Conservative pro-USA pro-free market Sarkozy in run-off for French President

[hellokeith]

By ANGELA CHARLTON, Associated Press Writer
49 minutes ago

PARIS - Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene Royal advanced to a runoff in Sunday's presidential election, presenting France with a fundamental left-right choice between a conservative who could push his anxious nation toward painful change and a socialist who would be the country's first female leader.

Royal is the first woman to get this close to the helm of this major European economic, military and diplomatic power after a campaign marked by suspense, surprise and unusually dynamic candidates who lured voters to the ballot box in near record numbers.

Sarkozy has the advantage heading into the May 6 runoff. Partial results from the Interior Ministry, with more than 95 percent of votes counted, had Sarkozy leading with 31 percent followed by Royal with 25 percent.

Either way, France will get its first president with no memory of World War II to replace the 74-year-old Jacques Chirac, who is stepping down after 12 years to usher in a new generation of candidates.

Sunday's first round of voting shut out 10 other hopefuls, from Trotskyists to far right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen. Le Pen had hoped to repeat his shockingly strong showing of 2002 but instead finished a weak fourth. Late results gave him 10 percent of the vote.

Both Sarkozy, a Hungarian immigrant's son, and Royal, a military officer's daughter who beat Socialist heavyweights to win her party's nomination, are in their 50s and have traveled long, arduous roads to get to this point.

By JAMEY KEATEN, Associated Press Writer
Sun Apr 22, 4:49 PM ET

His emotional tough talk has raised questions about how he would lead a country proud of its skill at cool-headed diplomacy. He is the candidate of President Jacques Chirac's conservative party, but is notably more pro-American.

In a traditional left-right clash, Sarkozy will face Socialist Segolene Royal in the decisive May 6 runoff.

Sarkozy, 52, grew up in Paris, the son of a Hungarian immigrant. He has acknowledged having an unhappy childhood growing up in a broken home and being an unremarkable student, but he says he drew motivation from feeling like an outsider with a foreign-sounding name.

He dreamed of the presidency as a long-haired youth, and eventually became a lawyer.

A skilled orator and media-savvy political operator, Sarkozy preaches a by-the-bootstraps optimism that has resonated for millions who want to pull France out of its economic gloom.

Sarkozy wants to cut taxes and payroll fees, and make it easier for companies to hire and fire employees. He would all but scrap France's 35-hour work week law, saying people should be freer to work as hard as they want to.

:thumbsup: It's good to see convservatism and pro-free market ideals being embraced even in traditionally socialistic/leftist environments. Not that they'd actually move, but I wonder where the Hollywood types and send-Bush-to-the-Hague-for-war-crimes proponents will threaten to move to if Sarkozy gets elected? Spain perhaps?

 

[PokerGuy]

Bush should be sent to the Hague for war crimes, but I don't see what that has to do with France deciding on a leader. Personally, I hope Sarkozy wins, France needs to be pushed towards more reasonable moderate leadership instead of the socialists. That, and I don't like Segolene Royal.

 

[Ronstang]

I would like to like the French but I doubt one man could make that possible. Only time will tell.

 

[Jaskalas]

A French leader could help repair our divide with Europe, but I doubt anything will get them to act in any useful manner. Any sort of repair will always come at our expense, not theirs.

 

[ElDonAntonio]

LOL cause any of you guys actually think the current french government isn't "pro-USA"? France is probably the 2nd greatest ally of the US after the UK (which is more of a puppet than an ally).

 

[Steeplerot]

Hold your horses there righties,
even Sarkozy's platform is far to the left of US Democrats

And actually, rightists have won most presidential elections in France. The only president from the Left since the founding of the 5th Republic was Francois Mitterand (and even he did some very illiberal things like ordering the torpedoing of a Greenpeace boat protesting French nuclear testing).

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Originally posted by: Jaskalas
A French leader could help repair our divide with Europe, but I doubt anything will get them to act in any useful manner. Any sort of repair will always come at our expense, not theirs.

The divide was CREATED by Bush43.

It's always curious that people associate anti-American sentiment in the free world as some kind of visceral dislike of America. The rest of the world will embrace the USA when we have leadership worthy of it. Hell, even WE don't like Bush!

