[DfrtYhyu]

..At least in Europe, people heard of the elections.

after eating my wine pop, i saw the news on the yahoo.. then again, i don't really care who wins what in what country (other than who's going to come after the Queen in uk.. then again, that's not really a winning, or an election.. tho, i'm still interested if the donkey eared widow marrying charles will sit in that throne). i still think french women are beautiful,and their food great. tho.. on empty stomach i prefer healthy portion of italian (at this stage of my life, kimchee doesn't agree with me too well), or just few pints of Guinness (amazingly Guinness never seems to brother me.. it really is good for my health).

pete

[lrUyiva1]

right, what kind of barbarian would put wine in the icebox?

I have to admit. I like "Goat do Roam" chilled better than room temp.

[ljq0AYOV]

Well, that didn't take too long.

[flanna.kersting]

Didn't she publicly warn him that if she didn't win there'd be riots or something?

[bestworkothlo]

That's the reason they shouldn't have more vacation than American. If you have only 2 to 4 weeks vacation, you wouldn't use it that way

[RastusuadegeFrimoum]

That's the reason they shouldn't have more vacation than American. If you have only 2 to 4 weeks vacation, you wouldn't use it that way

The 8th may (tuesday) is a vacation day here (end of WW2). So 90% of the population do not work on the monday either. And the legal vacation time here is 4 weeks.
BTW, the riots were very small and far from being surprising, if you know what N. S. (I can't stand writing or typing his name) did and said.

[encunnibriG]

"Royal had warned of renewed violence in case of a Sarkozy victory, and had sought to make the campaign a referendum on Sarkozy's polarizing persona."

Who is the polarizer here? Vote for me or there will be riots and car burning.

Of course, burning french cars is . . .well, maybe we won't go there.

I had a Citroen SM for a while. Loved the model designation. Joined together the best of French and Italian automobile manufacturing.
When it ran, which really wasn't that often, it was pretty cool.

Always wanted a Citroen B11.

God bless France.
Is it true what my grandfather told me about the girls in the southern part of france?

[intmarkworkk]

Is it true what my grandfather told me about the girls in the southern part of france?

What did he tell you? I live in the south-west, so I can carry out experiments.

The old citroens, peugeot and other were great. But now...

[sirmzereigMix]

The riots are hardly surprising, I think they're fairly healthy to be honest. I'd love to see that kind of reaction in the UK. It'd be much better than our usual political apathy...

[Innockcroff]

What did he tell you? I live in the south-west, so I can carry out experiments.

The old citroens, peugeot and other were great. But now...

you should try american auto.. my 82' buick electra was more like a small bedroom.

pete

[sportsbettinge]

Hm, his father was an immigrant. Which doesn't make this impossible, of course, as history teaches. Nevertheless, he doesn't seem like that to me and wasn't shown in such a way in the German press.

As far as i know his family didn't immigrate looking for better oportunities but they run from comunism as any aristoctratic family did when the reds took over in eastern european countries. So his views as far as imigration and immigrants are concerned aren't that suprising.

[hs6KnlcW]

his family didn't immigrate looking for better oportunities but they run from comunism as any aristoctratic family

N. S. has always lived in Neuilly, by far the richest town in France. An usual immigrant son? BTW, he is at the moment on holiday at Malte, on a luxurious yacht, after a flight in a private jet. it seems that this is a "gift" from V. Bolloré, one of the richest French. Hisham, did you grab this information by chance or did you pay some attention to this election?

you should try american auto.. my 82' buick electra was more like a small bedroom.

It drinks as much as a scottish bagpipers band. If I could afford it, I would choose a japanese car. Good quality, low consumption.

[Kokomoxcvcv]

. . .If I could afford it, I would choose a japanese car. Good quality, low consumption.

Then some young socialist university student would set it on fire.

[citalopram]

The riots are hardly surprising, I think they're fairly healthy to be honest. I'd love to see that kind of reaction in the UK. It'd be much better than our usual political apathy...

You think this kind of reaction is healthy ? Democratic ? Whatever you might think of the man, or of his opinions, he was elected by a majority of voters. Burning your neighbour's car before the new president has even officially taken his position is hardly democratic. Even a pacific demonstration wouldn't make too much sense: we already know that 47% of the voters were against him.

Edit: BTW only 700 burned cars is not much compared to local standards.

[wrardymar]

Then some young socialist university student would set it on fire.

They are not socialists, the whole party is against those acts. If you know where not to park our car (and if you can not park it there) , there are not problems. And I gave rep point to Spendius for his remark about the democracy.

During the new year night, 400 cars burned. 1408 on the 7th novenber 2005. In 2006, 44,157 cars were burned in France. In 2001, around 20,000.

S*it ! I'm making drift my own thread!

[Buyingtime]

You think this kind of reaction is healthy ? Democratic ? Whatever you might think of the man, or of his opinions, he was elected by a majority of voters. Burning your neighbour's car before the new president has even officially taken his position is hardly democratic. Even a pacific demonstration wouldn't make too much sense: we already know that 47% of the voters were against him.

Edit: BTW only 700 burned cars is not much compared to local standards.

The interesting thing, as mentioned in a German TV special about the French votes, is that most of the people who voted for Royal did so to prevent Sarkozy. Most of his voters wanted him to become president. So the Socialists might have needed another candidate to win against Sarkozy(?).

Just some random thoughts, I'm not too well-informed...

[masaredera]

Hisham, did you grab this information by chance or did you pay some attention to this election?

It was by chance, same thing for the meaning of his name in its original hungarian language, in Morocco as you sure know, the elections in France are always folowed closely on the local media and on satellite Tv, asside from arabic channels, the french are the second most seen in general,(we get to see all the french channels but the Canal+ ones).

I don't folow political "shows", i try to fine tune or add to what little i know about what drives them instead.

[nermise]

Thanks Hisham! I thought that the french election were followed in Morocco, but I didn't knew if it was a very close look.

The interesting thing, as mentioned in a German TV special about the French votes, is that most of the people who voted for Royal did so to prevent Sarkozy. Most of his voters wanted him to become president. So the Socialists might have needed another candidate to win against Sarkozy(?).

That's a big question in the socialist party. Nobody will ask until the parliament elections (in june) are finished. But the reason of the defeat will be searched. Was it Ségolène Royal? The election platform? The election campaign?

There were also an "anti Royal" vote, and the "anti Sarkozy" vote seems to not have been as big as hoped by the socialist party.

[Narcodran]

You think this kind of reaction is healthy ? Democratic ? Whatever you might think of the man, or of his opinions, he was elected by a majority of voters..

yeah.. i say the same thing about bush.. but he still sucks.

pete

[VemyhemiHef]

Yes, it is a shame that the whole 2nd turn socialist campaign was based on "Sarkozy is the Devil, unite against him". The socialists would definitely have needed another candidate. There is a big discussion about the role of the media & polls in this campaign, especially since all newspapers (except 5), and the most viewed TV channel are owned by good friends of Mr Sarkozy.
Royal was chosen as the socialist candidate because, based on polls, she was the most likely to bring victory. This "Royal hype" had been created by the media. An easy conclusion would be that Sarkozy manipulated the media to chose the opponent he wanted. (I said would... It's not that simple, I think newspapers work mainly for themselves, and try to sell paper at almost any cost).
@Pete, if Bush sucks, our new president will demonstrate that he blows, and make Georges W and Berlusconi jealous. But still, I voted for him (on 2nd turn), or more precisely AGAINST Royal (will I get neg rep from Sparv for this one ? )