Obama Hastily Invites Hollande Over

One could say that he was in a hurry: Barack Obama was one of the first heads of state to call Francois Hollande on Sunday to congratulate him and, at the same time, invite him to visit the White House before the G8 summit at Camp David from May 18-19. Knowing how economical the U.S. president can be with his time, the gesture seems particularly affable. He has also expressed the need for the White House to dispel the unfortunate impression that it has supported Nicolas Sarkozy almost until the end of his tenure.

Several days still before the first round of the French elections, Barack Obama allowed French television to film one of his calls to Sarkozy. This unusual favor astonished a number of analysts who were surprised that Obama “jumped onto the Titanic.”* Between the two rounds of voting, the White House has been a lot more discrete and was said to be waiting for this Sunday’s vote to be announced. Obama’s hurry to get to know Francois Hollande is also explained by a certain number of American worries.

The U.S. president, who has his election coming this November, would like — above all — to reassure himself that the new French president will not create too many waves over the two subjects that Obama holds dear to his heart: the euro crisis and the retreat from Afghanistan.

The editorialist Jim Hoagland, a great connoisseur of French politics has predicted that if Hollande sparks off a lot of questions in the United States, he could benefit from former President Mitterand’s experience in 1981.

“Do you remember that Reagan immediately sent vice-president Bush to Paris to advise Mitterrand not to appoint communists?”* questions Jim Hoagland. “We were alarmed. But Mitterrand the socialist then proved himself to be a reliable ally who succeeded, after a 180 degree turn.”* In light of the actions of this predecessor, the Americans should grant Hollande “the benefit of the doubt,”* foresees Hoagland.

The White House had not made it known on Sunday night whether or not Barack Obama had also called his “friend” Nicolas to bid him farewell.

The White House finally made it known on Monday that Obama also called Nicolas Sarkozy, to thank him for his positive cooperation and extend his “best wishes”* to him and his wife Carla.

* Editor’s note: These quotations, accurately translated, could not be verified.