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: ElDonAntonio
LOL cause any of you guys actually think the current french government isn't "pro-USA"? France is probably the 2nd greatest ally of the US after the UK (which is more of a puppet than an ally).

qft.

People never seem to know who their real friends are :-\

 

[BrownTown]

Originally posted by: Steeplerot
and even he did some very illiberal things like ordering the torpedoing of a Greenpeace boat protesting French nuclear testing.

lols, rly? Man I wish more leaders had that kind of balls to tell Greenpeace et al. to just shove it.

 

[EXman]

Originally posted by: PokerGuy
Bush should be sent to the Hague for war crimes, but I don't see what that has to do with France deciding on a leader. Personally, I hope Sarkozy wins, France needs to be pushed towards more reasonable moderate leadership instead of the socialists. That, and I don't like Segolene Royal.

yea... ok...

 

[ProfJohn]

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc

Originally posted by: Jaskalas
A French leader could help repair our divide with Europe, but I doubt anything will get them to act in any useful manner. Any sort of repair will always come at our expense, not theirs.

The divide was CREATED by Bush43.

No, the divide has been there for a long time. Much of Europe does not like the fact that we can do whatever we want when it comes to foreign policy.

Think of it this way...
Look at how angry the left gets every time Bush says that he is the ?decider?
To the rest of the world America is the ?decider? and has been for a couple generations. This breeds contempt and anger at both our arrogance and their ineptness.

 

[Mardeth]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc

Originally posted by: Jaskalas
A French leader could help repair our divide with Europe, but I doubt anything will get them to act in any useful manner. Any sort of repair will always come at our expense, not theirs.

The divide was CREATED by Bush43.

No, the divide has been there for a long time. Much of Europe does not like the fact that we can do whatever we want when it comes to foreign policy.

Its not that you can but that you do.

 

[smashp]

"unprecedented voter participation at 84.8 percent"

Now that is impressive.

 

[ayabe]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc

Originally posted by: Jaskalas
A French leader could help repair our divide with Europe, but I doubt anything will get them to act in any useful manner. Any sort of repair will always come at our expense, not theirs.

The divide was CREATED by Bush43.

No, the divide has been there for a long time. Much of Europe does not like the fact that we can do whatever we want when it comes to foreign policy.

Think of it this way...
Look at how angry the left gets every time Bush says that he is the ?decider?
To the rest of the world American is the ?decider? and has been for a couple generations. This breeds contempt and anger at both our arrogance and their ineptness.

Well our recent adventures have proven without a doubt that in fact, we can't just do as we please because we are incapable of getting the job done on our own. The rest of the world has every right to express concern over our unilateral policies because in event of us having a hopeless invalid at the helm inevitably causes more problems than it helps.

See presidency of W for more info.

 

[Jhhnn]

Steeplerot has it right- either candidate is what the American Rightwing refers to as "Leftist", which should indicate just where the American Right really stands, if nothing else.

The French have remained true to the rhetoric of their own revolution- "Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite" in ways that America has forgotten... well, at least ways that our own righties want us to forget...

 

[chcarnage]

The good news is that Le Pen hasn't made it to the runoff election again. I think it would've created an interesting situation if the centrist Bayrou would've made second place. At least he somewhat talked about finances. The extreme, communist and trotskyist, left was very unorganised and produced not less than four hopeless candidates.

But overall, the increasing national debt was a taboo in the poll-oriented election campaigns. The same is true for the declining French competitiveness, in 1999 17 percent of Eurozone (?) exports were French, now only 13% are. No candidate presented a concept to improve the French economy, where the average pension age went down to 59 and people enjoy the 35 hour working week (effectively working about 38 hrs).

So while the remaining candidate's domestic policies may vary on certain topics like immigration and integration, none of them will in my opinion significantly change France's economical situation. However both candidates have the potential to generate majorities in the next election of the parliament, and this is a plus. A deadlock situation with diminishing loyalities, like it is experienced by Chirac lately, is unlikely, that's positive.

Foreign politics were a very small factor in the campaigns, like most times and elsewhere, too. Royal briefly criticised Switzerland for low taxes that attract French celebrities but that's all. Nothing about transatlantic relations.

I'm not sure which candidate would share more American interests. Sarkozy is from the same party as Chirac after all. And a Democrat president might find a common denominator with Royal but I'm in doubt about that.

