Francois Hollande, France's Most Boring Man Ever, has taken the lead in the first round of votes, beating Sarkozy by 1.5%....which doesn't sound too great, until you realise that no French President has ever lost the first round of voting before.
Meanwhile, Jean Marie Le Pen's sockpuppet, Marine Le Pen, brings in the largest vote ever for the Front Nationale at 18%, making them third. Which leaves poor, poor Jean-Luc Mélénchon struggling at 12%. Lets not even talk about Bayrou, whose support has collapsed a massive 10 percent since 2007.
Mélénchon is my preferred candidate in the election, because, although he's a bit Mr Lefty McLeftWing on some issues, the Front de Gauche is at least not the Socialist Party, whose institutionalism, bureaucracy and general air of corruption make them...unpleasant to work with. That he may seize enough of the vote that the PS, whom he used to be a member of (a senator, in fact), are forced to work with him, could help mitigate their more unpleasant aspects. Maybe.
However, with such a victory for Hollande, they may feel secure in their way of doing things. Sarkozy will probably grab 10% of the FN vote, with Hollande scooping up the Left Party members who are capable of holding their noses and voting for him and what remains of Bayrou's supporters splitting between the two.
Turnout is about 3% lower than for the 2007 elections at 80%.
Ooooh! I have nothing at all useful to add but am very interested.
Yeah, this seems like it's going to be an easy victory for Hollande. Most of the hard left will vote for Hollande, however unwillingly, while the hard right are more likely to just stay home. Even with Sarkozy's pandering to the extreme right, I suppose most FN voters think he's a filthy establishment multi-culti traitor. And he's half-Hungarian (gasp!).
Quote from: Lenin McCarthy on April 23, 2012, 10:06:35 AM
Yeah, this seems like it's going to be an easy victory for Hollande. Most of the hard left will vote for Hollande, however unwillingly, while the hard right are more likely to just stay home. Even with Sarkozy's pandering to the extreme right, I suppose most FN voters think he's a filthy establishment multi-culti traitor. And he's half-Hungarian (gasp!).
Not to mention Jewish. The FN have a real thing about that, despite their protests to the contrary.
I just realized that I have the same feelings about this election that I had about the last one.
Watching French elections is like watching the Special Olympics. Not just *any* special olympics, but the *Junior* special olympics.
Quote from: inode_buddha on April 23, 2012, 03:32:51 PM
I just realized that I have the same feelings about this election that I had about the last one.
Watching French elections is like watching the Special Olympics. Not just *any* special olympics, but the *Junior* special olympics.
As opposed to say, the American presidential election of 2000, which showed the world how democracy functions when done by Americans™. That was WAY better than the French.
Quote from: Doktor Howl on April 23, 2012, 05:01:24 PM
Quote from: inode_buddha on April 23, 2012, 03:32:51 PM
I just realized that I have the same feelings about this election that I had about the last one.
Watching French elections is like watching the Special Olympics. Not just *any* special olympics, but the *Junior* special olympics.
As opposed to say, the American presidential election of 2000, which showed the world how democracy functions when done by Americans™. That was WAY better than the French.
I have to admit the Americans provide a good circus. They went around the ring so many times that I wondered where they were gonna get off. Their bread isn't so much lately tho.
Youve been paying attention to this election right? Also are you american or no?
Quote from: Nephew Twiddleton on April 23, 2012, 05:58:47 PM
Youve been paying attention to this election right? Also are you american or no?
He's too close to Canada.
Makes sense now.
Quote from: Doktor Howl on April 23, 2012, 05:59:58 PM
Quote from: Nephew Twiddleton on April 23, 2012, 05:58:47 PM
Youve been paying attention to this election right? Also are you american or no?
He's too close to Canada.
[sings] "O Canada, we cum on thee... "[/sings]
Mon dieu. Qu'elle outlandouche.
[re-jack]
Second round of voting wont be until May 6th. Melenchon has called on his supporters to back Hollande in said round.
On topic for better understanding- what sort of republic is republic of france v 5.0? Is it comparable to the us or is it more parliamentary?
Also :lulz: france needing 5 republics in 2 centuries.
A mix of the two. Technically, France is what is considered a semi-presidential system (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-presidential_system), where a President and Prime Minister share powers and are active in the politics of the nation, as compared to say Germany or the UK, where the head of state is a figurehead, or the USA, where more power is vested in the Executive branch.
Oddly enough, France is quite similar to Russia in that respect. Or vice-versa, given history etc
Thanks cain!
BBC analysis:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17814412
9 ETZNAB / 20120423 ? at 11:24:17 PM |
Quote from: inode_buddha on April 23, 2012, 09:45:18 PM
BC analysis:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
http://www.buenosairesherald.com/
http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/99010/eu-rejects-spains-request-to-leave-argentina-out-of-negotiations-with-mercosur
over the decision, president (Cristina Fernández de Kirchner) has made
http://www.ambito.com/english/
http://www.ambito.com/economia/ :fnord: (http://www.principiadiscordia.com/forum/index.php/topic,20156.945/msg,1167584.html)
The latest opinion polls suggest Hollande has a six to 10 point lead over Sarkozy.
Marine Le Pen helped make matters worse for Sarkozy by refusing to endorse him for the election - and Sarko, as you can see, needs a good number of FN voters to rally behind him in order to win.
Francois Hollande has become the first Socialist President of France since 1988.
One half of "Merkozy" has fallen....this has interesting implications for the European Union, Iran talks, the American Presidential race and beyond...
Quote from: Cain on May 06, 2012, 10:53:25 PM
Francois Hollande has become the first Socialist President of France since 1988.
One half of "Merkozy" has fallen....this has interesting implications for the European Union, Iran talks, the American Presidential race and beyond...
What influence do you think it will have on the Iranian situation?
Iranians think Hollande is more sympathetic to them than Sarkozy, who they viewed as an American poodle, and Hollande has been outspoken about the need for a more balanced world. Inflated French currency in Tehran and a need to bring France to bear on the Iran issue may mean America is more willing to attempt diplomacy again.
According to a Tehran University political science professor who spoke on the condition of anonymity, Hollande's victory could have a "disproportionate impact in the Middle East. It would mean the onset of more independent European politics that could be replicated in Germany and Italy next year since they also have elections coming up, and that spells trouble for Israel as well as the US and its trans-Atlantic alliance."
Quote from: Cain on May 06, 2012, 11:01:18 PM
Iranians think Hollande is more sympathetic to them than Sarkozy, who they viewed as an American poodle, and Hollande has been outspoken about the need for a more balanced world. Inflated French currency in Tehran and a need to bring France to bear on the Iran issue may mean America is more willing to attempt diplomacy again.
According to a Tehran University political science professor who spoke on the condition of anonymity, Hollande's victory could have a "disproportionate impact in the Middle East. It would mean the onset of more independent European politics that could be replicated in Germany and Italy next year since they also have elections coming up, and that spells trouble for Israel as well as the US and its trans-Atlantic alliance."
We're going to have to calm down regardless. Despite all the mealy-mouthed shit about a "recovery", we're broke. We can't afford anything other than diplomacy, and not from a position of strength.
Maybe this will give the USA an excuse to calm the fuck down without losing too much face.
An 80% voter turnout rate? Damn.