Sarkozy - 53%
May 6th, 2007, 11:41 AM
#5
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I agree, she couldn't have been more gracious.
"What a shame for France, she would have been the best choice."
France will be fine. Everyone should worry about cleaning up their own backyards before worrying about France.
"What a shame for France, she would have been the best choice."
France will be fine. Everyone should worry about cleaning up their own backyards before worrying about France.
May 6th, 2007, 12:53 PM
#6
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I am not sure which candidate is better, but I know sitting in a cafe on St Denis last Wednesday night with the TV blaring so everyone could hear the debate, while many others stood around to watch on the street, made me want to teach our own a lesson.
May 6th, 2007, 10:37 PM
#12
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BBC had this posted on there site:
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6631309.stm
It mentioned "protesting" in parts of Paris near the Bastille, and rioting in other parts of france - don't know if they are just trying to make something look worse than it is.
A bit nervous since it mentioned he will take office on May 16, and we will be in paris a few days later.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6631309.stm
It mentioned "protesting" in parts of Paris near the Bastille, and rioting in other parts of france - don't know if they are just trying to make something look worse than it is.
A bit nervous since it mentioned he will take office on May 16, and we will be in paris a few days later.
May 7th, 2007, 12:36 AM
#13
The biggest shame is that people seem to have forgotten that Sarkozy has already been in power for 5 years. Who is responsible for the condition of the country (if it is really as bad as some people claim)?
May 7th, 2007, 08:47 AM
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<Everybody has crystal balls until their predictions crash and they are suddenly too busy to post>
well i predicted 53% to 47% (the other way around however - a prediction after the 1st round that i later recanted)
I agree with Toupary - even though i just don't like Sarkozy a'tall, France will survive and perhaps even flourish with needed labor reforms that i wish Royale would have endorsed as well. And Parliament i believe still has a lot of power and the French Pres relatively limited to foreign affairs, etc. in my perception. royale, like John Kerry ran the worst possible campaign to grasp defeat out of the jaws of victory.
Vive la France. Viva La Republique.
well i predicted 53% to 47% (the other way around however - a prediction after the 1st round that i later recanted)
I agree with Toupary - even though i just don't like Sarkozy a'tall, France will survive and perhaps even flourish with needed labor reforms that i wish Royale would have endorsed as well. And Parliament i believe still has a lot of power and the French Pres relatively limited to foreign affairs, etc. in my perception. royale, like John Kerry ran the worst possible campaign to grasp defeat out of the jaws of victory.
Vive la France. Viva La Republique.
May 7th, 2007, 08:56 AM
#16
Actually, Chirac did nothing for 10 of his 12 years in power. The first 2 years, he made enormous mistakes and the only thing he could think of to correct them was to dissolve the National Assembly and call for new elections -- which he lost.
For the next 5 years, the Socialists controlled the government while Chirac looked on. That's when the 35-hour work week law and the civil partnership law were voted, among other things, so power is not in the president's hand but in that of the legislature.
After Chirac's wonderful surprise re-election in 2002 (because the Socialist candidate was eliminated by surprise, even though all of the polls showed that Lionel Jospin would win the second round easily against Chirac), Nicolas Sarkozy took control of the majority political party, the UMP. It swept the legislative elections with something like 70-75% of the seats. Therefore, the legislature could have done absolutely everything that it wanted to do for the last 5 years, even if Chirac was against it. So I continue to wonder, if Sarkozy had so many fabulous ideas for putting France back on the right track, why oh why did he not take care of business?
Perhaps because he was afraid that Chirac would get the credit, when he wanted it all for himself? Is it imaginable that he would let France go to the dogs for 5 years just for his own personal glory? I'm afraid so.
For the next 5 years, the Socialists controlled the government while Chirac looked on. That's when the 35-hour work week law and the civil partnership law were voted, among other things, so power is not in the president's hand but in that of the legislature.
After Chirac's wonderful surprise re-election in 2002 (because the Socialist candidate was eliminated by surprise, even though all of the polls showed that Lionel Jospin would win the second round easily against Chirac), Nicolas Sarkozy took control of the majority political party, the UMP. It swept the legislative elections with something like 70-75% of the seats. Therefore, the legislature could have done absolutely everything that it wanted to do for the last 5 years, even if Chirac was against it. So I continue to wonder, if Sarkozy had so many fabulous ideas for putting France back on the right track, why oh why did he not take care of business?
Perhaps because he was afraid that Chirac would get the credit, when he wanted it all for himself? Is it imaginable that he would let France go to the dogs for 5 years just for his own personal glory? I'm afraid so.
May 7th, 2007, 09:02 AM
#18
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Sarkozy was the better of two unsuitable candidates. Royal has too little experience in government to be president, as so many of her faux pas demonstrated. She and her hubby have always been on the periphery of French politics, a possible indication that neither of them has what it takes for positions of major responsibility. Sarkozy is much more competent, although his keen ambition and hunger for power are bad signs for any politician.
The major obstacle to progress in France is the French people, not the politicians they elect (who are only a reflection of the people).
The major obstacle to progress in France is the French people, not the politicians they elect (who are only a reflection of the people).
May 7th, 2007, 09:06 AM
#19
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I agree France will survive "Bush light". Shame there is no defined term length though...
there is a five-year term though the exact date of the takeover in the next '10 days' or so i don't understand so it's not necessarily exactly five years. Maybe someone can explain to me the vagueness of the takeover date? But the presidential term is five years, down from seven not long ago.
there is a five-year term though the exact date of the takeover in the next '10 days' or so i don't understand so it's not necessarily exactly five years. Maybe someone can explain to me the vagueness of the takeover date? But the presidential term is five years, down from seven not long ago.