Sarkosy takes the lead because Le Pen's votes will go to him. Royal can count on the extreme left's votes. The centrists will split up equally in my opinion. I don't think that Bayrou will recomend one of the candidates to his voters. Could be a bad move if he plans to candidate again in five years.

Originally posted by: BrownTown

Originally posted by: Steeplerot
and even he did some very illiberal things like ordering the torpedoing of a Greenpeace boat protesting French nuclear testing.

lols, rly? Man I wish more leaders had that kind of balls to tell Greenpeace et al. to just shove it.

Not a heroic moment in French history

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc

Originally posted by: Jaskalas
A French leader could help repair our divide with Europe, but I doubt anything will get them to act in any useful manner. Any sort of repair will always come at our expense, not theirs.

The divide was CREATED by Bush43.

It's always curious that people associate anti-American sentiment in the free world as some kind of visceral dislike of America. The rest of the world will embrace the USA when we have leadership worthy of it. Hell, even WE don't like Bush!

That is laughable. I seem to remember long ago France slapping us in the face by leaving NATO.

And the same complaints from the French against Bush were there for Clinton blah blah blah.

 

[manowar821]

I can't seem to remember any evil liberals that I know threatening to move to France, or any other countries, for that matter. In fact, I've mainly heard conservatives TELLING them to leave, as if they are the rulers of amurikah, because they're pissed off. :roll:

Is that what you conservatives do when you don't like your life? Run away?

What a joke. Partisan politics, at it's best. Keep soaking up all that neo-con BS from your beloved god-fearing idols, it's really gotten you somewhere.

Liburulz, Liburulz, Liburulz. Godless evul liburulz, bitch whine moan.

It's kind of like watching rats running from a burning building. Almost humorous, in nature, but still disgusting. 😀

 

[GrGr]

OP, you are way behind the curve. Neocons like Dick Cheney and Rick Perle already own huge villas in Provence, France.

 

[CanOWorms]

Originally posted by: Steeplerot
Hold your horses there righties,
even Sarkozy's platform is far to the left of US Democrats

And actually, rightists have won most presidential elections in France. The only president from the Left since the founding of the 5th Republic was Francois Mitterand (and even he did some very illiberal things like ordering the torpedoing of a Greenpeace boat protesting French nuclear testing).

Both Royal and Sarkozy have adopted elements of far-right ideology from Le Pen. When the leftist candidate wants to enslave troubled minorities into military boot camps, you are far to the right on important issues.

 

[Dashel]

Originally posted by: Jhhnn
Steeplerot has it right- either candidate is what the American Rightwing refers to as "Leftist", which should indicate just where the American Right really stands, if nothing else.

Or perhaps more accurately, where Western Europe and France in particular stands. France is deeply steeped in socialism, and although they have more recently seemingly given up on a pure Socialist society, they are far more so than Americans would be able to stomach.

Sadly they are seeing the effects of these policies, and I think that's why they want a shift. I've read there is a pall over France, that they desire to return to former prominance, but are mired in unemployment, riots, and mediocrity at best on the world scale.

Standing up to the US regarding Iraq gave them a taste of relevance and thats where I think the anti-US spike came in.

Originally posted by: JhhnnThe French have remained true to the rhetoric of their own revolution- "Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite" in ways that America has forgotten... well, at least ways that our own righties want us to forget...

Which explains the riots and car-b-ques?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_civil_unrest_in_France

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/11/07/france.riots/index.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4407688.stm

 

[ntdz]

Rooting for the pro-USA guy....maybe we'll get a little more friendly France.

 

[ElDonAntonio]

Originally posted by: ntdz
Rooting for the pro-USA guy....maybe we'll get a little more friendly France.

How is France unfriendly?

 

[imported_Lothar]

Originally posted by: CanOWorms

Originally posted by: Steeplerot
Hold your horses there righties,
even Sarkozy's platform is far to the left of US Democrats

And actually, rightists have won most presidential elections in France. The only president from the Left since the founding of the 5th Republic was Francois Mitterand (and even he did some very illiberal things like ordering the torpedoing of a Greenpeace boat protesting French nuclear testing).

