Friday, April 20, 2007

French elections in 3 days...


The French Primary will take place on Sunday and according to the polls, 40% of the voters still don't know who they are going to vote for. That is why each camp still tries to influence people with last minute actions. Hence, this anti Sarkozy demonstration that I photographed at the Place de la Bastille. They make fun of him by calling him Karcher Man, because he once said "I'm going to clean up the suburbs with a Kärcher (a high-pressure cleaning system)".

19 comments:

  1. How long after this primary do you know the results? Same day? A couple of days later?

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  2. At 8 o'clock on Sunday (French time of course). Needless to say that I will post the results here Monica...

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  3. Nice mask. But how does he look in a bikini (Sarko in a speedo)? LOL

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  4. I can't wait to hear who wins! I love pictures like this that show us what's going on in the streets of Paris! Maybe we should try having our elections on Sunday, more people might show up.

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  5. Eric, it's the same as here. We vote electronically and the results are announced at night.

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  6. It should be an interesting weekend is all I can say. Like in any country, I'll be glad when all of the campaigning is done and we move on. One thing I can say is that I learned a new word today.

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  7. French elections are really scary this time. Each word, each candidate provokes passionate reactions among the people. In a way it's a good thing, but everyone will not be satisfied...

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  8. Looks like Paris still enjoys Summer weather... Hope next Sunday won't be too hot ;-)

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  9. We have our preferences even though we can't vote in French elections. I am crossing my fingers for my preference. I'll celebrate if that person wins.

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  10. First...

    I came to thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and for your kind comments about my wife, Patty, and the end of her radiation treatments. I have never had so many responses from so many nice people. Thank you.

    And then I look at your photograph today and see that politics is somewhat the same everywhere. At least where the people can poke fun at the candidates.

    Our president is not loved by many people in this country and it seems like he and his party have seen better days.

    Thanks again.

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  11. Abraham: I did not know but wish your wife my very best and lots of virtual hugs.

    Michael: I did too. I watched a little of the French version of Spitting Image the other day. Looked very funny! I guess this is where this particular mask comes from?

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  12. Im SO excited for this election. Even more excited than I was for Canada's elections!
    It's probably because your candidates cover so MUCH of the political spectrum. Ours are slightly left of centre, centre, and slightly right... It's kinda boring really.

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  13. I am too although I had it now, it's about time we vote. The interesting part is that nobody knows what the outcome will be. I can tell you that there will be million of viewers at 8 o'clock pm in front of their TV set.

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  14. I guess 40% that's a lot of people and there's nothing decided yet! how exciting!
    I wish you all the best!

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  15. Ah, there you are! Impossible to load your blog this morning!

    Well, in San Francisco, the expats will go to the polls on Saturday, too, at the French Consulate on Bush St. Everybody must have received their "little package" in the mail by now, a big fat envelope containing a double-sided, two-page color pamphlet for each of the candidates.

    It's probably a good thing that Blogger wasn't working for me earlier, otherwise I might have crashed it anyway with my long rant about Sarcozy's statement. Needless to say, I'm not exactly impressed. For now, I'll just say this: his statement reminds me of these people who try to eliminate the symptoms of a disease, but not the disease itself. Perhaps opening up the job market in the first place to give the trouble youth of the Banlieues a chance would be more beneficial, but hey what do I know.

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  16. By the way, the New York Times did a piece on the upcoming French Elections.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/20/world/europe/20france.html?_r=1&n=Top%2fNews%2fWorld%2fCountries%20and%20Territories%2fFrance&oref=slogin

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  17. A funny picture with a political background that is not so funny. Well captured.

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  18. There was a huge turnout at a Lycée français where the poll was held here in Montréal - often, quite understandably, "French French" people don't bother voting in their home country elections, as they are of course utterly integrated into Québec society - sure there are some stale jokes going both ways but in practice no real "outsider" status or feeling.

    The election results will be top news on Radio-Canada, and there are several bars and cafés where expat Français de France will be gathering to hear the blow-by-blow results.

    Abraham Lincoln, so sorry to hear that your wife has been ill. I'm a freelancer so there are periods when I'm far too busy to look at this or other non-work-related sites, others when I catch up. I do hope she recovers quickly and fully!

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  19. Merci Tomate Farcie pour ce commentaire sur le Karcher Man qui je le crains va tous nous nettoyer bientot. Karcher nettoie plus blanc!

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