L' Election Présidentielle 2007 / French Presidential Election [R]

[ilv2]

Okay, so regardless of whether or not we get that NSR subforum, a separate topic for the elections would be nice and will keep the dicussions organized.

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Logo_de_la_R%C3%A9publique_fran%C3%A7aise.svg

The 1er tour will take place on the 22nd of April

if no absolute majority occurs (which always has been the case), the two highest will go onto to the

2ème tour, which will take place on the 6th of May


please feel free to add further info and DEBATE, DEBATE, DEBATE! :)

[Catel]

I won't now but
BAYROU FOR PRESIDENT !!!

[Douai]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Logo_de_la_R%C3%A9publique_fran%C3%A7aise.svg/150px-Logo_de_la_R%C3%A9publique_fran%C3%A7aise.svg.png

Possible Candidates
Candidats membres d'une formation ayant des parlementaires nationaux ou européens:

Jean-Marie Le Pen (Front national) (far-right)
Nicolas Sarkozy (Union pour un mouvement populaire) (right wing)
François Bayrou (Union pour la démocratie française) (center-right)
Marie-George Buffet (Parti communiste français) (far-left)
Nicolas Dupont-Aignan (DLR-UMP)
Dominique Voynet (Verts) (left wing)
Ségolène Royal (Parti Socialiste) (left wing)

source: http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89lection_pr%C3%A9sidentielle_fran%C3%A7aise_de_2007

[Pierre-Henri]

If you add Olivier Besancenot and Arlette Laguilliers, communists will come in 3 different flavours (at least). 3 different kinds of commies ! Don't you find this exotic, american friends ? The Revolution is near !

[guignol]

arlette's such a dear... but she's not going to win the 4-way bathing suit contest that decides who gets into the second round.

[ilv2]

anyone else think that these elections are the most critical for the future of France, yet has managed to become even more farcical than 2002?

[Pierre-Henri]

French politics are farcical by nature. French politicians live in another world both geographically (Parisian concentration) and historically (most of them are in the place since Methuselah). They live in another time/space. Result : these people simply have no idea of what is really happening in the country.

Or, maybe, they just lack "bravitude" :p .

[Douai]

French politics are farcical by nature. French politicians live in another world both geographically (Parisian concentration) and historically (most of them are in the place since Methuselah). They live in another time/space. Result : these people simply have no idea of what is really happening in the country.

Or, maybe, they just lack "bravitude" :p .

Yeah well American politics are far from perfect.

[Douai]

Here are pictures of each candidate for those who don't know who they are.I grouped them from the right wing-center-left wing:

Jean-Marie Le Pen (FN)
http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/c/c1/180px-Jean-marie_le_pen.jpg

Nicholas Sarkozy (UMP)
http://sarkozyetmoi.typepad.com/sarkozy_et_moi_/images/nicolas_sarkozy_francais.jpg

François Bayrou (UDF)
http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/12/tribun/photos/410.jpg

[Douai]

Nicolas Dupont-Aignan (DLR-UMP)
http://www.lavienumerique.com/photo/334944-413499.jpg

Ségolène Royal (Parti Socialiste)
http://thebenitoreport.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/sego_4.jpg

[Douai]

Dominique Voynet (Verts)
http://www.linternaute.com/actualite/interviews/06/dominique-voynet/dominique-voynet.jpg

Marie-George Buffet (Parti communiste français)
http://www.pcahebdo.com/images/articles/63.jpg

[ilv2]

MPF should be added as I believe de Villiers is indeed a candidate

on an economic/european basis, Dupont-Aignan is further towards the the extremes of the political spectrum considering his opposition to the EU.

and well... la gauche, alors la... quel bordel!!!

Result : these people simply have no idea of what is really happening in the country.

That's a rampant problem with most democracies :( unless we all split up into communes, clueless representatives will always feature on the political scene


So the new year provided a chance for the two main candidates to express their general sweeping ideas (something Sego specializes in), and promulgate their "image"

Sarko:
http://www.dailymotion.com/visited/search/Sarkozy%2BVoeux/video/xvqam_voeux-2007-nicolas-sarkozy

And secondly, Segolene Royal and her style détendu:
http://www.dailymotion.com/visited/search/Segolene/video/xw5kw_segolene-voeux-2007


Any commentaries on Sego's diplomatic visit to China :D

[guignol]

farcical not farcical... one thing for sure is that french elections are becoming more and more american, meaning that candidates' style and image is more important than substance.

marie-ségo is the best proof. i'm not talking about her qualities as a person or a politician, but this particularity: when you see an article or newsblurb favorable to her, the accompanying picture makes her look drop dead gorgeous. when it's critical of her, her face is severe, drawn... because the credit of her platform or lack of same is not the real debate. the question is "elle a du chien oui ou non?"

imho the fact that martine aubry has gone off the national radar has less to do with europe or the 35 hour week than the fact that, from a pert little button of a thing, she has turned into an old sow.

[from the plaines]

Don't you find this exotic, american friends ? The Revolution is near !

No thank you, I think I can say we are all happy over here with our political seesaw
:D

[Pierre-Henri]

At least, in the USA, the president is elected for 8 years at most, and then basta. Even the worst of them don't last long. Le Pen started his career in the 50', Chirac and Laguilliers in the 60' ... Are Dwight D Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson and Jimmy Carter still running for presidency ?

One thing is positive, on the list douai gave, only Royal has a ENA degree (i'm not sure about dupon Aignan, but he has no chance anyway). Ouf. The domination of this pityful "grande école" over french politics was too much to bear.

Of course, with his cursus in humanities, Bayrou proves that he is a superior mind, perfectly able to deal with all the complexities of the modern world. Humanities are the path of all the true leaders, all the real masterminds, all the geniuses commited to the betterment of mankind. Plus, they are very humble persons.

[Douai]

At least, in the USA, the president is elected for 8 years at most, and then basta. Even the worst of them don't last long. Le Pen started his career in the 50', Chirac and Laguilliers in the 60' ... Are Dwight D Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson and Jimmy Carter still running for presidency ?



That's a good point.

[Douai]

How tall is Nicholas Sarkozy?When I was watching France 2's Le Journal, Sarkozy seemed very short compared to Dominique de Villepin.

[ilv2]

How tall is Nicholas Sarkozy?When I was watching France 2's Le Journal, Sarkozy seemed very short compared to Dominique de Villepin.

I think partially Villepin is a fairly tall man, but yea there's a big deal made about Sarko's height, most notably in the guignols who often make fun of him
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xgdkf_petit-sarkozy

apparently in his biography it says 1,7 meters (so about 5 foot 6)


http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/6554/sarkoricainki5.png

[Douai]

apparently in his biography it says 1,7 meters (so about 5 foot 6)

If that's true then he isn't that short.How do the common people in France view Dominique de Villepin since he is an aristocrat?I asked my dad this question (he is French), but he didn't really answer my question.

[ilv2]

If that's true then he isn't that short.How do the common people in France view Dominique de Villepin since he is an aristocrat?I asked my dad this question (he is French), but he didn't really answer my question.

5'6? That's on the edge of short, although I suspect his biography could have easily been generous in their assessment ;)

as for him being an aristocrat, no one I have talked to even gave it a second thought, might be part and parcel with image of the technocrat/ENA-style bureaucrat. But that might also be because I personally filtered it out since we don't think about it in america, although some would argue that the ruling parties are filled with american-style aristocracy.