The French GE ... voting starts Sunday. ??

That's true vegansrock. When we bought our property in rural Brittany the lawyer (although not uneducated and poor) came out with a comment at the signing that he was pleased we (white British) were settling in the commune and not those from Africa! Yikes, and ironically he works for the government.

I guess it’s the more right wing anti immigration message goes down better with the less well educated/ less well off in most countries. It’s the “blame the immigrants/ foreigners for all the ills in your life” rhetoric. The French voters based in the U.K. are overwhelmingly for Macron.

Not long to go now.

* I lived

The French in the poorer rural breton commune where lived voted for Le Pen in first place. The French in the affluent coastal breton town where I have my apartment voted for Macron. I'm still trying to fathom it, but I think the economy and lifestyle plays the biggest part in people's votes.

I only saw the bit about the hijab. I thought he ran rings round her. Obviously it's up to the French who they vote for, but it seems to me she has no respect for anybody. Maybe Putin? She's a fascist ?

Did anyone watch the debate? I thought it was very interesting and quite different from the slanging matches we have to endure here, ( I much prefer the candidates seated across a desk than jiggling from leg to leg at a lectern.) Macron came out better, he was far more informed and able to find faults with Le Pen's policies. I thought she in turn did well and was far more thoughtful and controlled than in 2017. I believe she actually said she had mellowed with age! I like her energy and although some of her ideas are innovative, they do have a place in shaking up some of France's politics. I believe Macron got a bit personal on occasions, but Le Pen didn't overreact. All in all the candidates showed respect for each other. Good viewing!

Oh yes, the cat! I remember Marine Le Pen stating she didn't need either a man or a dog living with her in the Elysée Palace because she had a cat!?

I have received my advertising leaflets and the cat is there.

Macron's decision to pause the Astra Zeneca was because of a panic over a girl dying of a blood clot after the jab - so trying to reassess the safety at a time when no-one was sure and the public were fearful. I don't think you can blame him ( and leaders in other countries) for double checking. Not worse than Johnson's role in the deaths of thousands by locking down late and the nursing homes scandal. Before anyone says it was because AZ was British - the head of AZ is French.

Joseanne

They might be Callistemon.

Is hat photoshopped too Joseanne?

If not, it's most odd because his right shoulder is at a very odd angle.

I prefer him in a suit, he's fine just as he is without pretending to be superman or Tarzan with a hairy chest.

Urmstongran

I think Macron will win. However, his handling of the covid crisis praised after trashing the Astra Zeneca vaccine (costing lives) was wicked.

Choke, some may think he was being protective

Ah, but it is a world beating mound of flab and a badly fitting suit vegansrock.

Whose muscles are they Callistemon? Better than a mound of flab and a badly fitting suit.

He looks worn out!!

They might be Callistemon.

Joseanne

That's weird indeed. During the 2017 Macron had a smooth chest! Les tendencies de la mode change very quickly in France.

I don't believe those are his own muscles either!

Coastpath

Sorry to derail this a little, but I just found this and it made me laugh.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgDkmeyiWfo

Thanks for that…hadn’t seen it before. Never thought of Macron as being a dog person. Like him even more now.

Dinahmo & Joseanne. Dogs bring us all down to the same level and he handled it with such down to earth charm. I will try to do the same when my dog scoots on the carpet whilst we have company!

I think Macron will win. However, his handling of the covid crisis praised after trashing the Astra Zeneca vaccine (costing lives) was wicked.

Ooo Coastpath, that appeals to my wicked sense of humour. Macron wasn't phased!

Thanks Coastpath Very amusing and Macron took it in his stride. No bluster or lies about the ownership of the dog.

Each to his own, we can all have an opinion and that's mine ?

admirable , not the navy type!

Macron is suave, sophisticated and good looking , unlike our own dear leader. I don’t think serial philandering with much younger women is a good look for a middle aged man. At least M. Macron has remained with the same woman for many years.