Sunday, April 22, 2007

Who should lead France?


I'm surprised to see how much the foreign media has been dealing with the French elections this year (hence this poster of The Economist); usually, they are not that interested. Maybe because Chirac became famous after the Iraqi crisis? Or is it because nobody knows what the outcome of the elections will be? Or is it because the French said "no" to the European constitution referendum? Anyway, until you can see for yourself on France24 (around 6 pm GMT on Sunday), here are some useful links (in French) : a funny mix of all the candidates and even more fascinating, a sneak preview of who the winner might be... You might also want to "vote" for fun (see the poll on the left).

50 comments:

  1. I think Americans are interested because of the variety of candidates and how some are so outspoken.
    Unlike American candidates, where no one can be too different in appearance or ideas.

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  2. LOL !!! Love the winner link he he. Eric of course it's you! Is this the work of Michael by any chance, or is it all by your own hand?

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  3. LOL and another he he he from this side of the pond! PDPer's of the World, Unite! You have to vote for Eric after viewing "a funny mix"--even if they spoke French WAY to fast for me....I could at least appreciate all that politicizing for our ERIC. Who knew YOU could pull in such crowds on the Champs, Eric?

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  4. French elections have always rceived a reasonable amount of ceverage in the serious media in Australia.

    Background story in yesterday's Sydney Morning Herald:
    http://www.smh.com.au/text/articles/2007/04/20/1176697093359.html

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  5. Eric - what is your guess as to who will win? Some of us Americans are interested in the French elections because we love France. French candidates are more vibrant than ours, who are so controlled by their managers. Our presidential election is 18 months away and already scores of millions of dollars have been raised. Will have the best president money can buy.

    St. Louis Missouri Daily Photo Blog

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  6. I'm heading for France in two weeks and will be in Paris later in May. In preparation, I'm doing cram sessions with a French tutor here in the foothills of California. She told me that she is going to San Francisco today (still Saturday here) to vote in the French election. She is voting for Sarkozy. She tried to get guidance from her parents who live in France, but they said nothing. I have no idea who I'd vote for.

    Lee

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  7. I'm heading for France in two weeks and will be in Paris later in May. In preparation, I'm doing cram sessions with a French tutor here in the foothills of California. She told me that she is going to San Francisco today (still Saturday here) to vote in the French election. She is voting for Sarkozy. She tried to get guidance from her parents who live in France, but they said nothing. I have no idea who I'd vote for.

    Lee

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  8. Sorry, guess I pushed send twice on the last one.

    Lee

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  9. I sure as hell wouldn't vote for Sarkozy - or Le Pen. There are problems with "integration" but I don't think fear is the answer. There are so many immigrants, old and new, who have helped make France a vibrant, modern society, while one with rich traditions - cultural ones, but also traditions of social solidarity. This has a strong influence on us in Québec - sure in some senses we are "North American", but I think the values here are rather different than in English-speaking Canada and especially the US.

    (This is not a judgement against anyone - just an observation!)

    I have also lived in Italy - and loved it - but very much missed the multiethnic mix one finds in Paris or Montréal.

    By the way, I can't access the poll. I click on it and absolutely nothing happens. All I see is text - should there be an image, or highlighted text?

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  10. Waiting for the results impatiently. I'll be accompanying my husband to Sydney to watch him vote...

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  11. Quand meme quand on y pense, c'est assez drole de voir cette affiche en anglais en plein Paris... avec un titre pareil. Nul doute qu'on n'y trouvera pas de reponse direct, sinon bonjour l'accusation d'ingerence!

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  12. This would have to be the hardest contest to predict in a long time, with so few French people giving a clear indication in the pre- election polls. It seems 40% of the people were undecided as late as yesterday. Perhaps they are all le Pen supporters who will pounce at the last moment. We should not under-estimate him, but I would hate to see him achieve the "near impossible".

    Eric your video was wonderful and we will ALL come to your Swearing In Ceremony.

    Nathalie, Bon Chance. Je suis désolé que la commission électorale ait oublié votre nom. Je tiendrai leurs têtes sous l'eau pendant une minute

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  13. Good question to be answered soon by the voters. High interest here, yes, for a variety of reasons.

