The
French voters have turned out in their droves today for the highest turnout in 50 years. Compare this to the last two UK General Elections with 61.4% (2005) and 59.4% (2001) turnouts and the growing political apathy over here. It is encouraging that the French appear to have turned around their own malaise.
I wonder if that will catch on over here at the next election.
Mark
Posted on: 22 April 2007 by Deane F
Yes, you might even get a racist, fascist right-winger coming second in the polls, too!
Posted on: 22 April 2007 by Cheese
Ségolène Royal will face a tough second round against Sarko, unless Bayrou (possible) and Le Pen (highly unlikely) tell their electorate to vote for her. Unfortunately I had to leave home during the evening but what I saw was certainly interesting. The surveys foresaw a tighter result than last time, as a result most people voted 'usefully'.
Sarko's speech tonight was great in the beginning but was finally about five times too long and utterly pathetic. He sounded as if he could immediately give a job to every single person in France, bring broken families together and make the sun shine all year round. Well French people might like this ?!
The most funny moments were the two speeches of Jean-Marie Le Pen. The first one was for the French cameras, he looked very disappointed and generally in not that good shape. The second speech was for Swiss radio, he was already eating at the buffet and drinking champaign and he apparently didn't really care about his behaviour in front of the mikes of tiny and forgettable Switzy - so we had the honour of listening to a definitely pissed presidential candidate.
We are in for two weeks of chess playing between the different parties. Too bad that François Bayrou didn't pass - but if Sarkozy is elected he might well polarize opinions to the point of not being re-elected. Bayrou's hour can well come some day.
