French election
 

I've been reading that the first round of elections could result in riots and violence. We're supposed to arrive in Paris next Wednesday.

Does anyone know if we should be concerned?

You should be concerned about the news outlet that is telling you this misinformation and start reading different ones. Try the BBC online if you don't speak an French. It's quite an exciting election, so you might want to learn more about it if you plan to stay in Paris until Sunday.

Thank you! American news is the worst. All doom and gloom all the time.

France 24 on line will keep you up to date too. There is a France 24 debate on the site that is always interesting.

People generally get the news they deserve, based on which media they are using to get it. There is plenty of intelligent news reporting out there, yes, even in the US. Most people don't want it though so they look at garbage like CNN or worse, and never read a good newspaper, either, nor listen to NPR news. NPR is biased in its national political viewpoint, but at least they report more on international news and do it pretty well. They had a long story this morning on this subject (on the BBC news segment on NPR).

That doesn't mean this is necessarily wrong, though, given that election. What do you think would happen if Le Pen were elected? They've already arrested some people planning terrorism due to that. SO don't just presume some stranger on Fodors telling you France is perfect and nothing bad ever happens, blah blah is correct. It is a fact that a couple men were just arrested in Marseille plotting terrorist attacks related to the election. In fact, Fillon has criticized the govt for not doing more about the violence surrounding this election.

but no, I don't think you personally have anything to worry about and it certainly isn't going to be at the level you are implying that would disrupt the entire city, how would that happen.

I was there last election and was fascinated by the whole process. So much more civilized than how we do it. The results were in by 8pm and they were out of office the next week. Not a long dragged out process. Just use common sense. I would not wade into a big crowd. I am watching the news now of the shootings in Paris. More to come? Who knows. You can expect armed police more but would not be overly concerned. Maybe we are getting numb from it all.

Nobody "deserves" today's media, and there is a real paucity of intelligent reporting, even at the "respectable" news outlets. Witness their utter shock at everything going on this year and their repeatedly wrong analysis.

What one also needs to be on the alert for is somebody like Christina on the internet twisting other people's words because of her own unhappiness. If you can read (apparently Christina has trouble with this) you can plainly see that no one on Fodor's has told you "France is perfect and nothing bad ever happens." What someone told you -- me -- is that neither police nor most people are expecting riots and violence following the election results.

There is a perpetual risk of terror attacks in France, as in the United States, Great Britain, Germany -- etc. One happened tonight in France. That isn't what you asked. You asked if you should worry about post-election riots & violence. Lke Christina, I don't think that is a worry.

<i>I've been reading that the first round of elections could result in riots and violence.</i>

Exactly where have you been reading this?

'What one also needs to be on the alert for is somebody like Christina on the internet twisting other people's words because of her own unhappiness'

Totally agree.

OP was candid and certainly doesn't 'deserve' the kind of post she got here from 'garbage like' some posters.

I have been participating in French elections in Paris for more than 40 years, and not once have there ever been riots and violence related to the election even when half of the country was not happy with the outcome.

Security will in force at all polling stations - this includes schools and other government buildings.
I would just plan to avoid these areas and possibly places like Place de la Republique, Place Bastille and Place de la Nation - because crowds usually gather there to celebrate the victory after the polls have closed.

"I've been reading that the first round of elections could result in riots and violence. "

Where?

It is amazing: somebody reads the word "could" anc changes it to "will." They also refuse to cite anything concrete.

Yeah, I'd be VERY concerned they might end up in Paris, TEXAS!

Wow! I'm sorry I don't check this site every hour to see responses. I read it in a magazine in a doctors office, I believe it was a Forbes article. I'm sorry I asked the question. I was not expecting to be met with with so many rude responses for a simple inquiry.

I admittedly don't follow world news as I stay home with two toddlers and don't like to have it on around them because it's full of violence. I do appreciate you attacking my intelligence though. Thank you.

Not so much your intelligence as your common sense. 1. Where have there ever been election day riots in the developed democratic world. 2. When an election takes place on Sunday, wouldn't you have time to cancel your trip before Wednesday to avoid riot-ravaged Paris?

Well people have rioted over much more trivial events (i.e. Their sports team not winning the championship) so I don't think it's totally out there to think it might be a possibility.

Even if you think I'm being ignorant, you didn't have to comment on the thread. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything. I do wonder if you act like such a condescending ass to people you know in person or if you reserve that for people on the internet that you don't have to actually interact with.

The last French riot I saw was when the first McDonald's opened on the Champs.

cdy0115, I'm sorry if you feel offended, especially if that came from Christina's snap (post above, she was the first one who mentioned "intelligent"). Christina are known here for her out-of-place criticism, but I'm sure she means no harm. Be tolerate with us :)

'I do wonder if you act like such a condescending ass to people '


You did lose me here.

Internet is public, if you don't like to be told things, don't ask questions that may attract snarky comments. If you choose to take care of your toddlers that is your choice but the world doesn't stop because of that.

And frankly your analogy with championship sucks.

And I was one who was friendly to you...

Ps : don't come to Paris with that attitude, if you think we are rude on internet, you've never seen us live when an american bully comes and demands (demands as in English, not as in French) something without even bothering to say hello.

