I can't believe no one on ET is talking about this. France just had a major election and went through a revolution of sorts. The country turned out in record numbers (85% voter turnout) and threw out the socialist government and elected conservative Sarokozy over the socialist Segolene Royal. This is a monumental election in Europe. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6630797.stm Sarkozy takes French presidency Conservative candidate Nicolas Sarkozy has won the hotly-contested French presidential election. The final count gave Mr Sarkozy 53.06%, compared with 46.94% for socialist Segolene Royal, with turnout at 85%. Mr Sarkozy, 52, the son of a Hungarian immigrant, takes over from the 74-year-old Jacques Chirac. Riot police have fired tear gas at a small group of demonstrators who were protesting in central Paris against Mr Sarkozy's victory. According to the French news agency AFP, a few hundred stone-throwing rioters charged the police in the Place de la Bastille, where 5,000 supporters of Segolene Royal had earlier gathered to hear the results. Mr Sarkozy's supporters have gathered for an open-air concert in the Place de la Concorde, which is expected to continue until the early hours. In his victory speech, Mr Sarkozy said he would be the president of all the French. "France has given me everything, and now it is my turn to give back to France what France has given me," he said. He said the US could count on France's friendship, but urged Washington to take a lead in the fight against climate change. He also said he believed deeply in European integration, but appealed to France's partners to understand the importance of social protection. "[Voters] have chosen to break with the habits and the ideals of the past so I will rehabilitate work, authority, morality, respect, merit!" he said. After he finished speaking at his party headquarters, jubilant supporters sang a rousing rendition of the French national anthem. Ms Royal is the first woman ever to have made it to the second round of a French presidential election. Conceding defeat - the third in a row for France's Socialist Party - she thanked 17m French people for their votes, saying she could measure their sadness and their pain. "I gave it all my energy, and will continue," she told supporters. "Something has risen up that will not stop." She expressed the hope that "the next president of the Republic" would accomplish his mission at the service of all the French people. Mr Sarkozy has promised to try to reform France to face the challenges of the 21st century, with putting the nation back to work at the top of his agenda. He has pledged to bring unemployment down from 8.3% to below 5% by 2012. He is also expected to bring forward policies to cut taxes and keep trains running during strikes, in the first 100 days after he takes office on 17 May. But the BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Paris says he will have to work hard to unite the French, and try to win round those who voted against him. More than 3,000 police have been deployed in Paris and its multi-ethnic suburbs in case Mr Sarkozy's victory sparks a repeat of the riots seen in 2005. French pundits greeted the strong turnout as a victory for French democracy. Both candidates worked hard to woo the supporters of the third-placed candidate in round one, centrist Francois Bayrou. Polls suggest that they each won over 40% of the Bayrou voters, and that 20% did not cast a ballot in round two.
I've been reading the articles. This is bullish for the markets. Pro-American and Pro-globalization. France is on its way to become a third world country. The French can say goodbye to their living standard.
He is a neo conservative piece of shit in and out. Can't wait for the labor unions to take to the street. What is so interesting is the common denominators between all of these neo cons....polarization of the society and fear mongering. The us against them card is played yet once again. This guy is not going to have it easy.
He is a neo conservative piece of shit in and out. LOL, pro-american French president, what a fucking nightmare!!! The muslim world must be really pissed off today, their brethren in France will have a much harder time rioting, burning cars and collecting welfare, their plans to take over France and implement sharia law will have to be put on hold for at least a few years. As far as I am concerned I am ending my boycott of France which I started in 2003. I will have Cognac tomorrow. Can't wait for the labor unions to take to the street. Typical muslim mentality, when they lose an election they try to circumvent its results by violent means. Then they have their ass kicked and whine that they are mistreated. Thanks Wael, your posts are quite educational.
Every time a majority is fed up and wants to defend its own culture, you call it âpolarization.â Sheesh. The French are tired of these ethnocentric Moroccans, Algerians, et al, and Muslim immigrants who are increasingly islamist by the day ---raising children who torch cars and have the audacity to act like civil rights victims. Itâs no surprise the French turned conservative. Sounds like common sense to me.
........polarization of the society and fear mongering. As far as I know that's what that socialist bitch was trying to do when she realized she was losing.
Do you think that the guy was elected on that platform?? Khahahahaha What? do you think that the French people are as stupid as you are?? Buddy, the herd mentality does not apply to this country. His platform is based on market reforms. We all know what that means to neo cons like you. Fuck the worker for the benefit of the corporate elites. Whatever social advancements the french people worked so hard for is being threatened by this Neo Con. Every European country had to get a taste of this way of thinking but in every following election, the people of Europe had made it amble clear that the only place for this neo con garbage is, well, the garbage dump. I liken it to experementing with drugs and then finding how destructive they are. Think not?? Check Spain and Italy. In regard to your Islam, I know that you wet yourself, you and the other zionist, thinking that a social unrest will lead to a blood path. This is how you, and your zionist friend, fulfill their dark fantasies but I got news for you....It aint going to happen Osama321.