French election thread
 

since the election is this sunday, I thought we could start a thread.

I speak French fluently and because of that can keep up with the reporting.

I always liked their system for choosing a President, a first round where everyone runs, basically a "jungle primary" and a second round where the two top contenders square off.

Usually, the race is between the left-leaning "Socialist" candidate and the center-right "Republicain" candidate, but 2017 is a free for all.

The current President François Hollande is so unpopular, he did not even run for re-election.

His replacement, the official "Socialist" candidate Benoit Hamon is so far behind in the polls, he will not make the second round.

The official "Republicain" UMP candidate, former PM François Filion is in the middle of a huge scandal and also will probaly not make the 2nd round.

The leading contenders are:

-Emmanuel Macron, 40 year old Boy wonder. Former "Socialist" minister who left to found his own party. He seems to be center-left. Think JFK, Bill Clinton.

-Marine Le Pen, the Front National candidate. Extreme right-wing. Think Alt-right/white-nationalist/Trump.

-Jean-Luc Melenchon, also has his own party, has been rising in the polls and has a real shot. Extreme left. Think Bernie Sanders.

predictions for First round results?

I will go with:

Macron - 1st
Le Pen - 2nd

Apparently, some Banks are so worried about the result, they have asked their staff to be at their desks Sunday night so they can react quickly depending on the results.

I should imagine the EU will be watching developments extremely closely.

My prediction for a few weeks now has been Macron 1st and Le Pen 2nd but after yesterdays Paris gun attack it is hard to guess just what effect that will have on the voters.

The two traditional parties (both of whom lost in the first round for the first time) are now appealing to their supporters to side with Macron in an effort to keep Le Pen out.

Not much too say as we all knew Le Pen would get though round one but all the smart money is on Macron to win round two.

Polls are giving Macron around 60% for the second round, but this is not 2002. I was watching the coverage on TV5 and the "Front National" spokesmen are much more polished these days. Le Pen will do better than her father.

I should imagine the other 26 EU members (not including the UK) will be hoping the same way.

Foregone conclusion or I will eat a slice of pizza, not a fan of pizza just to add. :)

Well, if I'm to be honest, I'd like to see Le Pen win because she reminds me of Thatcher and May....the potential to be a strong leader, even in the face of adversity. Something which is sadly lacking in many a countries leadership nowadays.

Here's something for those of you who aren't quite sure what's going on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkZir1L7fSY

I would kek if Le-Pen would win.

Personally i would rather Le Pen win, mainly because of the serious issues that her country faces something we haven't endured because of the Channel, time the EU broke up i cannot stand it i hate the EU with a passion.

I don't hate the EU, but if I were a citizen of EU member state I would campaighn to my Government to either force reform of the EU or leave EU, as EU in it's current form while beneficial in a number of ways appears to be un democratic in nature.

However if such a reform did pass I would support partial transfer of soverenity to EU for the economies of scale, as the EU authorities would be accountable to me, as their voter.

The French are pissed of the two main parties ( at least for the time being, i think next elections in five years we are back to business as normal). If their candidates now urge the French not to vote for LePen, but Macron, this could result in exactly the opposite of what they hope to acchieve - a backfiring, and people turning towards LePen right because the main parties told them not to vote for her.

I will tolerate whoever does the bigger damage to the EU. I cannot stand the FN and LePen, but I would stay put and silent if they win.

The EU will be knocked for six if France left but remains standing, only Germany withdrawing will see the collapse and i don't see France or Germany leaving in the next 10 years. NF is like our UKIP nothing more than a protest vote.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39695686

Hopefully France can take back their country, and fill up some internment camps. :salute:

So is it as easy to vote illegally in Europe as it is in the US?