First Test for France's Little Big Man

Nicolas Sarkozy made his presidential debut on the world stage yesterday, buoyed by the prospect of a thumping majority for his UMP party in Sunday's parliamentary elections. But his political honeymoon may prove short-lived as the pledges of the campaign trail come hard up against the ambiguities and limitations of power.

France's little big man and his "mandate for change" have raised expectations in the way that Tony Blair's arrival in Downing Street did in 1997. As for Mr Blair then, he has an opportunity to take the lead internationally as well as at home. But there is also the familiar danger that ambition will outstrip performance. The G8 summit is the first test of his mettle.

Mr Sarkozy has promised to hold "frank and direct" talks with Vladimir Putin, but that does not mean he will lecture him on human rights abuses, energy blackmail and threats to target missiles at Europe. Rather than confront Moscow, the west should forge "a strategic relationship and very friendly relations" with Russia, Mr Sarkozy said. It was necessary to understand what "worries" Mr Putin and what "mobilizes" him. This sounds eminently sensible, except that it is the same approach pursued by George Bush and Mr Blair at the start of the Putin presidency. It has since become plain that for Russia's cocksure leader, empathy equals weakness.

Mr Sarkozy has also raised hopes of more robust action on climate change and Darfur. Speaking to Politique Internationale magazine, he said the Kyoto protocol was only a beginning. "We have to go further with the 20 industrialized countries emitting the most greenhouse gases. I'm thinking especially of the US," he said. China, India, Russia and Brazil would also have to "play their full part".

He said a world environment organisation should be created, similar to the World Trade Organization. But - and there are echoes of the 2003 clash over Iraq here - the French approach is to emphasize binding targets and a leading role for the UN, while Mr Bush's proposal is for a new, non-binding, US-led international effort. The divergence could test Mr Sarkozy's wish for improved relations with the US.

His appointment of the humanitarian and socialist Bernard Kouchner as foreign minister has been characterized as a masterstroke, disarming the French left on the eve of national assembly elections. It has also fed the belief that human rights issues, and Blair-style humanitarian intervention, particularly in African conflicts, will feature higher up France's agenda.

Mr Sarkozy is due to speak on Darfur today, but his expected call for action has been heard many times since the killing started - and he is still emphasizing political negotiation.

Meanwhile, on Europe, Mr Sarkozy is expected to pursue a "simplified treaty" to replace the rejected EU constitution. He knows he has Berlin's support; he has been quick to kick-start the Franco-German motor. He will seek to change Polish minds next week during a visit to Warsaw. But selling the idea to Gordon Brown could prove his most daunting challenge. Like Napoleon, Mr Sarkozy may discover that the limits of French power are defined by the Straits of Dover.