French Election

A shame people never took any notice of him. Probably all those who think no foreigner is going to tell me what to do.

He gave a great interview on UK TV last year before the Referendum pointing out the realities of being out of the EU. This was before he was a candidate for the Presidency..

Many EU citizens who move freely to the UK do seasonal work and then go home again. People from further afield tend to be the ones who stay because of the distance. Once we leave the EU the countries the UK hopes to trade with all so far have said they wish visa free movement for all their people. Same difference !

Watching tv. Macron sees himself as the person to save Europe from populism.

Pity he didn't turn his attention to the UK last year!!

Shoes? I just wish the election was over and done with - the French one and ours...

Free movement and immigration are sort of the same thing if you look at it properly. It's just a different way of saying it. People that move freely to here never go back.

He sounds a bit like a French Blair!!

saak you are confusing free movement with immigration I think. There is no evidence that macron wants to end free movement.

Watching the TV hopefully Macron will be a shoe in but you never know

Macron was a socialist but now considers himself a social democrat. He is a supporter of the EU and above all a moderate centralist.

I think at the end of the day the people are sick of free movement, so whoever gets in will have to change this.

Not Macron he is pro EU, I think you mean Melenchon stillalive, the far left candidate, but looks like he's not through.

Both want out of the EU though huh.

Le Pen and Macron then..

Just listening. Amazing - Macron started his own party from nowhere.

If anyone is interested, there's a good coverage on France 24 at the moment. Chanel 513 on our tv.

France is such a huge country, with a variety of locations, traditions etc. The only part I can report on is the rural SW, which is very traditional and strongly leftist, even communist. Yet there always seems to be a 10% of FN votes - wish I knew who they were, hoping they don't want to kick us out!
The FN also has a lot of support in the SE, where there's a big proportion of Maghrebs.

Aren't squid always damp? Squibs on the other hand do fizzle out if damp.

Squid?

The far-reaching tentacles of the EU

Damp Squid? We will be out which is what every brexiter wants, however that happens. Damp squid or not.

I suppose if Le Pen gets the premiership then Brexit will become a damp squib?

I have wondered about the views of the man/woman on the street re the French Elections.
I know we have GNers living in France,
I would welcome some local opinion.

There wasn't much of a turnout in our village ( 200+ voters)
and a choice of 11 candidates!

It would work if all countries within the EU were at the same strength, however so many countries are not and want to go where a better life is promised (I get that and would probably do the same). Unfortunately that means a huge influx of people in the lower sector where that sector in their own country are already struggling. The rich prosper of course by this (Ive never come across a poor politician).

Hence anger and resentment in that actual country.

The answer is to control immigration yet help that other country help itself. It makes total sense to me.

So can being constantly dictated to.

Open boarders with no control can do this.