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Well, in that case, I'll have to take a second look at Bayrou! I was awfully surprised when Sahlin somehow managed to resuscitate her political career after the beating she took in the Swedish media...

"The basis of optimism is sheer terror" - Oscar Wilde
by NordicStorm (m<-at->sturmbaum.net) on Wed Jan 10th, 2007 at 09:21:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Bayrou is one of the driving forces behind the European Democratic Party. See also my recent diary on the European Political Parties.

Those whom the Gods wish to destroy They first make mad. -- Euripides
by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Jan 10th, 2007 at 09:24:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]
besides that :

  • he is very well respected : people use to say that "the only thing wrong with Bayrou is his big ears"

  • he has a humble background "standing with both feet on the soil" like the small peasant community he comes from, to the difference from the two other main candidates coming from privileged classes.

  • he wants to gather all "good men" (from different political horizons) to work out the countries problems. Which means he could appoint a guy like Strauss-Kahn as prime minister despite the fact that he is socialist.

  • he wants a 6th constitution, more on a parliamentary model, which France badly needs

  • he is into it because he does believe he can make a difference, not for the sole exercise of power, which is the main driving force for both Ségo and Sarko.

Politically he is a Christian (secular) Democrat. Which means that he'll work to keep a balance between the market's and the social needs, without falling into neoliberalism or state dirigism (Sego has no real program of her own, if elected France will go back to Jospinism)...

His main problem is that for ideological reasons (split between conservatism and an out of tune left)  and the election system in itself, it's very difficult to break through...

but not impossible

by oldfrog on Wed Jan 10th, 2007 at 09:55:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Explain what you mean by "out of tune left". Please provide examples, and perhaps some supporting evidence.

As for your reference to Royal reverting to an imagined "Jospinism" you apparently disdain (despite the fact that the only period of growth, unemployment reduction and income gains in the past two decades was under his government...) I'm wondering how you would make this comment in light of your comment that Bayrou is some antruistic rallier of all French, citing as you do the fact he would name DSK as PM.

DSK is, for all intents and purposes, at the core of Jospinism.

The Hun is always either at your throat or at your feet. Winston Churchill

by r------ on Wed Jan 10th, 2007 at 10:23:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]

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