Scots in Treignac

Maybe Colouche was seen as a joke candidate, but some 30 years after his death, his work for the underclass continues.

Novocastrian

Agreed. But what's the reaction in France to Sarkosy using a video of part of a teleconference with Obama as part of his campaign? Bit of an own goal?

Seems to be the reaction in the Grauniad.

cjm

BBC this morning suggesting tide may be turning in favour of Hollande, so perhaps it's watch the space and, maybe, the polls.

dmu

Hollande is in the lead according to most of the polls.
To be honest, OH and I are fed up with all the media coverage. We hardly watch the French news any more, we know who we are going to vote for....

Tweedpipe

We've been following events very closely and admit that things are getting really tiresome, especially regarding the insults being thrown from certain candidates, and their childish tantrums on radio or tv interviews.
Whatever the outcome of the election, it would appear that we should all be prepared to tighten the belts of our corsets.
Read HERE.

Personally I just can't wait to hear the results of the first round on Sun evening.

Tweedpipe

Whoever is the clear winner in the first round of the election this weekend, may still be in for a surprise whatever the opinion poles declare - and their results are frequently flawed.
As an example, I recall in the mid 70's that F. Mitterand won the first round defeating Giscard d'Estaing, and then to much surprise weeks later Giscard d'Estaing went on to win. Similar surprises too in the 80's when Mitterand went on to win the second round.
Never count your poulets....etc (Ne pas vendre la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tué).

Tweedpipe

A very humorous look at the election - for those who have a good grasp of French. I've just been .
THIS is marvellous - Laurent Gerra at his best, taking liberties with N. Sarkosy, together with 'interruptions' from F. Hollande; Jack Lang; L.M. Le Pen; Eva Joli; F.Bayrou**; Johnny Halliday etc.

**(at 7:20 Brilliant! Here's a translation if you missed it).
"Whilst at the Agricultural Show I noted a similarity between the M.O.D.E.M. and a cow. What do you note when looking at a cow from behind? Her tail chases the flies from the right, her tail chases the flies from the left, but the a**hole is always in the centre!!

We tend to say may the best man/woman win. But I wonder if that will turn out to be the case tomorrow......?

Ka Ora!

I suspect conveniently folk will find other things to do.

Novocastrian

It seems the turnout was very high. So now it's Hollande vs Sarko to the death (as expected). Assuming Le Pen endorsed the latter and the left candidates endorse Hollande it's going to be close.

MillieF

I find the statistic that one in five voters punted for the far right to be profoundly depressing.

Tweedpipe

We watched last night's event unfold with great interest.
If you ask me Sarkozy is not unlike a kid - who made obvious mistakes, didn't get all the priorities right, and who has now been told that he must redoubler. He's now fighting back, and has called for three public tv debates with Hollande.
I believe that in any face à face debate, Hollande will be seen as the inferior candidate, which is obviously why Holland doesn't wish to participate - he even said, "Why 3? Why not 4, 5, or even six", which is obviously calling bluff.
If Holland reluctantly agrees to just the one public debate it should be VERY interesting! In fact I believe that's been scheduled for this coming Thurs.
Personally I think Sarkozy - true to form - exaggerated somewhat. He should have said he will call for just 2 debates with Holland, which will allow the French public once and for all to make up their minds which is the perceived best choice.
I still think one of Sarkozy's biggest faults is - himself! He's certainly dynamic, but too impulsive. Obviously the downturn in the world's economy is for the biggest part responsible for the discontentment of so many French, but Sarkozy a few years ago should have prevented many of the French industry chiefs from closing down plants in France, and moving into Asia and elsewhere. This has created many tens of thousands of job-losses, and continuing.
As for the election results of Bayrou and Joly - words fail me!
Melenchon has received a huge slap in the face result from Le Pen. I'm sure the former will rally his party to vote for Hollande, and although logically it should happen I cannot see a large majority of Le Pen voters rallying for Sarkozy in the 6th May second round run-off.
Interesting times ahead!

Blackladder

Viewing this from a Scandinavian perspective, do any of you think, given the size of Le Pen's vote, that an event like the Breivik horrors in Norway is a distinct possibility in France? We have already had the mass shootings in Toulouse, but anything on the scale of Breivik or McVeah (sp)?
Blackie

jonkemp

Tweedpipe, I agree with most of what you say. The coverage over here in the UK has been very good and I have been watching the "Le Monde" website which has an excellent review of the vote to date. But where will Le Pen's supporters go? I guess they might just abstain, but in many respects that is just cutting your nose off to spite your face. Hollande might not have the razz-a-mattaz of Sarkozy, but I think he is seen as respectable and dependable. No doubt Sarkozy will blame the economic downturn on the rest of the World and will start to woo Le Pen.

Tweedpipe

He will indeed woo Le Pen supporters, but I believe a very large majority will abstain. As for Bayrou supporters, there aren't many of them, even if 'The Changeling' (as I've always called him) calls for them to support Sarkozy; the trouble is he is so unpredictable.

Tweedpipe

An interesting question, but one which would need a very magical crystal ball to attempt an answer.