Now that Monsieur Hollande has been elected President of France, I can only offer TWO cheers. As a socialist I am of course glad to see a fellow “red” become Leader of France……but people over-estimate alliances when we do these “proxy” support things.

I like to see Labour do well in England, SNP in Scotland, “Plaid-Labour” (to borrow a phrase from Max Boyce) in Wales, Labour in Australia, Democrats in USA……butof course they all disappoint because the reality is that they act in the interests of their own nations or electorates rather than mine.

Thus on the back of 85% European “support” for President Obama almost four years ago, I could only offer TWO cheers. Not just for Europe, Obama has been a disappointment. Within a few months of his Presidency he could not support democracy in Honduras. Presumably he was thinking of the American national interest rather than any simple “right and wrong” equation.

Thus it is ok for Eamonn Gilmore, Ed Miliband or Alasdair McDonnell to congratulate President-Elect Hollande but let’s not get carried away with the notion that he is on “our” side in the Austerity versus Growth Debate. He is limited. And his biggest limitation is to act….quite properly in the interests of France.