MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

World leaders congratulate France new President

Conservative Nicolas Sarkozy had 53 percent of the vote

European leaders congratulated Nicolas Sarkozy on his victory in France's presidential election on Sunday and hoped his triumph would help unblock reforms stalled by the rejection of the EU constitution in 2005.

U.S. President George W. Bush also telephoned to offer his congratulations and said he expected good relations with Sarkozy, who has made a priority of repairing the damage to French-U.S. relations caused by tension over the Iraq war. Sarkozy's election could help restart the process of finding a way forward on reviving the European Union constitution, which has been held up as Europe awaited the results of the French election. In remarks just after his election, Sarkozy said: "France is back in Europe." He restated his commitment to Europe and pledged France's friendship with the United States but said that friendship meant "accepting that one's friends can act differently." European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said he was confident Sarkozy would help find a way out of the impasse that has gripped Europe since French and Dutch voters threw out the constitution in referendums two years ago. "I know Nicolas Sarkozy well, and I know his determination to ensure France takes its full place on the European scene," the center-right head of the EU's executive body said. "I have every confidence that Nicolas Sarkozy, whose convictions I know and whose strong beliefs are known to all, will play a driving role in resolving the institutional question and in consolidating a political Europe," Barroso said. Sarkozy has proposed a slimmed-down "mini treaty" containing basic institutional reforms that would allow the EU to function properly after its expansion to 27 members. To avoid the need for a second referendum in France, he wants to pass the mini treaty through parliament. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she looked forward to meeting Sarkozy soon and that she was sure the traditionally strong Franco-German alliance would continue. "She is sure that under the new president, the proven German-French friendship will continue to be the foundation for ensuring peace, democracy and well-being in Europe," Merkel's office said in a statement. "Particularly as Europe is in such a decisive phase, it is important to continue the close, trustful and intensive cooperation between German and France." British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, both center-left politicians, also offered their best wishes. "The complex situation in Europe and in the world call for us to show a shared and strong commitment," Prodi said.