The painful reforms chosen by French voters to rejuvenate their sluggish economy have smoothed the way for Nicolas Sarkozy to take up France’s top political job. The 52-year-old leader of the ruling right-wing Union for a Popular Movement edged out Segolene Royal, of the left-wing Socialist Party, in the presidential runoff on May 6 with 53.06 percent of the vote. He replaced retiring president Jacques Chirac, who is 22 years his senior, on May 16.

Sarkozy has promised to restore “the pride of being French,” as well as revive the French economy and bring down the unemployment rate from the current 8.3 percent to below 5 percent. Yet he is faced with a difficult task to fulfill that pledge.

Some of his proposals, such as limiting trade union powers and undermining the 35-hour work week by exempting overtime pay from taxes and social charges, have been criticized by union leaders, who threatened that “all attempts to pass things by force would backfire.”

In terms of external relations, Sarkozy’s first challenge is to heal the wounds left over from a French rejection of the EU treaty in a 2005 referendum. Despite his announcement that “France is back in Europe” after his election victory, he also urged his country’s European partners to hear the voice of the French people who sought protection.

In addition, how to mend the Paris-Washington rift over the Iraq war while maintaining France’s consistent stand on major international issues will also test Sarkozy’s diplomatic muscle. He is known to hold the United States in high esteem.

An imminent test for Sarkozy is the parliamentary election due next month. If his supporters can’t secure a majority in the National Assembly, Sarkozy will have to compromise on some key parts of his reform agenda, which also include strengthening state authority, restoring France’s traditional social values, tightening control on immigrants and improving security by forceful means.