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Hollande’s Assertive Role in Foreign Policy Is a Good Fit for France Hollande’s Assertive Role in Foreign Policy Is a Good Fit for France
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PARIS — In the past few weeks, President François Hollande of France has been booed at a solemn national ceremony and forced to retreat on an element of his economic agenda. He has seen his nation’s credit rating downgraded and watched as his already-low public support continued to erode.PARIS — In the past few weeks, President François Hollande of France has been booed at a solemn national ceremony and forced to retreat on an element of his economic agenda. He has seen his nation’s credit rating downgraded and watched as his already-low public support continued to erode.
Outside France, it is a different story. Widely derided as flailing at home, Mr. Hollande is building a far more assertive and confident image abroad, most notably for the last two days in Israel, where he has been embraced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a vital player in the debate over how best to rein in Iran’s nuclear ambitions.Outside France, it is a different story. Widely derided as flailing at home, Mr. Hollande is building a far more assertive and confident image abroad, most notably for the last two days in Israel, where he has been embraced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a vital player in the debate over how best to rein in Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
While France has been seen as pro-Palestinian, Mr. Hollande was welcomed by Mr. Netanyahu as something of a hero for having helped delay a deal being negotiated by the United States and other allies that would loosen economic sanctions on Iran in return for guarantees by Iran that it would sharply restrict its nuclear activities.While France has been seen as pro-Palestinian, Mr. Hollande was welcomed by Mr. Netanyahu as something of a hero for having helped delay a deal being negotiated by the United States and other allies that would loosen economic sanctions on Iran in return for guarantees by Iran that it would sharply restrict its nuclear activities.
In the past year Mr. Hollande, a socialist, has managed a successful military intervention in Mali and has stood in favor of a military strike against Syria over the Assad government’s use of chemical weapons, until the United States and Britain backed off.In the past year Mr. Hollande, a socialist, has managed a successful military intervention in Mali and has stood in favor of a military strike against Syria over the Assad government’s use of chemical weapons, until the United States and Britain backed off.
Mr. Hollande is far from the first world leader to find himself more comfortable in the world of foreign policy than in the messy business of politics at home. But the contrast between his handling of the two sides of his portfolio is striking and is evidence that France, for all its domestic divisions, continues to enjoy a consensus at home about taking an assertive role in world affairs.Mr. Hollande is far from the first world leader to find himself more comfortable in the world of foreign policy than in the messy business of politics at home. But the contrast between his handling of the two sides of his portfolio is striking and is evidence that France, for all its domestic divisions, continues to enjoy a consensus at home about taking an assertive role in world affairs.
Mr. Hollande’s foreign policy positions are not “divisive vis-à-vis the French body politic,” said François Heisbourg, a special adviser to the Foundation for Strategic Research in Paris.Mr. Hollande’s foreign policy positions are not “divisive vis-à-vis the French body politic,” said François Heisbourg, a special adviser to the Foundation for Strategic Research in Paris.
“To take the stance he took doesn’t hurt him politically,” Mr. Heisbourg said of Mr. Hollande’s position that reportedly scuttled a deal between Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany to relax sanctions against Tehran in return for tangible assurances about the peaceful nature of its nuclear program.“To take the stance he took doesn’t hurt him politically,” Mr. Heisbourg said of Mr. Hollande’s position that reportedly scuttled a deal between Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany to relax sanctions against Tehran in return for tangible assurances about the peaceful nature of its nuclear program.
“This is pretty much of a consensus item; it was the position taken by his predecessor as well,” Mr. Heisbourg said, referring to the former conservative president, Nicolas Sarkozy, who also took a hard line on Tehran.“This is pretty much of a consensus item; it was the position taken by his predecessor as well,” Mr. Heisbourg said, referring to the former conservative president, Nicolas Sarkozy, who also took a hard line on Tehran.
France’s stand on the Iranian nuclear deal, much like its stand on Syria, is part of Paris’s own brand of foreign policy, one that shares many of the same principles as the United States’ but sometimes has different priorities.France’s stand on the Iranian nuclear deal, much like its stand on Syria, is part of Paris’s own brand of foreign policy, one that shares many of the same principles as the United States’ but sometimes has different priorities.
France has longstanding business ties with the Sunni Arab countries in the gulf, including Saudi Arabia, ties that have shaped its stand. The Sunni countries of the gulf want to keep a nuclear weapon out of the hands of Iran, which follows the Shiite branch of Islam. On this issue, Israel’s position is close to that of its Sunni Arab neighbors’: all say Iran’s acquisition of a nuclear bomb would be unacceptable.France has longstanding business ties with the Sunni Arab countries in the gulf, including Saudi Arabia, ties that have shaped its stand. The Sunni countries of the gulf want to keep a nuclear weapon out of the hands of Iran, which follows the Shiite branch of Islam. On this issue, Israel’s position is close to that of its Sunni Arab neighbors’: all say Iran’s acquisition of a nuclear bomb would be unacceptable.
Mr. Hollande got similar political mileage — support from the left and right — from the stand he took on Mali, in which he urged intervention when Islamic extremists took over the country’s north and began to advance toward the capital, Bamako.Mr. Hollande got similar political mileage — support from the left and right — from the stand he took on Mali, in which he urged intervention when Islamic extremists took over the country’s north and began to advance toward the capital, Bamako.
