BBC, Monday, 15 March 2010 A slap for the president. A warning note delivered to the Elysee Palace. That is how the results in France's regional elections are being interpreted. President Nicolas Sarkozy's party has fallen behind the Socialists. Some of his supporters sat on their hands. The turnout may well have been the lowest in French history. The second round will be held next weekend. Even before the votes were cast, Mr Sarkozy had dismissed the results. "The vote... is a regional one, its ramifications are therefore regional," he said. On reflection, Mr Sarkozy said he would be "attentive" to the result. The Socialists, of course, see it differently. The result, in their view, has changed the political landscape. It was the last poll before the presidential election in 2012 and the momentum is with them. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2010/03/the_sarkozy_enigma.html
A slap for the president. A warning note delivered to the Elysee Palace. That is how the results in France's regional elections are being interpreted. President Nicolas Sarkozy's party has fallen behind the Socialists. Some of his supporters sat on their hands. The turnout may well have been the lowest in French history. The second round will be held next weekend.
Even before the votes were cast, Mr Sarkozy had dismissed the results. "The vote... is a regional one, its ramifications are therefore regional," he said. On reflection, Mr Sarkozy said he would be "attentive" to the result.
The Socialists, of course, see it differently. The result, in their view, has changed the political landscape. It was the last poll before the presidential election in 2012 and the momentum is with them.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2010/03/the_sarkozy_enigma.html
As Hewitt points out, Sarkozy realised that wasn't the smartest remark:
"On reflection, Mr Sarkozy said he would be 'attentive' to the result." Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice.
democracythreat wrote: powermeerkat wrote: "Let's bring Socialists to power in France and see whether they can produce there anything else than what they've always created in any country of the world from Albania to Vietnam : MISERY." An intriguing post. Firstly, it was Communists in Vietnam and Albania. Secondly, the misery in both countries had arrived well before the "socialists". Thirdly, and most amusingly with regard to this thread, it was French imperialism which brought the misery to Vietnam, and US imperialism which bombed the country into the stone age. I'm no great fan of modern socialists, but only because they are generally as corrupt a group of folks as you can find on earth. The actual ideals of socialism, such as universal health care and education, and sharing between human beings equal before the law, actually seem to me to be the hallmarks of modern civilization. The problem seems to be getting socialists to honour their ideals rather than worshipping the party as an institution. ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2010/03/the_sarkozy_enigma.html
democracythreat wrote:
powermeerkat wrote: "Let's bring Socialists to power in France and see whether they can produce there anything else than what they've always created in any country of the world from Albania to Vietnam : MISERY."
An intriguing post.
Firstly, it was Communists in Vietnam and Albania. Secondly, the misery in both countries had arrived well before the "socialists". Thirdly, and most amusingly with regard to this thread, it was French imperialism which brought the misery to Vietnam, and US imperialism which bombed the country into the stone age.
I'm no great fan of modern socialists, but only because they are generally as corrupt a group of folks as you can find on earth. The actual ideals of socialism, such as universal health care and education, and sharing between human beings equal before the law, actually seem to me to be the hallmarks of modern civilization.
The problem seems to be getting socialists to honour their ideals rather than worshipping the party as an institution. ...
