One of Le Pen's "headline grabbing statements" was that the Holocaust was just a minor detail of history. No one has forgotten that one.

Oops poor phrasing on my part - i wouldn't either to that one-eyed monster. Guess he lost one eye in a street brawl in Marseille or some place.

TRIVIA ABOUT FRENCH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

this year the official campaign season runs from April 9 thru the 21st

to guarantee candidates all get equal treatment the Conseil superieur de l'audiovisuel ensures all candidates recieve an equal amount of time on each radio and TV channel.

And no political advertising is allowed on commercial broadcasts four months before the official campaign opens

In weeks preceding the election each voter receives an electoral envelope containing all the candidates statements and manifestos - this is done, according to the French Embassy, to diminish the influence of opinion polls.

And French law prohibits findings and statistics from public opinion polls (sondages?_ from being published a week before the first ballot

French nationals outside of France can vote- for details: www.consulfrance-washington.org

But when my French son living in the U.S. called the Embassy they told him he had to go in person on a set day about 100 miles away to be interviewed in person by a Consulate official so, if true, it may not be easy for many to vote.

The above taken from the French Embassy stuff.

The internet killed the opinion poll rule. The Belgian and Swiss press absolutely love French politics (they all say it is so much more interesting than in their own countries), so they pay for opinion polls up to the last minute -- and it's all available on the internet. In fact, I think that the rule about opinion polls has been officially cancelled in France for this reason. No point in banning something that you can't control.

We are currently being subjected to the "official" campaign on channels 2, 3 and 5 which are operated by France Télévision. (Private channels don't have to show these clips, but they do have to abide by the rule of giving equal time to every single candidate in the final 2 weeks.) The 90 second clips are fascinating and appalling. They're probably available on You Tube or on the French You Tube "Daily Motion" if anybody is interested.

Here's some UK commentary on the elections. If your French is up to it, it also has some links to those online tests that tell you which candidate most matches your opinions:

http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/

The main thing that has people boiling with curiosity today is the rumor that Cécilia Sarkozy has not only left her husband for the second time, but in addition she filed a police report for domestic violence. But the French media protection of private lives is so ingrained that nobody wants to be the first to spill the beans. However, since part of the information is already on the CNN site, it will probably come out before Sunday. "A qui profite le crime?" as they say...