Both Royal and Sarkozy have adopted elements of far-right ideology from Le Pen. When the leftist candidate wants to enslave troubled minorities into military boot camps, you are far to the right on important issues.

I think all that was nothing but political talk from her attempting to pose herself as a moderate.

 

[imported_Tango]

Originally posted by: hellokeith

By ANGELA CHARLTON, Associated Press Writer
49 minutes ago

PARIS - Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene Royal advanced to a runoff in Sunday's presidential election, presenting France with a fundamental left-right choice between a conservative who could push his anxious nation toward painful change and a socialist who would be the country's first female leader.

Royal is the first woman to get this close to the helm of this major European economic, military and diplomatic power after a campaign marked by suspense, surprise and unusually dynamic candidates who lured voters to the ballot box in near record numbers.

Sarkozy has the advantage heading into the May 6 runoff. Partial results from the Interior Ministry, with more than 95 percent of votes counted, had Sarkozy leading with 31 percent followed by Royal with 25 percent.

Either way, France will get its first president with no memory of World War II to replace the 74-year-old Jacques Chirac, who is stepping down after 12 years to usher in a new generation of candidates.

Sunday's first round of voting shut out 10 other hopefuls, from Trotskyists to far right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen. Le Pen had hoped to repeat his shockingly strong showing of 2002 but instead finished a weak fourth. Late results gave him 10 percent of the vote.

Both Sarkozy, a Hungarian immigrant's son, and Royal, a military officer's daughter who beat Socialist heavyweights to win her party's nomination, are in their 50s and have traveled long, arduous roads to get to this point.

By JAMEY KEATEN, Associated Press Writer
Sun Apr 22, 4:49 PM ET

His emotional tough talk has raised questions about how he would lead a country proud of its skill at cool-headed diplomacy. He is the candidate of President Jacques Chirac's conservative party, but is notably more pro-American.

In a traditional left-right clash, Sarkozy will face Socialist Segolene Royal in the decisive May 6 runoff.

Sarkozy, 52, grew up in Paris, the son of a Hungarian immigrant. He has acknowledged having an unhappy childhood growing up in a broken home and being an unremarkable student, but he says he drew motivation from feeling like an outsider with a foreign-sounding name.

He dreamed of the presidency as a long-haired youth, and eventually became a lawyer.

A skilled orator and media-savvy political operator, Sarkozy preaches a by-the-bootstraps optimism that has resonated for millions who want to pull France out of its economic gloom.

Sarkozy wants to cut taxes and payroll fees, and make it easier for companies to hire and fire employees. He would all but scrap France's 35-hour work week law, saying people should be freer to work as hard as they want to.

:thumbsup: It's good to see convservatism and pro-free market ideals being embraced even in traditionally socialistic/leftist environments. Not that they'd actually move, but I wonder where the Hollywood types and send-Bush-to-the-Hague-for-war-crimes proponents will threaten to move to if Sarkozy gets elected? Spain perhaps?

I personally like Sarkozy and I am quite confident he will win. But as somebody who lives part of the year in Paris I have the feeling a lot of American media is portraying this election as something it is really not.

This time is not really a left Vs. right thing. There's very little ideology talk in what people in the streets discuss about when talking politics. Most of the debate is on very practical economic policy things.

All three major candidates are quite conservative from a social point of view. What really people are talking about is their different economic platforms.

Both candidates support central government involvement in the private sector. Sarkozy actually was the finance minister who saved a big industrial conglomerate from bankruptcy a few years ago and is now loud about keeping French utilities companies in French hands. He also clearly said that letting Mittal take over Arcelor was a mistake.

What they really are different in is labor policies. Royal wants to raise minimum wage (a lot) while Sarkozy has a plan to cut fiscal pressure on overtime hours.

I feel a lot of people think that Royal is defending the status quo and see in Sarkozy a more progressive alternative, which has traditionally never been the case. Usually the Gaullist candidate was the more conservative, or perceived to be so.

The only thing people don't like about Sarkozy is his stance on last year's riots, as he is often considered too firm. It must be noted however, that while it is true that he firmly condemned the riots and asked for stronger pressure by the police in order to control the situation in the suburbs, he also wants affirmative action to help minorities emerge from that areas.

He is also the only candidate (of the big 3) that wants to pass the European Constitution in parliament instead of having another referendum.