Adieu, Sarko

Nicolas Sarkozy steps down today as French president, to be replaced by socialist François Hollande.  Voters in one of Europe’s largest economies have rejected self-defeating austerity policies in favor of a program of growth. 

Equally heartening news comes from Germany: The governing CDU just suffered losses in the North Rhine-Westphalia state election, traditionally a bellwether for national political trends.  Now, if Greece can only form a new government without calling another election…