French Presidential Elections 2007

[Francisco Montana]

French Presidential Rivals Debate

May 2 03:36 PM US/Eastern
By JOHN LEICESTER
Associated Press Writer

PARIS (AP) - The two candidates to be France's next president faced off Wednesday in their first and last televised debate of the campaign, a highly anticipated encounter before the weekend vote, and sparks flew almost from the start.
Segolene Royal, struggling in her quest to become France's first woman president, immediately went on the offensive, criticizing Nicolas Sarkozy's record as a minister in President Jacques Chirac's government before he became a candidate for the presidency.

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As an American who grew up in England (and frequented France) and had his honeymood in Paris, Lyon and Nice I am very curious as to what our french members (or their neighbors) have to say on this topic.

It seems to me there is alot of electricity surrounding this election.

[Feliks]

I've heard that Sarkozy is a lot like our George Bush, while Royal seems anti-American at times.

This leaves me with a problem, as much as I would love for the U.S. to have another strong ally in the world, I wouldn't wish a Bush-like figure onto them. Of course that an unfair simplification, and most of the information I've heard of the two does not come from the most reliable sources.

[CommanderSela]

As a french canadian, I'm interested in the french presidential election. I vote the left wing party last election in Québec and i would vote for Ségolaine Royal. I hate the rabble rousers like Sarkozy, Le Pen or Dumont (in Québec) who use ethnic tensions to their advantages and they don't propose any realist solutions.

[Manji]

I've heard that Sarkozy is a lot like our George Bush, .

I disagree with whoever said that.
Sarkozy has some rigid perspectives but overall his policies aren't "right" or "left" they are rather unique to his own style.

[Feliks]

I disagree with whoever said that.
Sarkozy has some rigid perspectives but overall his policies aren't "right" or "left" they are rather unique to his own style.

I should have paid more attention, but I think they may have been referencing his personality more than his politics.

Do you know how much he supports the current U.S. administration? I was led to believe that he agrees with it more than Royal; not that that's anything close to a good thing.

[Manji]

Do you know how much he supports the current U.S. administration? I was led to believe that he agrees with it more than Royal; not that that's anything close to a good thing.

No idea. What I do know is that most people consider him either right wing or leaning towards the right; I think he is a moral conservative but still believes in social liberties provided they aren't disruptive.
I'm not French though, Sidus and other (french) members might have more accurate perspectives than mine.

[Finn]

I've heard that Sarkozy is a lot like our George Bush,

Are you serious theres nobody like GWB


I'm rooting for Sorkozy, it would be a nice change to have a French President that I didn't despise.

[Carach]

I've heard that Sarkozy is a lot like our George Bush, while Royal seems anti-American at times.

This leaves me with a problem, as much as I would love for the U.S. to have another strong ally in the world, I wouldn't wish a Bush-like figure onto them. Of course that an unfair simplification, and most of the information I've heard of the two does not come from the most reliable sources.

French leaders have only ever been out for themselves and never for the global community, i seriously doubt he is a 'bush figure' - this term is waaaay overused by the general populace today...

One's a woman even more idealistic (and unrealistic) than usual, the other's a more traditionalist, corrupt ex/member of Cheraque's (excuse the spelling..) government, to make it simple.

[Sidus Preclarum]

One's a woman even more idealistic (and unrealistic) than usual, the other's a more traditionalist, corrupt ex/member of Cheraque's (excuse the spelling..) government, to make it simple.

Cherèque?. Chirac, more like
Well, the corrupt bit is true. However, to be fair, Royal is tax-evading by underevaluating the value of her real estate, so...

[Carach]

Cherèque?. Chirac, more like
Well, the corrupt bit is true. However, to be fair, Royal is tax-evading by underevaluating the value of her real estate, so...

ive spoken with quite a few frenchmen in my time (having gone there almsot every year since i was 5, you get talking with some of them eventually), they all talk of politician corruption.. sounds even more widespread than american politics lol..

[Darsh]

ive spoken with quite a few frenchmen in my time (having gone there almsot every year since i was 5, you get talking with some of them eventually), they all talk of politician corruption.. sounds even more widespread than american politics lol..

I don't know if this frenchmen were socialist (the opposant to the actual gouvernement) but to said in France the governement is more corrupt than in American wow.

[enoch]

are there non anti american French politicians - I didn't know that was possible under the laws of physics
and why do both candidates have foreign sounding names (even to a frenchman?)
and last but not least, seriously, this is a forum created for people who are not afraid of war
I would doubt TWC has any French members who aren't communist gun running plants


on a less serious note - the two candidates are nearly opposite ends of the rich white french spectrum of political ideology - this is a key election considering how long emperor Chirac ruled - think shogun

[Sidus Preclarum]

and why do both candidates have foreign sounding names (even to a frenchman?)

???!!!
*"Royal"* ?!
Wtf

and what's wrong with Sarkozy's name and his Hungarian origin. I mean, wtf, only someone as base as that ****er *Le Pen* thought this was an argument of some kind.
His name sounds as French as any, wether it be Charles Aznavourdjan, Bixente Lizarazu, Zinedine Zidane, Dimitri Szarzewski, Gao Xingjian, Sotole Puleoto or Patrick Dupont...

[Bwaho]

Sarkozy is a little Napoleon

what's not to like?

Segoléne Royal seems to be the most sympathethic french candidate for me ever
I bet France becomes better respected with such a president

She seems hollow and weak. With that I mean she will always avoid confrontation and constantly compromise her policies. She just lacks that decisiveness. Coming from a rich family she doesn't have the hunger, the killer instinct. If she wins her term will be remembered as a half-assed attempt at ruling a country.

[Erik]

She seems hollow and weak. With that I mean she will always avoid confrontation and constantly compromise her policies.

And you consider those bad qualities????
France needs an open minded head of state, not a dictator.

Remember the president is supposed to be there for all the French, not just for the left-wing.
President is mainly a ceremonial job, like the Queen is for England.
The prime-minister can afford to play party politics, but the president should be more neutral.

to Erik : Le pen = leader of the French nazi party => that's totally ludicrous.

How else would you qualify his party?

[krips22]

How else would you qualify his party?

The FN is a nationalist party not a racist or racialist party.
There are Blacks, North African and Jews within the FN and Bruno Gollnish, the #2 of the party, is married with an Asian woman and have had 3 "metis" kids with her. Weird nazis.

A recent Algerian article claims there are up to 8% of North Africans voting for Le Pen.

[Sidus Preclarum]

How else would you qualify his party?

national populist?
Difficult to define even for specialists, as the Wiki article exposes (the French page is more detailed on that subject...)

[Caesar Germanico]

And you consider those bad qualities????

President is mainly a ceremonial job, like the Queen is for England.
The prime-minister can afford to play party politics, but the president should be more neutral.

what????
do you know the french costitution????
the franch president of the republic is not like the italian or the german president,the french president is much more powerfull than the french prime minister in fact the french president is elected and the prime minister is chosen by the president

[Sidus Preclarum]

President is mainly a ceremonial job, like the Queen is for England.

not really, no

[Last Roman]

And you consider those bad qualities????
France needs an open minded head of state, not a dictator.

constantly compromising is not good. Stand your grand when you can, compromise when you need.


Anyhoo, I haven't followed this real closely, but from what little I know, I don't think France needed a socialist president, and I think the French recognized that.