French Presidential Poll

[Albert]

What difference will Hollande make, assuming he wins? After 4 years here, I get the impression that "nothing really changes", but then I guess I live in a relative "bubble". Sarkozy has tweaked the retirement ages, but ? little else of real consequence? I am happy to be put right, or left (as I have no vote).

[Genghis Cohen]

We have the same problem here as in the US. What a president would like to do, and what he/she can do, are wildly different things. As is the case in most western democracies there is a complex web of legal and administrative procedures which make introducing change difficult. Plus the pervading feeling in some political circles that all our problems can be solved if we can only find a way to make the rich pay.

If FH makes it to the top spot who will be the First Lady? CBS sure is pleasant on the eye!

Genghis Cohen

[Albert]

Mme Le Pen has her 500 signatures. Interesting to see if she will spoil the party (First round) as her Father did some time ago!

[catalanglais]

It will.

I was looking at Hollande's manifesto the other day. 'Mes 60 engagements pour la France'. Bet if he's elected, he doesn't get more than two or three of them!

http://francoishollande.fr/

Sarko has taken the lead in the polls on intention to vote in the first round!!! It will be rather a turn up if he was to be reelected!

http://www.lindependant.fr/2012/03/13/u ... 123467.php

[hesfordj]

The President of France has a lot more power than most other democratic Western leaders, perhaps even more than the US president.

Sarko hasn't changed much I think because that is just his nature. He talks a lot and seems to do very little. OK, it's been a tough period economically but I haven't seen anything done that has really followed his promises.

Hollande's manifesto, even though he is more socialist, seems a lot more positive and focused on improving the economic situation than Sarko's blustering about making France strong. Even though I can't put a cross on a voting slip, I can still cross my fingers

[catalanglais]

I'm not actually sure that Hollande's manifesto will help the economic situation.

One interesting little ditty, having recently spent millions upgrading the state of the art border crossing on the A9 at Perthus, the French and Spanish Governments were threatened with a hefty fine if they did not dismantle it, as it did not conform to the Schengen agreement.

Last year, the two Governments spent over TEN MILLION euros dismantling the border and now Sarko is threatening to withdraw from Schengen within the twelve months if there is no concerted European action against illegal immigrants. One can only suppose that it will then be reconstructed at who knows what price?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17332458

Could this be why he has had this slight increase in poll for the intention to vote in the first round, perhaps?

[montgolfiere]

it looks like that only Sarko will protect the 'Auto-entrepreneurs', as Hollande wants to limit the time and generally mess things up for us. (and of course Lepen would probably have us all deported forthwith!!!!!)

[Las-Cobas]

Mme Le Pen has her 500 signatures. Interesting to see if she will spoil the party (First round) as her Father did some time ago!

At least she brings different idea's to the table.
The UK has shown coalitions do not work, irrespective of the will of the people. We have a choice, the extreme left or the extreme right, The middle ground does not work.

[Las-Cobas]

Even though I can't put a cross on a voting slip, I can still cross my fingers

I can put a cross !

it looks like that only Sarko will protect the 'Auto-entrepreneurs', as Hollande wants to limit the time and generally mess things up for us. (and of course Lepen would probably have us all deported forthwith!!!!!)

Its Le Pen. and as long as she has the Française first does it matter what happens to the other Europeans ?

[Genghis Cohen]

MLP and her cohorts have nasty echos of the Vichy era.A very delicate subject but one that cannot be avoided.

Genghis Cohen

[Las-Cobas]

Not if you drink their bottled water!

[Christopher]

Different in what way? Kick the blacks/browns/anyone who's not Aryan out isn't new. Doesn't matter what else she says, even if it's free currant buns for everyone and a fiver out of the till, she's a racist and doesn't deserve a single vote.

Mme Le Pen has her 500 signatures. Interesting to see if she will spoil the party (First round) as her Father did some time ago!

At least she brings different idea's to the table.
The UK has shown coalitions do not work, irrespective of the will of the people. We have a choice, the extreme left or the extreme right, The middle ground does not work.

[Las-Cobas]

Different in what way? Kick the blacks/browns/anyone who's not Aryan out isn't new. Doesn't matter what else she says, even if it's free currant buns for everyone and a fiver out of the till, she's a racist and doesn't deserve a single vote.

