France's Sarkozy realises boyhood dream

By Jon Boyle

PARIS (Reuters) - Nicolas Sarkozy realised a childhood ambition by winning France's presidential election on Sunday and will be the first son of an immigrant to rule modern France.

Sarkozy, 52, beat Socialist rival Segolene Royal with a vow to "make things happen" and a vision of higher growth, better living standards and full employment. He vowed to build respect for traditional values and France's national identity.

His triumph was a victory over an "Anyone But Sarkozy" campaign by rivals who said his courting of far-right voters and tough line on crime made him a dangerous authoritarian.

Sarkozy also overcame attacks over his father's origins as a minor Hungarian nobleman to realise an ambition to be president which his mother, Andree, said he had harboured since he was seven.

His career has seen almost as many lows as highs. Once close to Jacques Chirac, his relations with the president later became strained, and he has often been seen as a divisive political figure. He has also suffered marital problems.

His path to the presidency came via the wealthy Paris suburb of Neuilly, where he was mayor at the age of 28, and passed through parliament, where he became a deputy when he was 33.

He became budget minister at 38, but was written off in 1995 when he backed a conservative presidential candidate against Chirac. Brought back by Chirac to oversee European elections in 1999, he was soon on the retreat again when conservatives did badly in those polls.

Sarkozy was recalled in 2002 to help Chirac secure re-election and was rewarded by becoming interior minister, although had had longed to be prime minister.