the Sarkozy years

Was December 2007. The same day as Calvadosser's death was announced.

He is very much missed.

My missus influences my politics

Hello! couldn't make this shit up.

While the eyes of the press are on Mrs Sokrazy, who is watching him?

Sarko's Foreign Minister, the former Communist, Bernard Koucher is in hot water over claims in a book that he had "unethical" links (took backhanders, in other words) with some of the most repressive givernments in Africa.

From Liberation

new day of action called by the 8 TUs for March 18.

There's another thread about this elsewhere. The LCR are no more. Olivier Besancenot now heads the Nouveau Parti Anticapitaliste.

What is the PS's response, I wonder?

this Guadelope situation is really heating up.

background:
http://libcom.org/news/revolt-continues-french-caribbean-16022009

You're not wrong, but I love that a country that prides itself on liberté, égalité, fraternité has the deeply buried assumptions of aristocracy that accompany terms like arriviste, nouveau riche vulgarité, and this@

could have been written by a Telegraph op-edder about the UK in the 60s or 80s. 'New' money indeed. This as opposed to the pure as driven slush party hackism of Chirac, Mitterand etc, or the ludicrous pretentious to aristocracy of some French grandees (I'm thinking of one in particular but can't remember his name...big One Europe 'federalist'...dammit, hated Thatch...)

Giscard D'Estaing?

Edit: Or 'Val' as I call him when we're in the Gentlemen's clubs

That's the fella

Trouble in paradise?

Even the DOM TOMs are revolting against Sarko's lack of vigour vis a vis the economy. Guadeloupe and Martinique are the latest places to see protests.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-02-16-voa22.cfm

Taking a boss hostage is becoming an increasingly common protest gesture in France. Last year, the English boss of a car-parts factory in eastern France was held for 48 hours in his office, sleeping on a massage table and being provided with blankets and sandwiches. He said he felt like “a prisoner in Alcatraz”.

Good old Frenchies!

Sokrazy wants France to re-enter the political structure of NATO.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/11/france-sarkozy-nato

I wonder how Gaullist purists see this?

More high jinks here:



"workers are taking matters into their own hands"

Much more of this sort of thing please.

new day of action called by the 8 main TUs for May 1st. last day had 3 million on the streets, this one will probably be bigger again.

its the first time all eight have come together for a callout on May 1st, not even back in 2002 when Le Pen got to the second round did this happen apparently.

So what's the latest on Sokrazy?

I thought it was time to revive this thread that was started by guinnessdrinker (RIP).

Sarkozy contemplates defeat.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fe2c5146-46a5-11e1-bc5f-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1kSw5tYen

Surely a record turnout in the next elections must be on the cards.

Bye bye short stuff.

Latest polling according to WSJ

Here's one of those "And finally" stories

According to the financial press, Sokrazy is "narrowing" the gap with Hollande.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-...e-as-election-campaign-starts-poll-shows.html

The Irish Times still says he's "trailing"
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2012/0228/1224312480839.html

So, is it all over for Le President Bling? Or will FN voters flock to him?

Bump

My French colleague reckons that 50% of the FN voters will vote Sarko and 25% will give their vote to Hollande as a protest vote with the remaining not voting at all. That's what he reckons anyway.

We shall see. Which way are Bayrou's supporters going to lean, I wonder?

A poster on another board who lives in France said that Bayrou's voters are split 50/50.

We shall see indeed!

Fingers crossed that some of them find Sokrazy's rhetoric repellant enough to vote for Hollande.

I remember reading something about this some time ago. Anyway, Sarko's had enough and is going to sue.

According to Reuters, UMP members are getting nervous over Sarko's tilt to the far-right.

I bolded the bit about Sarko accusing Hollande of being "backed by Islamists" because this is the sort of thing that our very own Andrew Gilligan likes to do.

Watched on the news yesterday that Marine Le Pen has told her supporters that she will not be voting for either Hollande or Sarkozy. Not surprising really.