You have obviously closely watched her debates on television, listened to her discussions at local venue's in between customers and that has given you the evidence to make your wild accusations. In a democracy every politician is entitled to a public platform to express their views to their electors. I presume you are registered to vote in Avignon Christopher?

Or do you vote in that foreign country Cameronland , where you do not live.

[Christopher]

Different in what way? Kick the blacks/browns/anyone who's not Aryan out isn't new. Doesn't matter what else she says, even if it's free currant buns for everyone and a fiver out of the till, she's a racist and doesn't deserve a single vote.

You have obviously closely watched her debates on television, listened to her discussions at local venue's in between customers and that has given you the evidence to make your wild accusations. In a democracy every politician is entitled to a public platform to express their views to their electors. I presume you are registered to vote in Avignon Christopher?

Or do you vote in that foreign country Cameronland , where you do not live.

I live in Politeland.

[montgolfiere]

i cant vote in blighty and i cant vote in national elections here....so what sort of Democratic europe does that suggest??
probably ready to be taken over by the fascists...(again)

[Las-Cobas]

i cant vote in blighty and i cant vote in national elections here....so what sort of Democratic europe does that suggest??
probably ready to be taken over by the fascists...(again)

As you use the term blighty, you obviously have Hindustani connections, or ex Raj. If you are under 15 years outside the UK, you still have the right to vote in UK elections. You can of course apply for Nationality in your country of residence, and obtain the right to vote, that way.
Fascists, were the anti authoritarian regime in Italy. Europe is a democratic institution, where most countries represented are to the left of centre. If you want a voice in your community, become a Conseillers Municipaux, you can then have an influence on your community.
Obviously you are unable to become Le Maire or an Adjoint, as they represent the Etat.

I wish you luck on your quest for political inclusion in France, and suggest that within the Lutte Ouvrièr, you maybe able to find a common ground.

[peter]

The Telegraph reckons that we reckon that Sarkozy will be re-elected :

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatn ... rkozy.html

But, then again, they would, wouldn't they ?

[peter]

The next French presidential election will be held on 22 April 2012 with a run off on 6 May 2012 if required,

In total, 10 candidates were formalized at a plenary session of the Constitutional Council, including :

[catalanglais]

Did anyone watch Des paroles et des actes last night?

I detest Sarko but there is no denying that, at this type of thing, he excels.

http://www.francetv.fr/2012/emissions/d ... -des-actes

[Las-Cobas]

Did anyone watch Des paroles et des actes last night?

NO

[Dark Island]

So no one has seen that if elected F H will reduce unemployment by employing shed loads of civil servants!!!
No prize for working out who will be paying for this . It wont be the French who claim RMI & other such benifits will it?

[peter]

It already feels as if I am the only one paying for everything ...

[Genghis Cohen]

What a choice for the electors!

Get out of Europe, ditch the Euro, shoot the capitalist running dogs, run the country on wind power, bring back potectionism!

All we need now is a move to restore the Bourbons and give back power to the church and we'll have a full set of mad cap ideas!

Genghis Cohen

[alex hampshire]

It already feels as if I am the only one paying for everything ...

Thank you Peter.

[Albert]

I enjoyed going to the Polling station today with my neighbours, as an "Observer" (without any UN credentials, ha ha), just to see how the system works. Interesting differences with the UK:

a) Your vote is secret, unlike the UK, where your vote can be traced back to you. There seemed no way of doing that here;
b) Each candidate has a voting slip (simply a piece of paper with his/her name on it); In UK there is the "Ballot paper", with all of the candidates' names on it;
c) The envelope, with the voting slip of your one selected candidate is placed into a transparent "ballot box". Not sure why it is transparent. Surely an opaque ballot box is just as good and removes the need for the "envelope".

Overall, I sensed a tighter system that in UK. I won't bore with the details, but it seems more difficult to "impersonate" someone else, as it seems you have to present your Poll Card (advisable in UK, but not mandatory) before you are given an envelope.

Apparently, at 8 o’clock tonight 2 faces will appear on the TV - the first 2 in the poll.