DeborahAnn

As I am not familiar with the French political scene but I have been in France enough times in May to know that elections + national holidays can equal work strikes.

I would like to know if 2007 is a year that will give the French opportunities to change their government leaders?

Just trying to work around any trouble spots during my pre-planning. I haven't decided on travel dates and I always seem to start with May. Thanks, Deborah

ira

Hi D,

See www.angelfire.com/ma/maxcrc/2007.html
for a list of all of the elections in 2007.

DeborahAnn

Thanks Ira,thanks for the website, it certainly does cover alot of elections. Isn't the internet grand hmmmmm April 22 1st round election for President in France and second round on May 6, does it end there???

thanks, Deborah

ira

Hi DA,

Unless the 2nd round ends in a tie, that's it.

Christina

There has recently been in the US media a lot of information about the French presidential election, which proves to be an interesting one. I've heard about it on NPR and read articles in my newspaper also, within the last couple weeks, because Segolene Royal (a female) won the Socialist Party's nomination. She's considered a strong candidate against the probable candidacy of Sarkozy by the center/right UMP party. Interestingly, Chirac's wife is hinting around that he might seek another term, hard to believe.

DeborahAnn

thanks Christina, I do remember some discussions in my French class and in the home of my host back in August about Mme Royal. Deborah

prolepsis

I have never known for a strike to occur anywhere near a French election -- it would tend to make people vote against the left wing, which would be stupid.

DeborahAnn

I thought many of the strikes WERE a reaction to an election, a means to voice displeasure or influence the election. I can remember following the postings on les greves website before several of my visits Deborah

Christina

I can't remember any strikes about elections, either, but I certainly don't remember all the reasons for various strikes. The strikes in May usually center around Labor Day, which is just a natural focal point for labor issues, but I didn't know they had anything to do with elections. I thought they were usually labor issues (salary disputes against a particular union or company) or in reaction to laws regarding labor issues or things like that (such as a strike after passage of a law they don't like). After all, laws can be changed, but striking is a labor tactic and striking isn't going to change the results of who was elected. The last big strikes (there are always many related to salary and benefits) were the ones about that law passed withdrawing some personnel protections for workers of a younger age, and those strikes actually worked as the law was modified, if I recall. I wonder if someone can name any strikes related to elections? I'd be interested in that.

kerouac

In my own experience, in my many years of living in France, it is a rather democratic country. Therefore, there are few or no strikes before an election in the hopes that the results will be in conformity with the desires of the working class electorate, and there are no strikes immediately after the election, because a democratic decision has been made and should be respected.
In the case of 2007, since the big elections are in May (presidential) and in June (legislative), if there are any strikes, they won't be until "la rentrée" which is in September.

GeorgeW

France's first round may be a bit of a snore as it is unlikely that Sarkozy and Royal won't be the top two votegetters. LePen's vote, especially if he clears 20 percent, may cause a stir. I doubt there will be a major strike for the elections. You might even find France on election day to be just another day, no different than France on All Saint's Day or Ash Wednesday.

I was in Italy for their 1995 elections and found the blase atmosphere delightful in comparison to the tedious election uproar that happens in American every two years.

DeborahAnn

Well, I'm just a "poor soul" trying to decide if May 2007 will have the series of strikes I have experienced in the past. Just trying to find a rhyme or reason for the "madness" Thanks for all the comments. Deborah

Eric_S

In France strikes happen whenever the goverment tries to make a reform. The last thing the government will do before an election is a reform. So no worries.