Will France Go Royal on May 6?
The French could easily end up with a Royal Presidency after the second round of voting on May 6.
Segolene Royal is the socialist candidate who could be France’s first woman President.
Odds are though, that Interior Minister, Nicolas Sarkozy — an immigrant to France — will win the final tussle.
Jean-Marie Le Pen, the anti-immigration candidate who gifted Jacques Chirac a landslide last time round by beating the socialist Prime Minister into third place in the first round of voting, is the joker in the pack who could make waves again, especially after the inner city riots last year.
So, will France emerge with a Royal Presidency? Don’t hold your breath.
First round on Sunday
By Lilyfromfrance on April 20th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Yup.
By John on April 20th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
I like “Royal Anecdotes, secrets of British Royalty and Monarchy” talking about the French elections. My cheeks ache from smiling too much. Well done John!
By Lilyfromfrance on April 20th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
May we enquire who you will be voting for, Lily?
By John on April 20th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
mmm… not decided yet, like 80% of French people. Definitively not Sarkozy nor LePen. I like Segolene but her program is non existant. I wonder if she wants us to vote for her just because she wears skirts. Maybe Bayrou could be a good surprise. He is the most modern. The Germans have led us by voting for a centrist candidate.
By Lilyfromfrance on April 20th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
There’s some talk of an alliance between Royal and Bayrou to beat Sarkozy. Is that on, do you think?
By John on April 20th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
It could be possible for the second round. Not before. If Sarkozy is one of the two on sunday, then I will agree for an alliance between Bayrou and Royal. But for the moment, is it out of the question for Segolene.
You know, Sarkozy is scary for a lot of people in France (including me). Everything will be changed if he wins (in a very bad way
By Lilyfromfrance on April 20th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Sure, but you know, Lily, over here Sarkozy is seen as the only candidate who would bring France into the 21st century.
By John on April 20th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
We are already in the 21st century. France is not third world. It is one of Sarkozy’s strategies to make the rest of the world believe he is Superman, who could save France. The Daily Telegraph is the only one which has understood it.
By Lilyfromfrance on April 20th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Okay. Like Royalty, I have no vote, so won’t comment.
By John on April 20th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
In foreign countries, France is seen as a quiet and tranquil country. But France is uncontrollable and unmanageable inside.
I wonder if a return of the monarchy in France would be better sometimes
At least if we are fed up of our president we can always change it every 5 years.
By Lilyfromfrance on April 20th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Believe me, I never saw France as either quiet or tranquil, but I also have French relatives. Here in America we are even less tranquil and quiet and every American thinks he knows how to save the world better than any other American. We can change our President every four years, but sometimes we don’t. Lily From France, how is Sarkozy French? That surname is not a French surname that I recognize. It sounds Hungarian.
By Gigi on April 20th, 2007 at 9:20 pm
GRRRR! I meant to type “believe.”
By Gigi on April 20th, 2007 at 9:20 pm
Of course he is from Hungary
By Lilyfromfrance on April 20th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
I do not wish to appear to support exclusivity, but what is he doing in the corridors of power in Paris if he is Hungarian? France should be ruled by French men and women. No outsider can adequately understand the subtlties of the French people and their politics, in my opinion.
By Gigi on April 21st, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Gigi, Sarkozy’s father is a immigrant, from the little Hungarian aristocracy. His real name is Sarkozy de Nagy Bocsa. His son, of course is born in France. But I don’t believe origins can be helpful to understand the French people and their wishes. France is divided in 2 parts “la France d’en haut” and “la France d’en bas”, literaly, it could be “up and down”. Is it said that people from “France d’en haut” (: Paris, Parisian area and a part of north of France) are more intelligent and less dupe than people from south France. The thing is French politicians are people from “France d’en haut” who try to appropriate people from south France’s votes by making demagogy politic and I hate it. But Im not going to be boring with my politic views
By Lilyfromfrance on April 21st, 2007 at 5:29 pm
I love France, after several visits there over the years, I simply fell in love with France. The city of Paris is unequal in beauty. The beaches in the South of France are exquisite. The French countryside and the wine country are lush, tranquil and beautiful. I watched the riots in the streets of Paris on the Television last summer and was frightened that this beautiful country was being destroyed. I don’t know the full political situation going on now there, but I do hope whomever the people of France choose, the new President helps bring about understanding and a unity.
By mandy on April 22nd, 2007 at 4:36 pm
How lovely, Mandy
By Lilyfromfrance on April 22nd, 2007 at 4:57 pm
Paris will always be the most beautiful and romantic city in the world, I believe, although I have never been there. There is something about France and the French culture that feeds the collective soul of humanity and fine tunes our sensibilities. The was in my Great Aunt Aline’s home an oil painting of a scene in Montmarte, and every time I hear the song “La Vie en Rose,” I think of Paris as it was portrayed in that painting.
By Gigi on April 22nd, 2007 at 10:15 pm
Paris is a very feminine city, compared with London or Berlin. It’s that which gives it its charm, I think.
I see it’s now Sarkozy vs Royal in the 2nd round, but Sarko looks the stronger. Voters don’t seem as frightened of him as some journalists claimed.
By John on April 23rd, 2007 at 8:40 am
Sarko looks the stronger, as it was expected, but I’m not sure he will win the job. 30%, very good, but where are the other 70%?
Now we have to know if the people who voted for Bayrou will give their vote for Sarko. What is sure is that people who voted for Lepen won’t vote for Sarko. There is a national thought which is quite similar of what happened in 2002 with Lepen “Anybody but Sarko”. The other little candidates (except Villiers) have made it clear they will vote for Segolene
By Lilyfromfrance on April 23rd, 2007 at 9:44 am
It will certainly be an interesting couple of weeks, Lily.
By John on April 23rd, 2007 at 9:48 am
If Segolene wins, it will be a very historic time for France. She will be the most powerful woman in France since the days when St. Jean d’Arc rode at the head of the French Army to Reims to secure the throne for King Charles.
By Gigi on April 23rd, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Well, let’s hope Segolene secures the French throne for Prince Charles.
By John on April 23rd, 2007 at 2:47 pm
She is certainly an intriguing personality, John.
I don’t know enough about either candidate, nor do I know enough about the intricate issues of French politics to judge which candidate would be best for France. Let us just hope that the French people choose wisely. We are living in tremendous times filled with daunting challenges, and the stakes are high.
By Gigi on April 23rd, 2007 at 3:50 pm