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  14. For what it's worth.....While looking at the posters of the candidates around Paris last week (I'm not bragging, I'm an exhausted flight attendant) I asked my collegue who she thought looked the most presidential according to the pictures we were looking at. Not knowing who any of them were, She said Royale and Bayrou. I'll take a guess and say Sarkozy and Bayrou will be in the runoffs.

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  15. No Lynn, the winner link is not at all my doing. It's a fantastic link and idea though. I also like the mini-poll on the left hand side. I can't seem to be able to see who people put in as "other" which would have been interesting. It's also interesting to see that this mini-poll doesn't seem to reflect what the "official" polls show here in France.

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  16. Tu es toujours originale, Eric.

    Brilliant post with such a different photo for today and I fell about with laughter at your 'win.' Superb video.

    Let's hope La France gets the best candidate but I sure don't know who he or she is. Wish it were you!

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  17. It is not politically correct to say (but I am not american) but I am really fed up with the suburbs getting all of the attention. We need a president who is brave enough to put a hard line on immigration and not give away everything. Ségolène Royal promises to give everything to everybody and François Bayrou is just trying to say anything to get both sides of the vote. Sarkozy may be tough but that is what we need in France. Someone who is willing to say NO!

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  18. Actually Fed up, I think it's normal the suburbs get a lot of attention, because that is where things are going bad.

    But precisely, I agree with you on Sarkozy. He's the only one who's got the guts to come up with solutions.

    He's also the only one who offered several measures to reduce France's deficit (reduce the number of civil servants, work more to earn more...).

    For all this and much more, he will get my vote today.

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  19. Fed up, le Pb avec Sarkozy c'est le discours qui est dur, et les actes qui sont inexistants. Son bilan est tellement minable qu'il ne l'assume pas et se presente comme le candidat de la rupture ! Rupture avec le gouvernement auquel il participe ??

    Depuis quelques temps nous avions des président charismatiques, qui dégageaient une certaines sympathie, qui avait même un certain charme et on connaissait même leurs multiples aventures extra-conjugales, aujourd'hui c'est l'inverse on a toutes les chances de se retrouver avec un nabot, hargneux et cocu à la presidence.

    On a le président qu'on mérite...

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  20. OOh according to your own voting poll, you will have a woman president for the first time in history! Interesting.

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  21. Yes Michael that is interesting that the mini poll does not reflect reality - so far. I think it must be because the majority of us on here are outsiders looking in, whereas the reality is the French voting for the future of France.

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  22. I think the lady will win. I was wrong though and didn't vote for George W. Bush. I voted for Al Gore, so I might be wrong again. Still there is hope.

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  23. It's interesting the psychology here. I think it would be fascinating to have a woman president, but when you hear all that Ségolène Royal says, she really is trying to please everyone (like many politicians). In reality, she has very little experience.

    I'd love to see a woman president, but one that is qualified. If she is elected and fails, it will mean disaster for future female candidates.

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  24. I've been watching the french public interviewed on BBC News 24 and some have said that she is weak and no leader. Yet, apart from that time when she said she was aiming to be more like Britain, i feel she presents herself and her views well. Also she appears young and vital. Could be good to have a woman in charge ;) Come on you men, you know you'd love it!

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  25. If anyone wants a little light relief whilst waiting for results, pop over to Cheltenham to play Mornington Crescent. Rules at Wikipedia if confused... come back here though after! Wouldn't want to glean anyone away from President Eric. Merely a change of scene for a moment or two.

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  26. LOL Eric!!! I can't stop laughing at your presidential video. Eric enfin! Absolutely!!!
    What a fabulous idea and what a great sense of humour. It was so funny to see your face on those posters. 64%? According to us, your readers, I'm sure it would be 100% !!!

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  27. Who? Maybe Eric?

    He has led so many pple to set up DP, leading France should not be a big problem? hehe..

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  28. Hey, the french election is happening here too! Just saw on 'TV5 Monde' french citizens who live here voting at Maison de France (where the consulat is). I wonder who is the favourite candidate of the french voting in Rio.

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  29. I just saw on the news that it is the lowest rate of abstention for France. Only 15.5%...not bad.

    The other story they showed was that the wait to vote with the electronic machines was much longer than the old fashioned paper version. They should try doing it on the web!

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  30. L'Allemagne est toujours interessé; la France est notre pays voisin le plus important.

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  31. The results are in. So, there will be a secound round between Sarkozy and Royal huh! Don't know what is your candidate, but hope this result pleases you Eric.

