In think the French "SoS" would be the Interior Minister, so Manuel Valls. Mixed. He's a pompous Moderate Hero (kinda of the Evan Bayh type, ie a guy who tries much too hard to look like the sound centrist and distance himself from the rest of his party every time he has an occasion). On the other hand, he's generally a competent guy and has always done the job he's been given pretty well. He's also a good speaker, and beyond the moderate-heroish fluff I think he does have convictions.
He is much of an improvement compared to Guéant/Hortefeux, through.In the rhetoric, definitely (and rhetoric
is very important to me). The actual immigration policy, however, does not seem to be changing in any meaningful way. France is becoming a far-right country on this issue, so even the left has to cope with the general xenophobia. That's pretty heart-wrenching.
