Children of Frenchmen

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A puzzling feature of the France that is now poised to give Nicolas Sarkozy's political allies a powerful parliamentary mandate is its mix of private optimism and public pessimism. When it comes to the future of their nation, the French are Europe's gloomiest people, yet they not only remain passionate about politics, but also have the Continent's highest birthrate.

One puzzling and often overlooked feature of the France that elected Nicolas Sarkozy as its new president, and that is now poised to give his political allies a powerful parliamentary mandate, is its mix of private optimism and public pessimism.

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