition because it would allow married gay couples to adopt children. Religious leaders and many ordinary citizens are troubled by the proposal, and opposition parties have tried to make political capital out of opposition to the bill.A week ago, all the talk in France was of the large demonstration called for Sunday against same-sex marriage. The proposed law has created significant opposition because it would allow married gay couples to adopt children. Religious leaders and many ordinary citizens are troubled by the proposal, and opposition parties have tried to make political capital out of opposition to the bill.
Up to 340,000 demonstrators came out in Paris on Sunday to protest the bill, according to the police, while organizers gave a turnout of 800,000.Up to 340,000 demonstrators came out in Paris on Sunday to protest the bill, according to the police, while organizers gave a turnout of 800,000.
Emmanuel Bogeat, 35, a lawyer, and his wife, Laetitia, 32, a teacher, came from Nice, upset about a move they believe would add instability to the troubled institution of the family. “This is once again hurting the family’s core,” Ms. Bogeat said.Emmanuel Bogeat, 35, a lawyer, and his wife, Laetitia, 32, a teacher, came from Nice, upset about a move they believe would add instability to the troubled institution of the family. “This is once again hurting the family’s core,” Ms. Bogeat said.
Mr. Bogeat said he knew the law would pass, “but it’s my duty, since I’m against it, to be here.”Mr. Bogeat said he knew the law would pass, “but it’s my duty, since I’m against it, to be here.”
Like many, Alexis Ludeau, 24, who works at a university, is less opposed to same-sex marriage than to giving gay couples adoption rights, which he called dangerously experimental — “taking a bet.” The country’s real problem is debt and jobs, he said. “We see that our government isn’t in touch with what’s going on in France today.”Like many, Alexis Ludeau, 24, who works at a university, is less opposed to same-sex marriage than to giving gay couples adoption rights, which he called dangerously experimental — “taking a bet.” The country’s real problem is debt and jobs, he said. “We see that our government isn’t in touch with what’s going on in France today.”
Still, many of those on the right who oppose Mr. Hollande on same-sex marriage, including the main opposition party, the Union for a Popular Movement, support him on Mali and Somalia.Still, many of those on the right who oppose Mr. Hollande on same-sex marriage, including the main opposition party, the Union for a Popular Movement, support him on Mali and Somalia.
Mr. Hollande, whose Socialist Party and its allies control the legislature, has vowed to push through the bill, saying that policy will not be made in the streets. But he has refused to allow some of his own legislators to attach a provision to allow state financing for procreation assistance to lesbian married couples. In both instances, Mr. Hollande has again shown his ability to make a decision and keep it, as well as working to manage his own party.Mr. Hollande, whose Socialist Party and its allies control the legislature, has vowed to push through the bill, saying that policy will not be made in the streets. But he has refused to allow some of his own legislators to attach a provision to allow state financing for procreation assistance to lesbian married couples. In both instances, Mr. Hollande has again shown his ability to make a decision and keep it, as well as working to manage his own party.
Similarly, after months of negotiations, Mr. Hollande and his government were able to announce late Friday an agreement between entrepreneurs and trade unions over how to liberalize the labor market, to make it easier to hire young people, who are facing unemployment levels nearing 25 percent.Similarly, after months of negotiations, Mr. Hollande and his government were able to announce late Friday an agreement between entrepreneurs and trade unions over how to liberalize the labor market, to make it easier to hire young people, who are facing unemployment levels nearing 25 percent.
While the details are vague, and the impact on unemployment may not be big, Mr. Hollande has managed to get some concessions from France’s famously strong unions without a strike. That was especially important for Mr. Hollande, given the ridicule produced by the actor Gérard Depardieu’s feud with the government over high taxes favored by the Socialists and a ruling that a 75 percent tax rate on the rich was unconstitutional.While the details are vague, and the impact on unemployment may not be big, Mr. Hollande has managed to get some concessions from France’s famously strong unions without a strike. That was especially important for Mr. Hollande, given the ridicule produced by the actor Gérard Depardieu’s feud with the government over high taxes favored by the Socialists and a ruling that a 75 percent tax rate on the rich was unconstitutional.
For Mr. Hollande to have succeeded with the unions and corporate leaders was vital. Failure would have been seen as disastrous for his ability to carry the country, however incrementally, toward improved competitiveness and lower budget deficits.For Mr. Hollande to have succeeded with the unions and corporate leaders was vital. Failure would have been seen as disastrous for his ability to carry the country, however incrementally, toward improved competitiveness and lower budget deficits.
There was even praise from a sharp critic, the business leader Laurence Parisot. The deal “will change life for businesses in France,” she said.There was even praise from a sharp critic, the business leader Laurence Parisot. The deal “will change life for businesses in France,” she said.
“This marks the advent of a culture of compromise after decades of a philosophy of social antagonism,” she said.“This marks the advent of a culture of compromise after decades of a philosophy of social antagonism,” she said.
The complications of war are many, but for now, joked Mr. Heisbourg, the defense expert, it seems like “springtime in Holland,” a play on the president’s name. The French “don’t know yet if he’s really competent,” he said.The complications of war are many, but for now, joked Mr. Heisbourg, the defense expert, it seems like “springtime in Holland,” a play on the president’s name. The French “don’t know yet if he’s really competent,” he said.
“But he shows little sign of stress or unease, and he certainly looks relaxed.”“But he shows little sign of stress or unease, and he certainly looks relaxed.”

Arthur Touchot contributed reporting from Paris.

Arthur Touchot contributed reporting.