French elections.

rick_chasey

About time we had something a little political on here. Figured French politics is just far enough removed to stop mouth-foaming. We shall see.

The French elections seem to have been going on for bloody ages. Anyway, saw this, which made me facepalm:

The extreme-right French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen is winning the youth vote in the buildup to the first round of voting, as she attempts to style herself as an "anti-elite" candidate railing against immigration and defending the soul of small-town France.

The leader of the Front National has the support of 26% of voters aged 18 to 24, according to a survey for Le Monde, with the Socialist Francois Hollande on 25%, Nicolas Sarkozy on 17% and the hard-left Jean-Luc Mélenchon on 16%.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/ap ... ung-voters

Oh dear.

I've always figured the young tend to be more tolerant and progressive than their parents. Guess not.

SimonAH

The Nazi party gained power from the depression in the thirties.

When economic times are hard extremist politics always come to the fore as it is far easier to galvanise the masses on a banner of 'against' rather than a banner of 'for'

asprilla

I thought French Elections was going to be some kind of synonym.

I am disappoint.

rubertoe

As long as it neither affects me directly or 'le Tour' then let them vote for who they want,

At times of economic hardship (now) people either go extreme or go very neutral (hence why we have the libs in power)

rick_chasey

SimonAH wrote:

The Nazi party gained power from the depression in the thirties.

When economic times are hard extremist politics always come to the fore as it is far easier to galvanise the masses on a banner of 'against' rather than a banner of 'for'

ignoring Goodwin's law for a moment.

a) the 30's was altogether different and more extreme.

b) it was petite bourgeois who mainly voted that way - not youth (despite all the guff about brown shirts etc).

rick_chasey

I understand anti-capitalist and anti-establishment, but Le Pen is hardly either?

il_principe

As long as Sarko doesn't get re-elected, I couldn't give 2 hoots.

gtvlusso

Il Principe wrote:

As long as Sarko doesn't get re-elected, I couldn't give 2 hoots.

Says the man with 'le nom francais' :-) - Thought the 'il' bit gave you the right to vote in French elections?

Hitler yoof ring any bells? Easily manipulated, eager to rebel against what they saw as elitism and unfairness - a new deal....?!

France has always been on dodgy ground regarding it's links with the far right - TBH, we should have another war with France and put them back in their place (again!) Only problem I see is that they don't have any oil, as we only seem to be involved fights where oil exists I am sure that it will be ignored, like Syria.....

**note - the UN are less the f*cking useless IMHO and something has to be done about Syria.

t4tomo

{has a read,
gives a little shrug of the shoulders
lights gauloise
heads off}

daviesee

gtvlusso wrote:

**note - the UN are less the f*cking useless IMHO and something has to be done about Syria.

Thread hijack but you are not alone in that opinion. :evil:

il_principe

gtvlusso wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

As long as Sarko doesn't get re-elected, I couldn't give 2 hoots.

Says the man with 'le nom francais' :-) - Thought the 'il' bit gave you the right to vote in French elections?

That's Italian, not French. A reference to my current steed of choice.

gtvlusso

Il Principe wrote:

gtvlusso wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

As long as Sarko doesn't get re-elected, I couldn't give 2 hoots.

Says the man with 'le nom francais' :-) - Thought the 'il' bit gave you the right to vote in French elections?

That's Italian, not French. A reference to my current steed of choice.

Used in both languages - damn near French!!!

However, google says that your usage translates as The Prince from some historical text....I bow to Google.

rebs

The far right in french politics is rather concerning imo. The irony in it is also quite impressive.

rjsterry

gtvlusso wrote:

...some historical text....I bow to Google.

The Prince is Machiavelli's famous treatise on how to rule. Source of no-nonsense advice and favourite bedtime reading to assorted despots, kings, emperors and presidents-for-life since 1513.

Maybe this should be IP's avatar

veronese68

Got this in an email today, vaguely French related...

During the recent royal wedding, the millions around the
world saw that Prince William chose to wear a uniform
that included the famous British "red coat."
Many people have asked, "Why did the British wear red coats in battle?"
A long time ago, Britain and France were at war and during one battle,
the French captured a British Colonel.
They took him to their headquarters, and the French General began
to question him.
Finally, as an afterthought, the French General asked, "Why do you
British officers all wear red coats? Don't you know the red material
makes you easier targets for us to shoot at?"
In his casual, matter-of-fact, way, the officer informed the General
that the reason British officers wear red coats is so that if they are
wounded, the blood won't show, and the men they are leading won't panic
And that is why, from that day forward, all French Army officers wear brown trousers.