French Election

Sorry - 64 years old.

She's 63.

Crossed posts. I was querying the 68.

24 years his elder. She looks a bit like Barbie to me.

Are you still alive and kicking, saaki?
Where do you come from?
You certainly do not have a true name on here.

?

It's only a short thread for you to read, Annie.

Paddyann is quite correct about all the expats in Spain,
Some of the posters on GN overreact to any criticism of the British as if they were angels of good behaviour and politeness

MargaretX I think paddyann specified English rather than British.

Im still here "durhamjen" Im also still alive and kicking, so a true name. I come from London and still live in London. Do you live in Durham?

Never mind her age or her looks, she sounds quite formidable (French pronunciation of course) to me!

I find you pretty false, but hey, that's only my perception of course>

Back to the OP, my DIL queued for 2 hrs in London to vote, I think London has more French citizens than many towns in France.??

Oops sorry flag pedants.

Well Le Pen and Macron made it through the first round, please don't let Le Pen win, it will be immigrants out and Frexit. Another protest against the status quo by the French this time.

suzied I think London is the sixth largest French town for population (at the moment).
Christine apart from some catastrophic event I can't see Le Pen winning. All the other candidates have gone for Macron apart from Mélanchon who told his voters to follow their consciences.
What was interesting around us was the variation in all the tiny villages. Our village went for Fillon and the ones around us chose Macron, Le Pen and Mélanchon. The département went for Macron though.
So a centrist, pro EU, pro business president looks likely.

I think this result shows that people in many countries (not just UK) are fed up of not being listened to by mainstream politicians (both left and right).

link.huffingtonpost.com/click/9455913.11319/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9zYW1wYXJrZXJjb3VrL3N0YXR1cy84NTYyNTQzNDQ0OTIxOTU4NDE_bmNpZD1uZXdzbGV0dGVyLXVr/58853a96289acb7c158b4691Bf1cffcf8

Someone's happy about Macron.

Mamie I can't help thinking about the Trump election and how no one thought that was possible. Fingers crossed for common sense

Christine I feel much the same as you! We just have to hope. Either way it is two unknowns really although Macron has been a minister.

To my mind Macron will become President .

The only way to view it is by looking at the percentages of the votes won and where the 'losing' candidates votes will go.

I would think those who voted for Fillon would go more in Macrons direction but the Melenchon voters could be more split as he was anti EU.

I am interested to see how Macron can evolve his Party for governance he has so little party machine behind him.

Macron has a very interesting Manifesto - if he gets the legislation through and the money can be found he will do good things - Education figures high and also encouraging business - that is something France badly needs as their tax system is punitive.

Macron is 25% ahead in the polls and they were pretty accurate in the first round.
My impression from talking to people is that they were genuinely undecided because of Macron's youth. I heard a lot of "anyone but Le Pen" but they can probably work out that I wouldn't be a supporter. ?
I do think it is a good system though. Elections on a Sunday so it is easy to vote, results out quickly because of local counting and lots of debate. It is also a "duty" of French citizens to vote and is taken very seriously.

Why oh why does any political discussion on this site descend into barely disguised discriminatory remarks, insults and name calling. Can we not have a sensible discussion without it degenerating into a slanging match. It really is enough to put me off using this site at all. Opinions matter of course but they should be rational, thought out, listened to and carefully considered. If one doesn't agree then just say so calmly and politely - for heaven's sake are we all grown ups or what!

Seems the same election over all the western world, someone establishment v someone anti establishment and whoever gets in, the mess is still the same. Macron does at least bring some interesting blockbuster type of history to the proceedings......he and his wife must have a top of the range sun lamp bless them.

It will all drag on everywere until the war erupts and if there is anyone at all left after that, they will draft the next sorry mess. What an incompetent shower politicians are.

Well said Nanna191729 - I have often left threads because of the unnecessary vitriol. I am happy to discuss and consider the thoughts of those who have different views but once the name calling starts, as far as I am concerned, they have lost the argument.