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  32. Sarkozy kicked her arse in the first bout - 30%. I wonder if he can do it twice?

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  33. Wow how exciting. When will that be then, immediatement ou non?

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  34. Thanks for giving the results Monica - I just tried to find out on CNN - but they only had it on the ticker and it went by so fast that I missed it! I knew if I came here, someone would know!!!

    I like how even the expats vote on the same day - that is cool! Does France allow absentee ballots like here?

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  35. Ahhh oui...just as we all[sort of]expected...Sarko vs. Sego...Hmmm, sounds like a wrestling match.

    Wait...I thought some guy named Eric Tenin was the winner!?? What's UP with that? LOL?

    FYI..Eric.."L'Ivresse du Pouvoir" was very good, but then again I'm a huge Huppert fan. I can see why it didn't get rave reviews, but if you like Huppert you will enjoy it.

    The "funny mix" of the candidates is RRRRRRRRRRIGOLO!!!!

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  36. So what happens now then? Is it pistols at dawn?

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  37. Wow, to think I got my election results from PDP-Monica before CNN! Thanks also to Michael for that extra bit.

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  38. Eric's strangely quiet in all of this. Perhaps he is a surprise contender at the second round...

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  39. I think Eric is l'émience grise...

    Just back from watching the elections on TV5 (a network for all the "francophonie") with friends, some of whom are from France.

    One thing I am very much enjoying is hearing Sarkozy and Royal described as "young". I know that is because of the traditional gerantocracy of French politics (not only Mitterand and Chirac) but still, as someone their age it gives my spirits a springtime lift!

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  40. OK here you go, Eric, just for you: French people voting in San Francisco

    (It just seemed to take too long to explain here in a single comment, and besides, you know what they say, one picture is worth a thousand words! )

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  41. I would have a hard time voting...I like all three top candidates but I prefer Segolene. She seems to have the youth and the future as top priorities.

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  42. Hi everyone, sorry for being a little quiet, I was just glued to the television watching the results ;)

    If I trust my little poll most of my viewers must be disappointed but 1) it's democracy, 2) this is just the 1st round...

    I'm always surprised to hear comment such as "French candidates are more vibrant than ours" (Strangetastes) because that is not really the idea that we have! interesting.

    Lynn: "So what happens now then? Is it pistols at dawn?" Loooooooool.

    Lagatta; "One thing I am very much enjoying is hearing Sarkozy and Royal described as "young"" you're right, it feels good to have to deal with 50ish years old candidates.


    Tomate, thanks for the post on your blog. Amazing how many people made the effort to come and vote. I'm glad to see that I was not the only one to stand in line to vote today (it's the FIRST time in my life I have to stand in line to vote!). Other piece of info; it was raining today in SF!


    PS: poor Nathalie, I suppose it must have been hard not to be able to vote. What do you think about M. Benaut's idea to drown the civil servant who did not register your name?! LOL.

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  43. Pont Girl and PHX-CDG you're welcome!
    Besides the announce of results on TV5 the papers here gave a lot of attention to the french elections and informed the result as soon as it came out.

    Lynn LOL, I love your idea of the duel!

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  44. Here is an interesting articlefrom the NY Times sent to me by Metaphysicalmama sent me. I'm not sure how long it will stay online, but it's a pretty good view from the other side of the pond.

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  45. Eric: you're quite welcome!

    By the way, did you notice that a few of your readers decided to vote for Le Pen in your poll? Hopefully, it was just Nasty GG and a couple of buddies having fun, but who really knows...

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  46. I was one of them, Tomate! Yes, it was me; hands up. I only support a tiny bit of his policies though and was particularly rattled by an immigration issue here in the UK at the time. A temporary vote shall we say. I then changed later in the day to Nicolas and remain his. mmmm. lol!

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  47. (pssst! ... only politically, Eric. You know i am yours alone on here ;) ) Well. There is Michael. Too. Erm.... Eek.

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  48. Ah, i was right; it IS pistols at dawn!! On May 2nd there will be a tv debate between the two sparring partners, Royal et Sarkozy. Wow there'll be sparks, dirty tricks and French passion galore! Not to be missed.

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  49. By the way, here's a good shot of French expats voting in Boston.
    Compliments of Boston Weekly Photo

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