He put French troops on the ground, who had enough success in routing the extremists that he received applause at home. He is now taking a similarly strong position on intervention, albeit of a far more limited sort, in the troubled Central African Republic.He put French troops on the ground, who had enough success in routing the extremists that he received applause at home. He is now taking a similarly strong position on intervention, albeit of a far more limited sort, in the troubled Central African Republic.
Forcefulness seems to come easily to Mr. Hollande abroad: on Sunday in Israel he stated that on Iran, France wanted “a serious significant agreement that gives results” and detailed the main points, including the suspension of all enrichment of uranium to the level of 20 percent and a halt on construction of the heavy water reactor at the Arak plant.Forcefulness seems to come easily to Mr. Hollande abroad: on Sunday in Israel he stated that on Iran, France wanted “a serious significant agreement that gives results” and detailed the main points, including the suspension of all enrichment of uranium to the level of 20 percent and a halt on construction of the heavy water reactor at the Arak plant.
But it seems to escape him when he faces charged domestic questions at home. On economic policy, he is trapped between a revolt over high taxes on one side and on the other his own party’s deep aversion to the benefit cuts and labor market reforms that are being urged by the European Union and the stock markets.But it seems to escape him when he faces charged domestic questions at home. On economic policy, he is trapped between a revolt over high taxes on one side and on the other his own party’s deep aversion to the benefit cuts and labor market reforms that are being urged by the European Union and the stock markets.
To choose either route could unleash mass demonstrations and risk further political wounds. Not to choose means continued drift and criticism from the European Union and other bodies that have become increasingly impatient with Paris’s inability or unwillingness to address big structural issues.To choose either route could unleash mass demonstrations and risk further political wounds. Not to choose means continued drift and criticism from the European Union and other bodies that have become increasingly impatient with Paris’s inability or unwillingness to address big structural issues.
Over the past month, thousands of farmers, agricultural workers and truckers, many of them almost certainly socialist voters in the last election, blocked major roads in Brittany in France’s northwest, setting fires and destroying more than $10 million of government property to protest a tax on heavy trucks.Over the past month, thousands of farmers, agricultural workers and truckers, many of them almost certainly socialist voters in the last election, blocked major roads in Brittany in France’s northwest, setting fires and destroying more than $10 million of government property to protest a tax on heavy trucks.
What is more striking to many observers is how the power vacuum in domestic politics is increasingly being filled by the far right. Extremist voices, some analysts said, are challenging not only Mr. Hollande’s legitimacy, but the traditional boundaries of French political discourse and the stature of the state.What is more striking to many observers is how the power vacuum in domestic politics is increasingly being filled by the far right. Extremist voices, some analysts said, are challenging not only Mr. Hollande’s legitimacy, but the traditional boundaries of French political discourse and the stature of the state.
“There’s a weakening of the institutions that embody authority,” said Christophe Barbier, the editor of L’Express, the weekly news magazine.“There’s a weakening of the institutions that embody authority,” said Christophe Barbier, the editor of L’Express, the weekly news magazine.
Among the most visible manifestations of the political climate have been racist slurs against Mr. Hollande’s justice minister, Christiane Taubira, who is black. Initially left unanswered, they are now being countered more aggressively by the government.Among the most visible manifestations of the political climate have been racist slurs against Mr. Hollande’s justice minister, Christiane Taubira, who is black. Initially left unanswered, they are now being countered more aggressively by the government.
In October a candidate for the extreme right National Front party, Anne-Sophie Leclère, put a photograph on her own Facebook page of a baby monkey in a dress with the subtitle “At 18 months,” and then next to the monkey, an unflattering photograph of Ms. Taubira, with the subtitle “Now.”In October a candidate for the extreme right National Front party, Anne-Sophie Leclère, put a photograph on her own Facebook page of a baby monkey in a dress with the subtitle “At 18 months,” and then next to the monkey, an unflattering photograph of Ms. Taubira, with the subtitle “Now.”
Last week, Minute, a fringe right-wing magazine, also compared Ms. Taubira to a monkey. Mr. Hollande’s government reacted swiftly this time. The prime minister asked the interior minister, Manuel Valls, to take legal steps against the magazine under a law against racism, and the public prosecutor opened an official investigation.Last week, Minute, a fringe right-wing magazine, also compared Ms. Taubira to a monkey. Mr. Hollande’s government reacted swiftly this time. The prime minister asked the interior minister, Manuel Valls, to take legal steps against the magazine under a law against racism, and the public prosecutor opened an official investigation.
But Mr. Hollande has difficulty escaping his critics at home.But Mr. Hollande has difficulty escaping his critics at home.
On Armistice Day, a major national holiday, Mr. Hollande was traveling to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier when an organized protest met him along the way. Some of the protesters wore the red caps associated with a 17th-century anti-tax movement against Louis XIV, the Sun King.On Armistice Day, a major national holiday, Mr. Hollande was traveling to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier when an organized protest met him along the way. Some of the protesters wore the red caps associated with a 17th-century anti-tax movement against Louis XIV, the Sun King.
Mr. Hollande’s decisive posture abroad, however, does little to shield him from such critics at home.Mr. Hollande’s decisive posture abroad, however, does little to shield him from such critics at home.

Maïa de la Baume and Scott Sayare contributed reporting.

Maïa de la Baume and Scott Sayare contributed reporting.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: November 19, 2013

An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that a candidate for the extreme right National Front party posted photographs of a baby monkey and Christiane Taubira, the justice minister, on Ms. Taubira’s Facebook page. The candidate, Anne-Sophie Leclère, posted the photographs on her own Facebook page, not on the page of Ms. Taubira.