Did you say hello, and/or thanks by the way ?

1. I obviously wasn't referring to your post 2. The first thing I said was thank you to the first person who replied. Then I came back and had responses like "you'll probably end up in Paris, Texas" and "you get the news you deserve" and telling me I have no common sense.

You are right in that I should not have dismissed the posters who were kind.

There is hope...
From my experience on internet and esp on forums you take the positive and ignore the negative.

Regulars like me are different, as we are addicted to these forums we think we have the right to comment everything or we feel compelled to commenting.

Don't start an argument with addicts ;-)
And don't bother about riots, and don't panic when you read about the latest attack on the champs elysees. That is unfortunately the world we live in.

CDY0115, You must have very thick skin when asking most anything on here. So sorry about that.

This is my first time posting on a forum like this and I don't have thick skin at all unfortunately! And I'm a nervous momma leaving my kiddos for the first time so that isn't helping matters at all!!

Thank you both for your kindness!!

cdy0115, I hope this experience posting on Fodor's doesn't scare you off permanently, as I've found through the years that one can get some pretty helpful advice on here and I've benefitted from the site quite a lot for my travel planning.
Unfortunately, it seems that the snarkyness/rudeness is more prevalent than it previously was, and seems to be directed more at newcomers asking simple questions. A shame.

Anyway, there are mostly very nice people on Fodors - so don't give up. And in my opinion Christina is one of the frequently helpful posters, who goes out of her way to answer questions. I've also read somewhere recently the same thing that caused you to post your question. Don't remember where I read that, could have been some random thing on the internet - but the Wall Street Journal is the only daily paper I read. Since I'll be in Paris in 2 weeks, that article also got my attention, just as it got yours. We're living in a whole new world these days, and anything can happen. And often does!

I'm sure you'll have a wonderful trip.

We had our home's windows washed today by the same company that has been washing them for the past 20 years. They know that we travel to France quite a bit. When the owner of the company arrived, the first thing he said was something about the killings in Paris. I told him that a few days ago there was a similar killing in nearby Fresno. The France attack received worldwide attention. The Fresno attack "not so much". He said "that puts it in perspective".

Stu Dudley

Cdy0115, I am not a regular poster, I tend to jut ask questions when I am in the middle of trip planning. The world is a scary place right now and leaving babies behind for a trip can be nerve racking. I remember my first trip to Europe without my kids I climbed in my daughters bed the night before and cried and told my husband I couldn't go. (She was in high school at the time!)
There is danger everywhere and joy everywhere. They were predicting riots in the streets here in California if Trump got elected, well thats another story but they didn't materialize in the way the media had predicted.
Stay safe, have fun and come back to Fodors people can be snarky but they mean well......
K

Like what Stu said. This fear or wondering is what many of us feel about traveling to US with its hideous gun laws but we still come.

For those who haughtily made fun of the OP.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/...l_twitter_abcn

Oops, wrong article. Yesterday ABC new had an article about riots in Paris after the election.

Keep your perspective

in an article from DW:

( read the whole thing at this link:
http://www.dw.com/en/protesters-clas...ult/a-38554227)

" . . . . Several hundred young people rallied in eastern Paris on Sunday as initial projections coming in from France's first-round presidential voteshowed centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen heading to the runoff election.

The protesters, some from anarchist and "anti-fascist" groups gathered in Bastille square - the historic site where the 1789 French Revolution began. . . . "

1. Several hundred people (metropolitan Paris has a pop. of 10 million

2. Check your Paris map and see that Bastille "square" is not a huge area of this city

And this was it. Unfortunate yes, but way below par for a usual Paris demonstration

My point was the OP in a first post asked an innocent question. Some of the responses were snarky which was rude amid not necessary. In fact there was some trouble so her question proved to be a valid one. I know what and where the Bastille is, the fact is there was some trouble regardless of where or the size.

Thank you for that!!

Cdy-sorry you encountered such rudeness. Pls don't let the bullies or local know it all scare you away from this board. Paris is a fabulous city and I hope you have a great time.

That you for putting everybody in their place, yestravel, although I missed the thread where you were appointed chief of etiquette and forum rules.

May I ask when people were exempted from posting questions with civility and politeness and the use of terms like "please" or "thank you"?

And of course I am still wondering how any sort of situation that took place 4 days before the arrival of the OP could have prevented her from obtaining the necessary information for the media about whether a trip was safe or not. I would be alarmed to think that information found on the Fodor's forum would not run the risk of being post-truth or fake news.

(As for what actually happened on election night, a group of 400 "antifas" went from Bastille to République to Belleville to Louis Blanc before going home to be tucked in by their parents, after being completely hemmed in by the forces of law and order. No one was harmed.)

Cdy, you have probably moved on from the nonsense and are preparing for a great vacation. Trust me you are not alone in feeling attacked. But take the good with the bad and in the future don't acknowledge the negative. Not sure what Christina did to piss them off, she's nice and has been helpful to me. And Stu Dudley is one of the nicest and most helpful...there are many! Enjoy!

We should know around 2 est.