<P> He restored cordial Franco - German relations in order to create a European counterweight between the "Anglo - Saxon" (American and British) and Soviet spheres of influence . De Gaulle openly criticised the U.S. intervention in Vietnam . He was angry at American economic power, especially what his Finance minister called the "exorbitant privilege" of the U.S. dollar . He went to Canada and proclaimed "Vive le Québec libre", The catchphrase for an independent Quebec . </P> <P> De Gaulle resigned in 1969 after losing a referendum in which he proposed more decentralization . </P> <P> François Mitterrand, a Socialist, emphasized European unity and the preservation of France's special relationships with its former colonies in the face of "Anglo - Saxon influence ." A part of the enacted policies was formulated in the Socialist Party's 110 Propositions for France, the electoral program for the 1981 presidential election . He had a warm and effective relationship with the conservative German Chancellor Helmut Kohl . They promoted French - German bilateralism in Europe And strengthened military cooperation between the two countries . </P> <P> Shortly after taking office, President Sarkozy began negotiations with Colombian president Álvaro Uribe and the left - wing guerrilla FARC, regarding the release of hostages held by the rebel group, especially Franco - Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt . According to some sources, Sarkozy himself asked for Uribe to release FARC's "chancellor" Rodrigo Granda...Furthermore, he announced on 24 July 2007, that French and European representatives had obtained the extradition of the Bulgarian nurses detained in Libya to their country . In exchange, he signed with Gaddafi security, health care and immigration pacts--and a $230 million (168 million euros) MILAN antitank missile sale . The contract was the first made by Libya since 2004, and was negotiated with MBDA, a subsidiary of EADS . Another 128 million euros contract would have been signed, according to Tripoli, with EADS for a TETRA radio system . The Socialist Party (PS) and the Communist Party (PCF) criticized a "state affair" and a "barter" with a "Rogue state". The leader of the PS, François Hollande, requested the opening of a parliamentary investigation . </P>

Who strengthened french move to the right during the 1990s